Iliza Shlesinger and Noah Galuten on Cooking, Comedy, and the Days of Quarantine:
The quarantine and Covid hit us all hard but thankfully on an episode of Better Together with Maria Menounos, comedian Iliza Shlesinger and her husband, chef and writer Noah Galuten, shared their secrets to making the most of social distancing through cooking, humor, and their wildly popular Don’t Panic Pantry series.
A Time for Laughter and Comfort Food
Iliza, known for her sharp wit and groundbreaking Netflix specials, has been keeping audiences entertained for years. Her latest project, The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show, recently premiered on Netflix, offering much-needed comic relief. “It’s a humor we’ve been missing,” Maria noted, recalling how she and her husband Kevin laughed uncontrollably while watching the series.
While Iliza is keeping the world laughing, Noah is keeping people fed. As a chef and food writer, he has been using his skills to help people cook with what they have in their pantries through Don’t Panic Pantry, a daily Instagram Live cooking show that began as a way to encourage people to stay home and use what’s on hand.
“We were going to be cooking anyway,” Noah explained. “So, I started making these loose recipes based on what we had at home. The whole goal was to create meals that didn’t require people to constantly go to the store.”
Iliza added, “We wanted to encourage people to cook with what they have, so we make things using simple ingredients like beans, sauerkraut, tortillas—things most people already have in their kitchen.”
The Pantry Tour and Cooking Demo
During the interview, Maria took Iliza and Noah on a virtual tour of her pantry, revealing a collection of staples like black beans, olive oil, frozen spinach, and spices. With those ingredients in mind, Noah guided Maria through a quick and nutritious recipe: sautéed spinach and black beans topped with a fried egg.
“Beans and greens are one of my go-to meals,” Noah explained. “It’s hearty, healthy, and super simple.”
As Maria cooked alongside them, Noah offered helpful tips, like seasoning in layers, using bean liquid for added texture, and adding a runny egg for extra richness. The final product? A satisfying, protein-packed dish that came together in minutes.
The Importance of Cooking at Home
One of the key messages Iliza and Noah emphasized is the importance of home cooking—not just for health, but also as a way to minimize unnecessary trips to the grocery store.
“Every time you go to the grocery store, you’re putting yourself at risk,” Iliza said. “We really want people to think about how to stretch what they have and avoid going out unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Noah added, “A lot of people are realizing how much food they actually have in their pantry that they never use. This is a great time to experiment, get creative, and make meals that are both delicious and practical.”
The Power of Humor and Connection
Beyond food, Iliza and Noah are also focused on keeping people entertained and connected.
“Every day at 5 p.m. Pacific, we go live on Instagram,” Iliza said. “People tune in not just to cook with us, but sometimes just to hang out. Some people are eating cereal while they watch! It’s all about providing a little bit of consistency and calmness in uncertain times.”
Maria praised the couple for using their talents to uplift others. “You guys are making really good use of your time by sharing your gifts. We need laughter, and we need good food now more than ever.”
As the conversation wrapped up, Maria took her first bite of the beans, greens, and egg dish. “This is so good!” she exclaimed. “Never would I have thought to put beans and spinach together like this.”
Iliza, never missing a comedic beat, quipped, “Welcome to our lives.”
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