15 Homemade Fast Food and Takeout Favorites (That Are at Least as Good as the Originals)
[Photographs: J. Kenji López-Alt]
Most of us, no matter how discerning we sometimes get about our
meals, have a soft spot for fast food in one form or another. For some,
it's a carton of greasy chow mein from the hole-in-the-wall Chinese
restaurant down the street; for others, it's a large fry from the
McDonald's drive-thru, with endless packets of "fancy" ketchup (which,
as we all know, tastes moderately but unmistakably better than ketchup
from a bottle). There's something about fast food and takeout—in
addition to being cheap and convenient and, well, fast, it's nostalgic. A
single whiff or bite can easily take you back to childhood, when a
weekend trip to Pizza Hut counted as a major treat; or college, when a
seven-layer burrito from Taco Bell, for all its ooziness and
unhealthiness, was exactly what you needed after a night of drinking.If you don't live near some of your favorite fast food joints, or just want to feel a little better about what you're eating by making it yourself, check out the following 15 recipes for fast food classics. You'll be surprised by how much better they can taste when re-created at home.
Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches
[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]
Want to eat Chick-Fil-A on a Sunday? What's stopping you? All
politics aside, you can indeed make your very own crispy-and-salty
chicken sandwich with those two crucial dill pickle chips, just like the
original, any day of the week. The key to the moist chicken breast is
brining for several hours, while a seasoned batter adds a crispy,
flavorful coating.Get the recipe for Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches »
Taco Bell Cemita
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
Unfortunately, Taco Bell has yet to introduce its own version of the
Mexican sandwich, but—with a few extra ingredients—you can make your
very own. A simple Taco Bell Cemita takes the insides of two soft tacos,
plus a side of guacamole and salsa, and piles it all on a cemita bun
with tomato, cilantro, chipotles in adobo, and quesillo Oaxaca. Get the recipe for Taco Bell Cemita »
Chinese-American Beef and Broccoli With Oyster Sauce
[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]
Tender strips of marinated beef, seared to a smoky crispness in a hot
wok, with charred florets of bright green broccoli, all tossed in a
savory-sweet, garlic- and ginger-scented oyster sauce. That's what beef
with broccoli should be. The average food-court version is a sad, sad excuse for a meal, but your homemade beef with broccoli will be superb. Get the recipe for Chinese-American Beef and Broccoli With Oyster Sauce »
In-N-Out's Double-Double, Animal Style
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