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How To Cook Without Recipes

How To Cook Without Recipes Like A Pro

Cooking without a recipe is easy for some people but not for others. To hone this skill, you will need to build a solid foundation and broaden your understanding of basic cooking skills. This post will explore why this important and provide you with tips on how to do this like a pro. Just know that honing this skill will take time, practice, and patience, but know that it can be done!

Why is it important?

Did you know cooking without a recipe will make you prepare your meal quicker after a busy day at work or taking care of your family? If you know what you’re doing, there is no need for convenience food or a fast-food restaurant. Your cooking may even be faster than the take-out restaurant can deliver. Not to mention, it will be a healthier option.

How to cook without recipes?

To cook without a recipe, you’re going to need a few things at home before you can consider yourself ready to cook anything. Prepare yourself to go shopping if you don’t have these items on hand.

The things you will need can be broken down into 3 categories:

  • Equipment
  • Ingredients
  • Knowledge

Equipment

Cutting tools:

  • Cutting board
  • Knives
  • Honing steel
  • Peeler
  • Grater
  • Can opener
  • Kitchen shears

Tools to measure with:

  • Measuring spoons
  • Thermometer
  • Measuring cups
  • Digital scale

Mixing/Spreading Tools:

  • Pastry brush
  • Wooden spoon
  • Whisk
  • Tongs
  • Spatula

Other items:

Ingredients

It is best to stock your kitchen with ingredients that you use day to day. If you are new to cooking, it is wise to look through some recipes that will help you know what ingredients are needed. The more recipes that you practice cooking, the more you will learn ingredients by heart. You will also know ingredients you can substitute if a problem arises.

Knowledge

Building on your knowledge will not be a quick fix that you can buy from the store. The speed of how quickly you learn things will be dependent on you and how much you practice.

At first, you will need to rely on recipes, there is no going around that. Once you learn one recipe, move on to another. The more you do this, the more you’ll realize that some of the same techniques are repeated in different recipes. For example, running cold water on a food item to stop the cooking process or browning meat in a pan before adding liquid. Take notes if you have to, you can build on your knowledge by learning multiple recipes or practicing one recipe a lot until you can do it blindfolded.

At culinary school, I was constantly reminded to taste the food during the cooking process. This is one way to build your palate so that if something is not to your liking, you can change it. Another piece of advice my culinary teachers would say to me is, eat everywhere. Which is something that you can do as well. Explore new flavors, don’t be afraid to try new things. Know the difference between flavors such as spicy, sweet, bitter, sour, and salty. Every time you cook, you will be familiarized with these flavors. The more you cook, the bolder you will get to try different combinations of herbs, oils, spices, and other ingredients.

Just remember that a recipe is a guideline and nothing else. Also remember, some recipes can even be wrong or unclear!

Time to Practice

Even though this post is teaching you how to cook without a recipe. I still think that you should cover your basics. What better way to do that than practicing a few egg recipes to start you off?

Caprese Omelet

Ingredients:

  • Eggs (6, beaten)
  • Olive oil (2 tbsp.)
  • Tomatoes (3 ½ oz., cherry, halved)
  • Basil (1 tbsp., dried)
  • Mozzarella cheese (5 1/3 oz., diced)

Directions:

  1. Whisk basil into eggs, and lightly season.
  2. Set a large skillet with oil over medium heat and allow it to get hot. Once hot, add tomatoes and cook while stirring.
  3. Top with egg and continue cooking until the tops have started to firm up.
  4. Add cheese, switch your heat to low, and allow to set fully set before serving. Enjoy!

Serves: 2                              Prep Time: 10 mins                          Cook Time: 10 mins

Eggs with Garlic in Avocado Hole

Ingredients:

  • 3 Halved avocados
  • 6 Eggs
  • 1 tsp of garlic powder
  • ½ tsp of sea salt
  • ¼ tsp of black pepper
  • ¼ cup of shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat your air fryer at a temperature of about 350°F.
  2. Take 3 medium avocados; then cut them into halves. Scoop out about one-third of the meat from each of the avocados.
  3. Put the avocado halves in the air fryer pan with the face-up.
  4. Sprinkle the avocado with 1 pinch of salt and 1 pinch of pepper.
  5. Sprinkle with the garlic powder and crack each of the eggs in the avocado halves.
  6. Place the Air Fryer pan in your air fryer basket and lock the lid.
  7. Set the timer for about 13 to 15 minutes.
  8. When the timer beeps; turn off your Air Fryer.
  9. Serve and enjoy your breakfast!

Serves: 4                                              Prep Time: 15 mins                          Cook Time: 15 mins

Easy Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • Eggs (4)
  • Cottage cheese (7 oz.)
  • Psyllium Husk Powder (1 tbsp., ground)
  • Butter (2 oz.)

 Directions:

  1. Add all your ingredients except butter, to a medium bowl, stir to combine then set aside to expand for about 5 minutes.
  2. Set a skillet with oil over medium heat and allow it to melt.
  3. Add batter to the hot pan in batches and allow to fry until lightly golden on each side (about 4 minutes per side).
  4. Serve with berries or whipped cream.

Serves: 4                              Prep Time: 5 mins                            Cook Time: 20 mins

Conclusion

Whether you are trying to figure out how to cook without recipes or learning new recipes, you will be become more comfortable in the kitchen the more you practice. You can even go as far as creating your own recipes. Believe in yourself. Remember this is your culinary journey, so be sure to enjoy it.

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