12 Most Difficult Recipes to Make From Scratch

Some recipes test the limits of even the most experienced home cooks, demanding patience, precision, and a bit of culinary magic. From delicate pastries to complex sauces, these 12 recipes are known for their difficulty when made from scratch. But for those willing to take on the challenge, the reward is a masterpiece of homemade goodness.

AUTHOR: Veronica Booth

Table of Contents

1. Eggs Benedict
2. Curry
3. Lo Mein
4. Sushi
5. Carbonara
6. Croissants
7. Dumplings
8. Gumbo
9. Fresh Bread
10. Pho
11. Pie Dough
12. Fried Tofu
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1. Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict is a sumptuous and classic American breakfast dish, but it requires a lot of finesse and excellent timing to get right. It’s so easy to scramble the hollandaise or let it split accidentally; poaching the egg is a balancing act because 30 seconds under or over and it’s all ruined! Plus, all these components have to be ready at the same time.

2. Curry

Homemade chicken curry — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Curry, both Thai and Indian, can be delicious when homemade but aren’t always easy to achieve. The best curries are layered with intense and toothsome flavors that often take hours to develop, so creating a curry on a busy weeknight is practically impossible.

3. Lo Mein

Lo Mein noodles — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Lo mein from your favorite Chinese takeout place can be tough to recreate. Even when you head to the right Asian market and get all the correct ingredients, it never seems to come together as well. It’s like they infuse the noodles with some magical, mystical flavor that’s impossible to achieve!

4. Sushi

alaska roll — Image Credit: Corrie Cooks.

Sushi is another Asian dish that takes a certain finesse to nail. You need all the right equipment to roll the sushi, and you also need excellent fish and plenty of practice making the rolls nice and tight. You can make your own sushi with enough practice, but it doesn’t come easy.

5. Carbonara

Chicken Carbonara — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Carbonara is another egg dish that can be tricky. You need to temper the eggs with hot pasta water to gently cook the yolks without scrambling them. Getting the eggs to the right temperature without overcooking them is tricky, and then perfecting the seasoning of the dish is a whole other task. Get the recipe

6. Croissants

Croissants are quite an effortful pastry, but they’re so delicious, buttery, and flaky that many home cooks attempt to make them at home. However, the buttery, flaky part is the challenge. You have to laminate butter into the dough and create layers, which requires time, effort, and an environment with the right temperature.

7. Dumplings

As you can see, some of the hardest dishes for home cooks to perfect are classic Asian recipes. Dumplings are a tough one because you need to make the wrapper perfectly, create a scrumptious filling, fold the dumplings just so, and boil them in the right amount. Every step requires attention to detail.

8. Gumbo

Gumbo is difficult for the same reasons that curry is difficult. It requires an abundance of ingredients and spices, all of which need to be cooked together for a long time to develop the rich and cozy flavors we all know and love. This recipe also requires a dark roux, which takes an experienced hand to execute without burning.

9. Fresh Bread

Woman baking bread — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The idea of pulling a steaming hot loaf of sourdough out of the oven is delightful, but it’s not as easy as they make it seem in movies. Making fresh bread can be challenging and takes a lot of practice, especially because working with live yeast can be unfamiliar for many cooks.

10. Pho

Pho is another dish that requires lots and lots of time to execute correctly. The key is infusing the broth with the marrow flavor, which means simmering bones for an extended period. Rushing pho never turns out well, so this recipe calls for patience and plenty of time.

11. Pie Dough

For many home cooks, baking is substantially harder than cooking, as baked goods are more temperamental and sensitive. Many people don’t realize that the filling of a pie is usually a breeze, but getting the dough to be beautifully buttery, flavorful, and delicate is a difficult feat.

12. Fried Tofu

Lots of people turn their noses up at tofu, but if you’ve ever had fried tofu squares from a Chinese or Thai restaurant, you know how sensational they can be. Unfortunately, achieving the same crispy, crunchy breading and distinct flavor is not easy.

Source: Reddit.