From Screen to Table: 5 Delicious Recipes That Inspired Iconic Scenes

What goes best with a movie? Of course, tasting and experiencing the food seen in that scene with the characters. From the legendary grilled cheese sandwich in the movie Chef to the mouthwatering Boeuf Bourguignon in Julie & Julia, we have brought together the flavors that have left their mark on the history of cinema for you. In this article, we decided to compile for you the iconic recipes from famous Hollywood movies that we have always wanted to try.

We are sure that you can find one of these recipes with different difficulty levels. Watch, cook and eat with pleasure. Have a pleasant evening in advance!

Chef – Grilled Cheese Sandwich

One of the most memorable scenes from the movie, this runny cheese sandwich got a slight Turkish touch from us. It will go very well with a hot bowl of tomato soup, we tell you!

Ingredients for Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• 2 slices of white toast bread (preferably sourdough)
• 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 tablespoon softened butter
• 1/4 cup grated tulum, old kashar or cheddar cheese
• A little oil

How to Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich

1. In a small bowl, mix the grated cheddar cheese and butter thoroughly.
2. Spread the cheese mixture on one of the bread slices. Add the second type of cheese of your choice on top and cover with the other bread slice.
3. Heat a pan over medium heat and add some oil. Place the sandwich in the pan and cook until golden brown on both sides.
4. Lightly grease both surfaces of the toast with butter and cook for 1 more minute on each side to make the outside crispy.

Ratatouille – Ratatouille

A big plate of food full of love? Prepare a ratatouille with fresh vegetables like Pixar's cute chef Remy does. With the perfect harmony of zucchini, pepper, eggplant and mascarpone cheese, this dish will both warm you up and add a French touch to your kitchen.
If you want to make ratatouille like Remy, we recommend choosing vegetables that are similar sizes so the slices line up neatly when you put them together.

How to Make Ratatouille?

1. Preheat your oven to 110°C (90°C fan).
2. Grill the peppers until they are blackened on all sides. Wrap them in foil and let them sit for 15 minutes, then peel and core them and put them in a blender.
3. Make a small cross on the bottom of the tomatoes. Put them in boiling water for 30 seconds and then put them in ice water. Peel off the skins.
4. Thinly slice half of the tomatoes and set aside. Add the rest to the blender. Add the garlic, shallot, rosemary, thyme, olive oil and enough water and blend until smooth.
5. Cut the zucchini, eggplant, and yellow squash into thin slices.
6. Pour the sauce onto the baking tray. Arrange the vegetables in a row, overlapping each other.
7. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, until soft but still holding its shape.
8. Arrange the vegetables in a tower shape on a plate. Sprinkle with thyme and garnish with chives.

Lady and the Tramp – Baked Meatballs and Pasta with Tomato Sauce

When it comes to the most romantic dinner scene, most people think of the spaghetti and meatballs scene from Lady and the Tramp. Transport yourself back to your childhood with a plate full of pasta, delicious meatballs, and a little nostalgia while watching this movie. Enjoy it until your last bite!

How to Make Baked Meatballs and Pasta with Tomato Sauce?

1. Mix the buttermilk, egg and bread in a bowl to soften the bread.
2. Add cheese, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice and chili flakes.
3. Add the minced meat and mix by kneading.
4. Take 100 pieces of the mixture, weighing 105-15 g each, roll them into balls and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
5. Bake at 250°C for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C.
7. Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and a pinch of salt and sauté for 10 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and stir.
8. Add the tomatoes and crushed tomatoes. Cook on medium-low heat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. Add salt and sugar to taste.
9. Place the meatballs into the sauce and mix.
10. Place the pot in the oven set at 160°C and cook for 20-30 minutes.
11. When the sauce has thickened and the edges are slightly caramelized, remove from the oven.
12. Boil the pasta according to package instructions until the sauce thickens.
13. Put a portion of boiled pasta in a medium-sized pan, add 2 small pieces of butter and a spoon of pasta water. Bring to a sauce consistency by turning over low heat.
14. Place on a serving plate, add desired amount of meatballs and sauce.
15. Serve with Parmesan, chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil.

Julie & Julia – Boeuf Bourguignon

Want to feel like Julia Child in the kitchen? Then try cooking the famous French dish Boeuf Bourguignon while watching Julie & Julia! The meat needs to be cooked slowly for this flavor that requires patience but delights the palate in the end.

Ingredients for Boeuf Bourguignon

• 150g bacon, diced (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1,2 kg beef brisket, cut into 5 cm pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrot, sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed (reserve 2 for mushrooms)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 750 ml red wine (you can add meat broth if you do not consume alcohol)
• 2-3 glasses of broth
• 3 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2 bay leaves
• 250g shallots or small onions, peeled
• 250g mushrooms, quartered
• 2 spoonful butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly chopped parsley (for serving)

How to Make Boeuf Bourguignon?

1. In a large ovenproof casserole or pot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced bacon and cook until crispy, about 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. In the same pot, sear the beef in the bacon fat in batches until brown on all sides. Place the seared meat next to the bacon.
3. In the same pot, sauté the onion and carrots until the onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add half the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
4. Return the bacon and meat to the pot. Sprinkle the flour over it, season with salt and pepper. Mix everything well and cook until the raw smell of the flour is gone, about 4 minutes.
5. Pour in the red wine and stir, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Add 2 cups of the broth, the tomato paste, thyme, and bay leaves. Add more broth, if needed, to cover the meat. Bring to a boil.
6. Cover the pot and cook in a preheated oven at 160°C for 2,5 to 3 hours, or until the meat is tender.
7. During the last 30 minutes of cooking time, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a separate pan over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until golden, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
8. In the same skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add the remaining minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Remove the pot from the oven. Add the shallots and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Cook the pot on the stove over medium heat for another 5 minutes, so the sauce thickens a bit more and the flavors combine.
10. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot. You can traditionally serve this dish with mashed potatoes, rice or fresh bread.

Fantastic Mr. Fox – Gingerbread

We wanted to end our list with a sweet treat that will warm your heart. If you haven’t watched Fantastic Mr. Fox and wanted to taste Mrs. Bean’s freshly baked cinnamon and ginger apple cookies, we don’t know either! Our recipe is a little different from the one in the movie, but you can be sure that it will be just as delicious. As with any dessert recipe, we recommend using a kitchen scale for the most reliable results.

Ingredients for Gingerbread Cookies

• 115g unsalted butter (room temperature, soft)
• 115g brown sugar (half a cup, lightly pressed)
• 115g molasses (about 1/3 cup)
• 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
• Grated peel of half an orange
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1,5 teaspoon of ginger powder
• 1,5 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon powdered cloves
• 1/8 teaspoon coriander powder (optional)
• One or two rounds of black pepper (medium ground)
• 270g flour (approximately 2 cups + 2 tablespoons)

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies?

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, orange zest, baking soda, salt, and spices. Beat on low speed for 5 minutes, then on medium speed.
2. Add the flour while running the mixer on low speed. Mix until the dough is combined. Gather it by scraping the edges with a spatula. Divide the dough in half and shape it into a disk. If you can work with soft dough, use it immediately, if not, wrap it in cling film and let it rest in the fridge until it hardens.
3. Preheat the oven to 175°C. On a lightly floured counter, roll out a piece of dough to about 3-4 mm thickness. Shake off excess flour and cut out with shaped cutters. Place the cookies you cut out on a baking tray lined with baking paper (leave 5 mm space between them). Gather the remaining dough, roll it out again and continue shaping.
4. Bake cookies for 12 minutes, until firm to the touch. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
5. Decorate with royal icing if desired and allow to dry completely (may take 12-24 hours).

Notes:

1. If you want softer cookies, roll out the dough to 6-7 mm thickness and bake in the same way.
2. To make it in advance, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and store in the fridge for a few days. Let it soften at room temperature before using.

If you're ready, pick your movie, pick your recipe, gather the ingredients and get in the kitchen! Remember, when cinema and food come together, great things happen.