Lychee Challenge: 2 Chefs Make Dinner and Dessert With Lychee | Mystery Menu | NYT Cooking

Mystery Menu is back! Sohla and Ham El-Waylly are the dynamic kitchen duo who take on the challenge of cooking dinner and a dessert from a secret ingredient in under an hour. Today’s secret ingredient is … lychee! How will they use it? Watch to find out.

Cover photo by Graiki, via Getty Images

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All the food that’s fit to eat (yes, it’s an official New York Times production).

[Lou-Mae]

I just love how supportive Ham is. It says a lot about my expectations for men in general, but he doesn't bulldoze Sohla's ideas or 'take charge' like a lot of men do - he listens and responds and expands on her suggestions, and I just love it so much. They seem like such an awesome couple.

[paigeh]

i am jealous of how good your child will eat 😭 theyre gonna go to their friends houses and be like wtf is this 😭😭😭

[kristinnelson-patel]

I just love how Sohla and Ham riff off of each other’s ideas and work together so beautifully. They’re definitely thinking like parents now, all about efficiency and how to buy the elements they don’t absolutely love to make themselves!

[isabellah]

As yummy as a mango mystery dish would’ve been, I think lychee was a more challenging fruit. I’m excited with what Sohla and Ham did with it. This series is my favorite!

[kayendubb]

Sohla, HOW DID YOU DO THIS JOB DURING YOUR FIRST TRIMESTER?? I’m currently pregnant and food was the enemy during my first trimester. You are a superhero

[leanneaudrey]

"Toned-down" - meanwhile Dinner and Dessert turned into a 2 course meal plus dessert with drinks ❤

[sparklesthefatcat]

Petition to let Sohla and Ham do a bonus episode with mangoes! That would have been so much fun!

[Jay.]

Sohla multitasking at the end to complete everything - truly an amazing cook.

[rockpooladmirer]

Hi, still here asking for proper closed captions on your videos. the auto generated ones always have errors and omissions and are insufficient access for those who need them.
the latest Recipe Quest video had them, so it's clearly doable. why the inconsistency?

[deniseferron]

That these guys can throw together an entrée, main dish, side salad, dessert AND a cocktail in one hour just blows my mind. Granted, the clock only starts to run after they’ve done the meal planning and grocery shopping, but still! Takes a lot of experience in the kitchen to do that. I doubt that Ham is henpecked like some previous commenter said: you can feel the complicity between these two people just in the way they work together. Seamless and peaceful.

[shinyy]

Sohla with mommy brain is leagues better at cooking than me at my cognitive best 😂

[pnuffsaid]

The crew enjoying the food after shooting is done is my favorite part. ❤

[joelbarish]

For new parents, Ham and Sohla look great! Love watching their genius and creativity, as always. Congratulations on the baby!

[MaxineShaw_]

Between the tip of adding butter at the _beginning_ of caramel and the life lesson of "however long we have left is how long its gonna cook", I want to be raised by these two. 🥺💜

[disasterlaster]

i think after becoming a parent sohla may have gotten better at making time-saving modifications to execute her ideas- for example, opting for puff pastry or pie crust instead of making the dough herself. her whimsy has been constrained slightly, forcing her to make practical choices where before she would have pushed herself to do the more laborious/time-sucking thing. it's beautiful to watch this chef grow!

[lorithomasscott]

I’ve always loved Sohla and Ham’s dynamic but there’s something even more special now in the way they talk to each other and collaborate ❤

[madelinehoerner]

Love the added shots of Ham and Sohla during the drawing part

[gillablecam]

I love how they work with each other, especially seeing how Ham helps Sohla plan and make decisions when she's tired out of her mind by asking good questions. Communication is great, love to see it done so well.

[ListerTunes]

I absolutely love watching these two work together. Trading ideas, bouncing them off each other, listening to each other, dividing tasks, adapting in the moment, being supportive --AND coming up with a meal that looks genuinely amazing using an ingredient they haven't cooked before. Fantastic work.

[Daanny]

"Not too sweet"
ah the good ol asian compliment