Publication date December 20, 2023

12 Selena And Chef Recipes from HBO That Will Make You Stop Ordering Food Online

Nothing said more about the onset of quarantine than home cooking. With plenty of time on our hands and restaurants all over the world temporarily closing their doors, we were spending a lot of time in the kitchen, whether we wanted to or not.

New recipes were tried, and Instagram was flooded with baked delights. HBO Max capitalized on the trend by launching its own quarantine-cooking show. With the signing of singer, actor, and overall super-star Selena Gomez, the new streaming service introduced Selena + Chef, in which Gomez sits down—via Zoom—with some of the world's top chefs. Connecting digitally, the chefs coach the home cook through some of their famous recipes—while those of us at home get to sit back and watch someone else frantically look for a forgotten ingredient. We're letting you know what to try your hand at thanks to Selena + Chef's step-by-step guide to some of the world's finest cuisine.

The show has completed  3 seasons with 10 episodes in each season. On November 10, 2021, Warner Media issued a press release confirming the continuation of "Selena + Chef" for a fourth season.

Selena + Ludo Lefebvre

Selena + Ludo Lefebvre show on HBO

Source: IMDb

The opening episode of the first season introduces viewers to Selena, her home kitchen, and the world-renowned chef and owner of Petit Trois, Ludo Lefebvre. With a French upbringing and training that influences much of his menu, it was only natural for him to teach Gomez and the crew how to prepare a delectable (and oh so buttery) French omelet. It's both simple and sumptuous, transforming a $2 carton of eggs into something worthy of a Michelin star. The second half of the program focuses on how to make the ideal souffle, and after seeing Selena receive one-on-one tutoring and still struggle, we're sticking to ordering—chefs, we'll leave you to do your thing.

Selena + Daniel Holzman

If I had to choose the ideal recipe to make while sipping a glass of wine, this would be it. Daniel Holzman's chicken meatballs with buttery and lemony gnocchi are out of this world. Selena created the gnocchi and meatballs from scratch, but you can easily use store-bought fresh gnocchis to speed up the cooking process! The best thing is that you can pour yourself a glass of dry white wine while you're making the meatballs and have a great time cooking this fantastic supper!

Selena + Curtis

Selena + Curtis in HBO cooking show

Source: BetaSeries.com

You'd be a chef if you learned how to make your own salt and vinegar chips and could say, "Oh, I don't purchase my chips, I make them." Chef Curtis Stone was one of the best lecturers on this show, with his continual positive attitude and amazing cooking methods, and now we know how to create our own chips at home, thanks to him!! This recipe just takes 10 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to bake!

A Little Tip (from the episode): Don't cut your potatoes as thin as Selena did, or they'll be too crunchy and brown! (Alternatively, get a bestie like Raquelle who will eat them anyway!)

Selena + José Andrés

Selena + José Andrés

Source: IMDb

Every Selena + Chef episode has something lovely and tasty to offer, and José Andrés' participation enhances that by five. José Andrés, the Spanish-American chef, and World Central Kitchen founder wins first place because he doesn't just deliver us one meal, but a plethora of exquisite and oh-so-simple tapas suitable for sharing (or hoarding, no judgment). Gazpacho, a microwaved (yes, you read that correctly) omelet, mussels a la gallega (potatoes with mussels), gambas al ajillo (garlicky shrimp), and pan con tomate with jamon Iberico are all on the menu (bread covered in tomatoes and olive oil). It's a presentation of increasing difficulty and ability, but every single one—even the simplest—is wonderfully tasty. It's difficult to come in second place when the dinner needs a microwave and is still rated five stars. 

Selena + Nana 

Selena + Nana in 'Selena + Chef' in HBO cooking show

Source: Pinterest

Selena shook things up with a unique childhood recipe, and instead of learning a recipe from a chef, she taught a recipe alongside her Nana! Nana's 'Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Chip Casserole' hits the spot right away. It's simple to cook, enjoyable to eat, moist, crispy, and spicy all at the same time – the ideal dish for a movie night with your pals! Try this recipe right now if you believe me!!!

Selena + Marcela Valladolid

Selena reconnects with her Mexican origins to make mole and enchiladas in this episode. It's also a fantastic recipe done by none other than Marcela Valladolid, chef, and host of Food Network's Mexican Made Easy. The two collaborate to make a basic mole (or as simple as the mole can get), which is useful for any home chef looking to prepare an authentic Mexican dish. While the shredded chicken mole tacos drive viewers to drool, it's the cinnamon sugar bunuelos that really hit home. The dessert is extremely simple in terms of both ingredients and preparation, and it ends up tasting otherworldly—which means I'll be indulging in more than one—it's a win-win situation.

Selena + Roy Choi

If you've ever had lunch from a taco truck, you've probably thought to yourself, with your mouth full of freshly chopped cilantro and onions, "If only I could create something this amazing." You can, with the help of Roy Choi. Chef Roy Choi is well-known for his Korean-Mexican taco truck Kogi, which drives throughout Los Angeles selling kimchi quesadillas and calamari tacos. In season one, episode four, he exits his taco truck and enters his kitchen to assist Selena in making his Korean BBQ short rib breakfast taco. The marinade that we start this episode with packs a salty, sweet, and garlicky punch that adds considerable flavor to the beef short rib. Add that to a warm tortilla with eggs, tater tots, and a homemade sauce, and you've got a reason to never eat brunch out again.

Selena + Kelis Rogers

Selena + Kelis Rogers

Source: Screen Rant

Aside from the fire, everything is going swimmingly in this episode of Selena + 

Chef. Kelis Rogers, best known for her hit tune Milkshake, has retired to the simple life, cultivating and gathering food for recipe development. And when she joined Selena in the kitchen for an afternoon, she did what every home cook could ever aspire for in a recipe: she hauled out the pressure cooker. While oxtail may not be something we're all used to cooking, Kelis makes it appear easy, and Gomez and the company's reactions make it seem well worth the effort. Yucca is fried and then buried in oxtail stew and shredded cheese, and it looks like something I'll eat a lot of.

 Selena + JJ Johnson

 Selena + JJ Johnson

Source: IMDb

There is so much to love about this Selena + JJ Johnson episode, like the charismatic chef and aromas we can only imagine coming from the stove. But, I’ve to add that it’s the dish that makes this episode incredible. JJ Johnson is the founder of the fast-casual restaurant Fieldtrip as well as the author of Between Harlem and Heaven, and when he joins Selena in the kitchen, he makes his signature seafood gumbo recipe. Gumbo is a favorite dish of the South and now might be a favorite in Selena’s home. The best part about the Gumbo recipe and most Gumbo recipes is that it can all be made in one pot, making it one of the best Selena + Chef recipes. The dish was made with a list of 23 ingredients that even beginner home cooks can make. There are no fancy chopping techniques, no specialty cookware that you need to master; it’s just you, your pot, and a whole lot of flavor.

Selena + Antonio Lofaso

Selena + Antonio Lofaso

Source: IMDb

In the second episode of Selena + Chef, home chef Selena joins celebrity chef Antonio Lofaso to make, Lofaso’s Los Angeles Latin American restaurant, signature seafood tostada. This recipe may be not for the squeamish, step five is “cut the octopus’s head off”, but if your stomach can manage a little food handling, it’s worth the process. Chef Antonio creates a ceviche of octopus, calamari, and shrimp to top crisp, homemade tortilla chips. When it comes to flavors, it's salty from the seafood, acidic from the citrus and vinegar, and made perfectly fresh by seasonal vegetables, every taste bug will be activated obviously in the best way possible when you’ll try out this dish. 

Selena + Marcus Samuelsson

Selena + Marcus Samuelsson

Source: IMDb

You may have recognized season two, episode four’s guest chef Marcus Samuelsson from his time judging concoctions of Food Network’s Chopped or from his New York-based signature restaurant, the Red Rooster Harlem. But he joined Gomez on HBO, The Chef left the appraisals and signature chicken sandwich behind for salmon and anything but simple salad. For vegetarians and those looking for something lighter, this is the meal. Marcus walks hosts and viewers through everything from cutting and prepping the salmon fillets to the best glaze.

Selena + Jon and Vinny

Selena + Jon and Vinny

Source: Beta Series

For those who don’t know, Jon & Vinny is a modern-day eatery that’s based across California and known for offering a delectable array of meals. Although they might be known for their hefty Italian dishes, the two joined Selena for episode five of season one to walk her through a classic roasted chicken dinner. It can be a perfect meal for entertaining or meal prepping and though simple in theory, unbelievably intimidating. Having two professional chefs take viewers through the chicken roasting process, from tips on flavoring to the more specific things like cook time and temperatures, gives home chefs like me the confidence to take on the bird. 

And, there you have all of it, all 12 delicious Selena + Chef recipes that will make you stop ordering food online. Let us know in the comments below which of these recipes are your favorite!

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q. What is the new Selena cooking show?

As of today Selena actually has two new cooking shows, one Selena + Chef Holiday Special aired on the Food Network, The second is an Untitled Food Network Series which is set to debut sometime in 2024 and will see Selena Gomez switching things up a bit. Instead of cooking in her kitchen, she'll be visiting the kitchens of other renowned chefs to learn their signature dishes and culinary secrets. Her previous cooking series is so popular it sparked a cooking collection at Always Pan.

Q. What year did Selena Gomez start her cooking show?

In 2020, Selena Gomez started her cooking show, Selena + Chef premiered on HBO Max. The series first featured Gomez learning to cook while quarantining during the pandemic, guided virtually by some of the world's most lauded chefs.

Q. Who produces Selena Chef?

Selena + Chef is produced by Gomez for July Moon Productions, along with executive producers Eli Holzman, Aaron Saidman, and Leah Hariton on behalf of Industrial Media's The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC).

Q. Where can I watch Selena's cooking show?

You can watch Selena + Chef on HBO Max.


 








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