Question about NPCs cooking

[Synavix]

So early on the NPCs say they'll only craft cooking recipes that you've already created. But what about recipes that can be made from different ingredients? Do I just need to create the dish once or with every possible ingredient?

For example, I think cabbage and leeks both make 0 star grilled greens. If I make grilled greens 0 stars with cabbage, but give the NPCs both cabbage and leeks in a chest, will they use both? Or would I need to specifically use both cabbage and leeks individually first? Obviously it's not a big deal for single ingredient dishes but for ones that use 2 or 3 I would imagine there's quite a few combinations of grains/vegetables/fruits that could make the more complex ones.

Also, are there any ingredients they can't/won't use? I'm guessing they can't use water, but will they use oil or ice if I give it to them? And which fish can be used to cook with? I've noticed certain types can, but most can't (at least of the ones I've caught so far).

[tambaloneus]

They'll make any recipe you know, usually randomly, including the 3 ingredient ones. The ingredient they won't use is water so those recipes they won't use. They do use oil, ice & snow if they know recipes for those. I think with recipes that have 'any vegetable' in them they do use whatever vegetable they have at hand. I think the ones you need to learn are the higher star ones of each recipe (ie, you need to have made the 2 star versions of things before they will).

[lilisaur]

You do need to make the basic, 1 star and 2 star varieties of foods that have different tiers. They will only make the type you create so if all you've made is the 1-star version, they won't make basic. It doesn't matter what exact ingredient you use - cooks will substitute compatible ingredients on their own. This does mean that they'll occasionally use a rarer ingredient when a more common one would have sufficed (like Rice in place of Wheat)

As far as fish, Lemontail, Salmon, Stripy Salmon, King Salmon, Striped Beakfish, Red Snapper, Flounder, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Mackerel, Rockfish, Piranha Jellyfish, Carp, Halibut, Tuna, Marlin, Anglerfish, Blowfish, Bass, Moonfish, and Squid are the cookable ones I think. Salmon, King Salmon, Striped Beakfish, Squid, Anglerfish, and Marlin have special recipes though so don't waste them on simpler fish dishes unless you've got extras. Lemontail is lowest tier and infrequently dropped from Man O'Wars though fishing for Mackerel at Angler's Isle might be quicker. Salmon is middle tier and easily mined from Great Sabrecubs at Blossom Bay. Generally speaking the Whopping Greats will usually be top tier (though all Red Snappers and Tuna are top tier regardless of thier size.)

[Synavix]

Thank you both, your answers were exactly what I was looking for.