Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of well salted water to the boil (about 25–30g salt per 1 litre of water). This 24-week course will guide you through all the fundamental cooking skills, techniques and practices that every cook needs to thrive in a modern professional kitchen.

The internal body contains a little brown meat, but mainly white meat; the claws and legs contain white meat and the main outer crab shell contains brown meat. Turn the internal body over and scrape away the brown meat into a bowl, then put the internal body aside and deal with the main shell. Once removed, locate and extract the feather-like internal bone that runs through the centre of the claws. For the claw joints, repeat as for the leg joints, using a skewer to remove the white meat. Cut the butter into 1cm cubes and keep chilled and firm. Put ¾ tbsp reduction in a small saucepan and, over a gentle heat, add a cube of cold butter. Using a small sauce whisk, incorporate the butter into the reduction as vigorously as you can. The sauce requires constant, vigorous whisking.Whether you’re a home cook looking to take your passion for food to the next level or an aspiring professional wanting to springboard into a culinary career, this course is for you. At the start of each week, you will be prompted to schedule 1-5 practical sessions and to gather all the kit you’ll need to start cooking. Master the essential skills of professional cooking, in your kitchen. Learn the techniques that will lead to a lifetime of restaurant-quality cooking with Leiths’ 24-week Professional Essential Cooking Course and Certificate. Attain industry respected training from Leiths, wherever you are in the world. Written for the novice cook this course is ideal for the absolute beginner in the kitchen. This 8 part course covers a wide range of eating occasions and you will cook alongside our skilled Leiths teachers who’ll be lifting the lid on some key fundamental cookery skills and techniques.

The internal body is made up of a honeycomb of little compartments divided by very fine shell. It is imperative to avoid getting shell in the crab meat and the best way to reach the white meat is to cut the body in half. Peel and finely dice the shallot and put it in a small saucepan with the wine vinegar and water. Place over a medium heat and slowly reduce the liquid by at least two-thirds. Strain to remove the shallots. To receive your Certificate of Completion, you can undertake a 3-part assessment covering skills you have learnt during the course.Place the crab upside down on a board, eyes away from you, then lift up and pull off the apron. Place your thumbs at the bottom of the crab on the base of the apron, on either side of the internal body. Push up firmly to release the internal body of the crab and pull away. In every session, you will follow a Leiths teacher through a series of step-by-step videos in your own kitchen, learning directly through your experience. The recipes taught on this course have been cleverly selected to cover a wide range of foundation cookery skills, so you can begin your journey towards becoming a confident home cook. On completion of the course, you’ll know how to rustle up all the elements to make a speedy midweek supper, batch cook hearty winter warmers, and effortlessly entertain friends and family.

Put the main crab shell, shell side down and eyes towards you, on a board, and locate the little piece of shell immediately behind the eyes. Push down firmly to snap this from the main shell; lift it out and away and discard it (it contains the mouth and stomach). Carefully remove any small bits of shell and discard, then gently pull the shell from the claw meat. If carefully done the claw meat can be removed whole.By the end of the course, you can anticipate becoming a well rounded cook, well-versed not only in recipes and practical skills, but in kitchen management, menu costing, time planning, and presentation. You will be able to take on advanced recipes and cook intuitively. At the end of the course, you can take a final assessment to earn your Certificate of Completion. To earn the full Leiths-accredited Essential Cooking Certificate, you can take an in-person assessment in London for an additional fee. Are you just beginning to experiment in the kitchen, or have you been cooking the same, repetitive recipes for a while, without really knowing where to turn next? Are you at university and keen to learn how to make a wide range of tasty staple dishes? Or perhaps you’re seeking out new inspiration when cooking for the family at home?