Ep 25. Dough and Crusts

Lidia's Kitchen season 3 episode 25 is titled "Dough and Crusts," and in this episode, Lidia Bastianich is exploring the wonderful world of dough and crusts. Lidia, the celebrated chef and restaurateur, goes through detailed instructions on how to make different types of dough and crusts, from pizza and focaccia to pastry and bread doughs.

In the beginning, Lidia starts with a focaccia recipe. She showcases how to make the dough and then reveals different variations to it, by including different toppings and herbs. She breaks down every step of the process, such as the amount of yeast to be added, the kneading duration, and the number of times the dough needs to be rested.

The next recipe is of a classic Italian dessert, zeppole, also known as fried doughnuts. Lidia spices it up by filling these doughnuts with whipped vanilla cream and serving them with fresh cherries.

The show also includes a pizza recipe which takes a traditional margherita pizza, and then Lidia extends it by making a rustic ham and mushroom pizza. She shows step by step how to roll and toss the dough carefully, stretch it, and add toppings on the pizza crust without making it too soggy.

In the third recipe, Lidia focuses on the pastry dough. She explains how to create a classic and straightforward recipe and further elaborates how one can incorporate different fillings – savory or sweet – with the help of this basic recipe.

Lastly, Lidia makes bread dough but with an unusual twist. She reveals that the recipe goes beyond just flour, yeast, and water, but includes common pantry staples like oats and bran to enhance the texture of the bread. All the necessary steps ranging from kneading, shaping, and baking are also explicitly depicted.

Throughout the episode, Lidia's warm, conversational style makes it easy even for novice cooks to follow her recipes. Viewers can expect a lot of tips and tricks on how to work with different kinds of dough, flour, and yeast. With this show, the audience can explore Lidia's traditional Italian cooking, which made her a household name.

In "Dough and Crusts," from Lidia's Kitchen season 3, Lidia takes viewers on a magnificent culinary journey from savory to sweet, Italian-style. Watch audience's favorite chef as she shares invaluable knowledge and skills to elevate their cooking expertise. The episode offers a masterclass on creating perfect pizza bases, pastry doughs, and bread doughs that will inspire viewers to try their hands with these classic Italian recipes. With beautiful imagery and details, the show vividly captures Lidia's love for Italy and its food traditions.