Introduction
There is nothing like getting together with family and friends to enjoy a homemade dish lovingly prepared with fresh, delicious ingredients. Home-cooked meals can be hearty, comforting and surprisingly healthy too; with the right recipes, you may even find yourself coming back for seconds.
No matter your culinary skill level, home cooking can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Here is a comprehensive guide to all the tips, tricks and recipes needed to get the best from your kitchen and cook up some wonderful meals.
Ingredients
The cornerstone of any successful dish is choosing the right ingredients. Always opt for fresh, prime-quality produce, especially if the recipe calls for leafy greens, tomatoes, mushrooms or other vegetables.
Whenever possible, shop locally and opt for organic foods if your budget allows. The fresher and healthier the ingredients, the better the final dish will taste. Not sure which ingredients you need? Don’t stress - take a look at our extensive list of recipes below.
Preparing Ingredients
Once you have all the necessary ingredients, it’s time to get prepping. The time you spend preparing, slicing, dicing, chopping and seasoning ingredients is a vital part of the cooking process and will make all the difference in the end.
Depending on the dish you’re making, start by thawing out your meats and poultry, get the vegetables prepped and ready, and measure out your spices, herbs and liquids. The earlier you get started with the prepping, the better the dish will turn out in the end.
Cooking
Now that all the ingredients are prepared and ready to go, you can begin the actual cooking process. Make sure to read through your recipe care-fully as different dishes will require different techniques or special tools.
Note the required temperature, either simmered for a longer time at a lower temperature or cooked on a high heat for a shorter amount of time. Get your pans out - non-stick is king here - as well as your favourite herbs and spices, and get cooking.
Serving
Once everything is ready and the dish is ready to serve, don’t forget to take a few seconds to appreciate your work - you deserve it! Place your creation on the table and make sure to keep it warm if it’s supposed to be served hot.
Decorate your dish to make it look attractive and palatable, impressing your family or friends with your culinary creation.
Recipe Ideas
If you need help getting started with some delicious home-cooked recipes, don’t worry - we have you covered! Here are some of our favourites that are quick to make, budget-friendly, and most importantly, utterly delicious.
Pizza Dough
Makes: 5 Duration: 40 minutes Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 cup warm water
Method: 1. In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast and salt. 2. Stir in 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil to the flour mixture. 3. Gradually add the warm water to the mixture and mix until a soft ball of dough is formed. 4. Knead the dough for 10 minutes and then shape into a ball. 5. Grease the bowl with remaining olive oil and place the ball of dough inside. 6. Cover with a damp cloth and let it set for 30 minutes. 7. Roll out the dough and add the toppings of your choice.
Fried Rice
Makes: 4 Duration: 30 minutes Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 750 g cooked rice
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 red pepper, finely diced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 4 spring onions, finely sliced
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
Method: 1. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok and add garlic, ginger and onion, stirring until the onion is softened. 2. Add carrots and red pepper and stir until the vegetables are cooked. 3. Push the vegetables to the side of the wok and add beaten egg. Scramble until cooked. 4. Add the cooked rice, sesame oil, remaining vegetables and soy sauces and mix with the vegetables. 5. Stir fry until all the ingredients are mixed together. 6. Serve with a sprinkle of spring onions.
Couscous Salad
Makes: 4 Duration: 25 minutes Ingredients: - 1 cup couscous - 1 ½ cups vegetable stock - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar - 1 bell pepper, diced - 1 cucumber, diced - 1 can of chickpeas, drained - ¼ cup pitted olives, sliced - 1 teaspoon ground cumin - ½ teaspoon ground coriander - 1 teaspoon paprika - 1 teaspoon honey - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped - 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
Method: 1. In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable stock to a boil. 2. Turn off the heat and add the couscous, stirring with a fork. Cover the pan with its lid and let it stand for 10 minutes. 3. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and add the bell pepper, cucumber and chickpeas. Saute until all the vegetables are lightly browned. 4. In a large bowl, combine cooked couscous, the sautéed vegetables, olives, cumin, coriander, paprika, honey, parsley and mint. 5. Add red wine vinegar and mix all the ingredients together. 6. Serve the couscous salad at room temperature or chilled.
Conclusion
There is something special about cooking your own meals for your family and friends. No matter what you are making, from simple dishes to more complex recipes, all it takes is some patience, creativity and a few recipes to get started.
We hope that this guide has given you plenty of ideas and inspiration to start cooking delicious and healthy homemade meals. With the right ingredients and techniques, you too can create fabulous dishes for your loved ones to enjoy.
Happy cooking!