Cooking in Stardew Valley may look simple at first glance—just step up to your stove, choose a recipe, and your farmer prepares the dish. But the real challenge lies in actually getting the recipe and collecting the ingredients. Some meals require nothing more than an egg, while others demand rare crops, difficult fish, or a strong bond with villagers.
If you’re aiming for the Gourmet Chef Achievement or just want to complete your collection, here are the hardest recipes to make in Stardew Valley—and the full recipe list for completionists.
Tropical Curry – Locked Behind Ginger Island
Ingredients: Coconut, Hot Pepper, Pineapple
Source: Buy from Gus for 2,000g at Ginger Island Resort
Pineapples only grow on Ginger Island, which itself requires 50 Golden Walnuts to unlock. Coconuts are easier but still tied to desert or island progression. By the time you finally reach Gus’s resort, the grind will test your farming and exploration patience.
Lobster Bisque – The Crab Pot Grind
Ingredients: Lobster, Milk
Source: Sent by Willy at 9 Hearts
Getting Milk is easy; Lobster isn’t. With only a 5% chance from Crab Pots in saltwater, you may wait weeks before snagging one. Using Wild Bait or the Mariner profession can help, but this recipe remains one of the most RNG-dependent in the game.
Tom Kha Soup – Friendship in the Desert
Ingredients: Common Mushroom, Shrimp, Coconut
Source: Sent by Sandy at 7 Hearts
The challenge is befriending Sandy, who lives in Calico Desert. You must repair the bus first, then consistently bring her gifts. Shrimp, with just a 10% Crab Pot chance, adds to the difficulty.
Fried Calamari – Squid Fishing Woes
Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Squid
Source: Sent by Jodi at 3 Hearts
You can buy flour, but catching Squid is the hurdle. Found only in Winter between 6 PM and 2 AM at the beach, Squid are infamous for breaking beginner rods. For many players, this dish becomes a fishing rite of passage.
Squid Ink Ravioli – Combat Meets Cooking
Ingredients: Wheat Flour, Tomato, Squid Ink
Source: Combat Level 9
The late-game wall is Squid Ink. Either populate a Fish Pond with Squid and wait, or battle Squid Kids in the mines (20% drop). By the time you reach Combat Level 9, you’ll likely have the gear to manage it—but it’s still a grind.
Seafoam Pudding – Fishing Mastery Required
Ingredients: Midnight Carp, Flounder, Squid Ink
Source: Fishing Level 9
Reaching Level 9 Fishing takes serious dedication. Midnight Carp only appear after 10 PM in Mountain Lake, giving a narrow catch window. Add in Squid Ink, and this pudding cements its reputation as one of the hardest but most rewarding fishing dishes.
Mango Sticky Rice – Winning Leo’s Trust
Ingredients: Mango, Rice, Coconut
Source: Sent by Leo at 7 Hearts
Reaching Ginger Island is already a late-game milestone. To learn this recipe, you’ll also need to befriend Leo. Mangoes are locked behind saplings from the Island Trader or lucky Golden Coconut drops, with a 28-day growth cycle. It’s a recipe built on patience.
See also: All Grow a Garden Cooking Recipes Guide: Normal, Divine & Prismatic Meals
Spicy Eel – Slippery Catch and Friendship
Ingredients: Eel, Hot Pepper
Source: Sent by George at 7 Hearts
Hot Peppers are simple; Eels are not. They only spawn in Spring and Fall at the beach, after 4 PM on rainy days. Eels are fast and evasive, frustrating new anglers. Still, the reward—+1 Luck and +1 Speed—makes Spicy Eel one of the most sought-after meals.
Full Stardew Valley Recipe List
If you’re working toward the Gourmet Chef Achievement, you’ll need all 80 recipes. Here’s a complete reference:
| Recipe | Ingredients | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stir Fry | Cave Carrot, Common Mushroom, Kale, Oil | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Coleslaw | Green Cabbage, Vinegar, Mayonnaise | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Radish Salad | Radish, Oil, Vinegar | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Omelet | Egg, Milk | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Pizza | Wheat Flour, Tomato, Cheese | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Hashbrowns | Potato, Oil | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Complete Breakfast | Fried Egg, Milk, Hashbrowns, Pancakes | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Lucky Lunch | Sea Cucumber, Tortilla, Blue Jazz | Queen of Sauce (Spring) |
| Baked Fish | Sunfish, Bream, Wheat Flour | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Pancakes | Wheat Flour, Egg | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Maki Roll | Any Fish, Seaweed, Rice | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Bread | Wheat Flour | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Carp Surprise | Carp (4) | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Maple Bar | Maple Syrup, Sugar, Wheat Flour | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Pink Cake | Melon, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Egg | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Roasted Hazelnuts | Hazelnut, Oil | Queen of Sauce (Summer) |
| Tortilla | Corn | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Trout Soup | Rainbow Trout, Green Algae | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Glazed Yams | Yam, Sugar | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Blackberry Cobbler | Blackberry, Sugar, Wheat Flour | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Crab Cakes | Crab, Wheat Flour, Egg, Oil | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Fiddlehead Risotto | Fiddlehead Fern, Garlic, Oil | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Fruit Salad | Blueberry, Melon, Apricot | Queen of Sauce (Fall) |
| Artichoke Dip | Artichoke, Milk | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Plum Pudding | Wild Plum, Wheat Flour, Sugar | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Chocolate Cake | Wheat Flour, Sugar, Egg, Cocoa | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Pumpkin Pie | Pumpkin, Wheat Flour, Milk, Sugar | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Lobster Bisque | Lobster, Milk | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Bruschetta | Bread, Oil, Tomato | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Shrimp Cocktail | Shrimp, Tomato | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Poppyseed Muffin | Poppy, Wheat Flour, Sugar | Queen of Sauce (Winter) |
| Salad | Leek, Dandelion, Vinegar | Emily (3 Hearts) |
| Red Plate | Red Cabbage, Radish | Emily (7 Hearts) |
| Cheese Cauliflower | Cauliflower, Cheese | Pam (3 Hearts) |
| Stuffing | Bread, Cranberries, Hazelnut | Pam (7 Hearts) |
| Parsnip Soup | Parsnip, Milk, Vinegar | Caroline (3 Hearts) |
| Vegetable Medley | Beet, Tomato | Caroline (7 Hearts) |
| Fried Calamari | Squid, Wheat Flour | Jodi (3 Hearts) |
| Ice Cream | Milk, Sugar | Jodi (7 Hearts) |
| Fried Mushroom | Common Mushroom, Morel, Oil | Demetrius (3 Hearts) |
| Autumn’s Bounty | Pumpkin, Yam | Demetrius (7 Hearts) |
| Salmon Dinner | Salmon, Amaranth, Kale | Gus (3 Hearts) |
| Cranberry Sauce | Cranberries, Sugar | Gus (7 Hearts) |
| Algae Soup | Green Algae (4) | Clint (3 Hearts) |
| Bean Hotpot | Green Bean (2) | Clint (7 Hearts) |
| Sashimi | Any Fish | Linus (3 Hearts) |
| Fish Taco | Tortilla, Red Cabbage, Any Fish, Mayo | Linus (7 Hearts) |
| Pepper Poppers | Hot Pepper, Cheese | Shane (3 Hearts) |
| Strange Bun | Void Egg, Wheat Flour, Periwinkle | Shane (7 Hearts) |
| Pale Broth | White Algae (2) | Marnie (3 Hearts) |
| Rhubarb Pie | Rhubarb, Sugar, Wheat Flour | Marnie (7 Hearts) |
| Crispy Bass | Largemouth Bass, Wheat Flour, Oil | Kent (3 Hearts) |
| Super Meal | Cranberries, Artichoke, Spinach | Kent (7 Hearts) |
| Fried Eel | Eel, Oil | George (3 Hearts) |
| Spicy Eel | Eel, Hot Pepper | George (7 Hearts) |
| Spaghetti | Wheat Flour, Tomato | Lewis (3 Hearts) |
| Eggplant Parmesan | Eggplant, Tomato, Cheese | Lewis (7 Hearts) |
| Cookie | Wheat Flour, Sugar, Egg | Evelyn (3 Hearts) |
| Rice Pudding | Milk, Sugar, Rice | Evelyn (7 Hearts) |
| Blueberry Tart | Blueberry, Wheat Flour, Sugar, Egg | Pierre (3 Hearts) |
| Pumpkin Soup | Pumpkin, Milk | Robin (7 Hearts) |
| Chowder | Clam, Milk | Willy (3 Hearts) |
| Escargot | Snail, Garlic, Butter | Willy (5 Hearts) |
| Fish Stew | Crayfish, Mussel, Periwinkle, Tomato | Willy (7 Hearts) |
| Lobster Bisque | Lobster, Milk | Willy (9 Hearts) |
| Tom Kha Soup | Coconut, Shrimp, Common Mushroom | Sandy (7 Hearts) |
| Poi | Taro Root (4) | Leo (3 Hearts) |
| Mango Sticky Rice | Mango, Coconut, Rice | Leo (7 Hearts) |
| Roots Platter | Cave Carrot, Winter Root | Combat (Level 3) |
| Squid Ink Ravioli | Tomato, Wheat Flour, Squid Ink | Combat (Level 9) |
| Farmer’s Lunch | Omelet, Parsnip | Farming (Level 3) |
| Dish O’ The Sea | Sardine, Hashbrowns | Fishing (Level 3) |
| Seafoam Pudding | Midnight Carp, Flounder, Squid Ink | Fishing (Level 9) |
| Survival Burger | Bread, Cave Carrot, Eggplant | Foraging (Level 2) |
| Miner’s Treat | Cave Carrot, Sugar, Milk | Mining (Level 3) |
| Tropical Curry | Coconut, Hot Pepper, Pineapple | Gus at Ginger Island Resort |
| Triple Shot Espresso | Coffee (3) | Stardrop Saloon (5000g) |
Cooking in Stardew Valley isn’t just about restoring health—it’s a reflection of your progress. The hardest dishes highlight your mastery of farming, fishing, combat, and friendships. And with the full recipe list at your fingertips, you’ll be ready to chase the Gourmet Chef Achievement without missing a single dish.
When you finally cook something like Seafoam Pudding or Mango Sticky Rice, you’ll know you’ve tackled some of Stardew Valley’s toughest challenges—and turned them into delicious rewards.
