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Lidia Bastianich is one of the most-loved chefs on television, a best-selling cookbook author, and restaurateur. She has held true to her Italian roots and culture, which she proudly and warmly invites her fans to experience.
 
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Traditional Rice and Chicken
This venerable Lombard specialty belies its lit...
 
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Lidia's Tips: Homemade Salad Dressing

 
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Blanching Vegetables
I always used to boil vegetables in salted water, but I have learned to salt certain vegetables after ...
 
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Lidia's Favorite Recipes
Lidia brings viewers on a road trip into the heart of Italian-American cooking.
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November 11, 2013
Blanching Vegetables

I always used to boil vegetables in salted water, but I have learned to salt certain vegetables after they are cooked, tossing them immediately after draining with medium-coarse salt while they are still steaming hot. Does it make that much difference? It does; instead of making a saline solution out of boiling water that permeates the vegetable throughout, salting later allows the vegetable to retain its vegetable flavor. Then sprinkled salt adds another dimension of flavor. The vegetables that best respond to this method are string beans, broccoli, and zucchini, but I find it also works for cabbage, beets, chard, and other greens.