What is typically included in a recipe?

A recipe is a comprehensive guide designed to help someone prepare a dish successfully. It typically includes both the list of ingredients and the specific instructions needed to prepare the recipe. The ingredient list provides the necessary components that you will need, such as quantities and types of food, ensuring that you gather everything before beginning. Meanwhile, the instructions guide you through the preparation process, detailing the steps to follow, cooking techniques, and any specific actions required at each stage. This combination is essential for any recipe, as it ensures clarity and helps the cook achieve the intended results.

In contrast, having only cooking time, only ingredient amounts, or just serving suggestions would not provide a complete picture. A list of cooking times alone wouldn’t inform you how to combine ingredients or what methods to use, while only having ingredient amounts would leave out critical preparation steps that are necessary for transforming those ingredients into a finished dish. Serving suggestions are certainly helpful but do not contribute to the actual cooking process, which is why they are not sufficient on their own for creating a recipe.