Not everyone has the time to cook daily; even those that do, try to minimize the time spent in the kitchen. It explains why some households prefer to cook in bulk and store them in sizable freezer-safe containers until they run out of food. Meanwhile, those who cook daily may resort to simple but hearty meals. There is also the option to fix a side dish, but you can only fully enjoy that when it perfectly complements your main meal. According to news reports, 24% of people in Canada eat mostly salads as a side dish, but you can try something different. Whether you’re preparing for a special occasion or want a memorable family meal, here are some tips to consider to pair your side dish with your main meal perfectly.

Consider the main dish’s flavours and textures.

As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. And this can also apply to your side dishes. A plate with various textures is visually appealing and can easily whet your appetite. It also makes it more fun to eat and would make you want to try your hands at preparing more side dishes with contrasting flavours and textures. For example, if you are serving a creamy pasta dish, pair it with a crisp and refreshing salad to balance out the richness of the main course. Again, if you are serving a hearty stew, try combining it with soft and buttery bread to complement the sauce’s flavours. While it may look too much to cook for dinner, you will be happy to know that contrasting textures and flavours are not too hard to create. You can quickly get the ingredients for these tasty dishes in the grocery store. 

Consider the main dish’s cultural origins.

Matching the cultural origins of a main dish with a side dish is a great way to create a cohesive and authentic meal. One way to do this is to research the traditional side dishes commonly served with the main dish in the culture of origin. For example, if you are serving a Chinese dish, pair it with a side dish such as steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or dumplings.

Another way to match the cultural origins of a main dish with a side dish is to use ingredients, and cooking techniques commonly found there. For example, if you are serving a Mediterranean dish, use ingredients such as olives, feta cheese, and herbs like oregano and thyme in your side dish. Additionally, you could prepare your side dish using cooking methods like grilling, roasting, and braising, which are popular in Mediterranean cuisine.

Plan or alter the cooking methods

This step is especially crucial if you don’t have much time. Planning your pairings ahead of time can significantly reduce the time you spend in the kitchen. It will also make it easier for you to multitask and maximize your kitchen equipment. For instance, while you use your stove for the main course, you can use the oven for your side dish. Suppose you want to try something quick and different using this technique. In that case, there’s an excellent recipe for oven-roasted Brussels sprouts at this site that can be used as a side dish for the family. Specific cooking methods require more time, which can be a significant put-off when cooking. Fortunately, with this approach, you will be able to make the most of your efforts in the kitchen. Ideally, a side dish shouldn’t take too long to be ready. 

With these tips, your side dishes should be an enticing and appealing part of your lunch or dinner table.

While some people love to cook up a storm in the kitchen, others see making meals as a routine task that needs to be completed but would rather order takeout or eat convenience foods. However, this means you are missing out on the joy cooking can bring to your life and how it can positively impact you. 

Eating is one of life’s great pleasures, and having the opportunity to make the most of this is a great privilege. Cooking is an essential life skill, and feeling confident in the kitchen is a great way to ensure you can always take care of yourself and that you will never go hungry. If you are keen to discover a passion for food, you should find that these tips help you to get started on your journey:

Seek Out Inspiration

Cooking inspiration is all around once you start to look. A great way to begin building your cookery knowledge and developing an understanding of cooking is to start watching cookery shows on television and to begin following food bloggers on social media. You will gain loads of inspiration and plenty of tips and tricks when you do this, and before you know it, you will be hooked on watching cookery shows and online tutorials.

You will gain loads of inspiration and plenty of tips and tricks when you do this, and before you know it, you will be hooked on watching cookery shows and online tutorials. It may even inspire you to a healthier lifestyle; what you eat plays a significant role—getting ideas for those homemade meals that are healthy and energizing food which can be a great way to reduce stress and boost your mood. And if you’re looking for inspiration, plenty of cookbooks and online resources are available to help you get started. So if you’re looking to improve your health, cooking at home is a great place to start.

Start Simple

If the pressure of cooking prevents you from doing it, taking a breath and starting over can help. Forget about your previous kitchen disasters; taking a different approach to your cooking is the best solution. When you start afresh, you have the opportunity to build your confidence. Starting with simple meals is the best way to begin. Trying something too ambitious right away can make the process unnecessarily stressful, so finding a simple recipe you think sounds delicious is a great starting point. Once you discover that you are capable of making tasty meals and begin to enjoy the food that you cook, you should find that your confidence grows further.

Try Different Cooking Methods

Once you have mastered the basics, you may feel ready to start experimenting more with your cooking. Trying out different cooking appliances and gadgets can be a great way to do this. If you have an air fryer that you have never used before, now is the time to get it working so you can start making delicious meals with it. Air fryers are capable of cooking a wide range of foods, including international dishes you may not have tried before. So, learning how to make falafel in an air fryer or oven is a great way to begin expanding your cooking knowledge and skills while enjoying new flavours at the same time.

Conclusion

While cooking can seem a little scary if you have never really done it before, it is something that can bring a huge amount of pleasure into your life. Stepping into the kitchen and allowing yourself the chance to experiment and develop your cooking skills is a great way to build your confidence and nurture your new interest.

It’s World Pizza Day! 

To celebrate, I am bringing you 2 pizza recipes that will knock your socks off. No matter what kinda pizza person you are, you are guaranteed lots of belly rubs with any pizza topping recipe you choose. 

It’s a weekday and I know we are still trying to get through the week with as much work you can get done before the weekend. Same here! Its Wednesday and I can feel the week coming down on me, can the weekend come any sooner?  With not much time on my hands and wanting to participate on Pizza Day at the same time, is why I opted out of not making my pizza dough and sauce and just focusing on the toppings of choice. 

I know what some of you might be thinking, I used to side-eye people in grocery stores who use store-bought pizza sauces specifically lol.  As a part-time chef and self-proclaimed food connoisseur, I believe there are specific foods that should be made from scratch, but honestly store-bought pizza dough and sauce work just fine, with a delicious result. Can we all take this moment to celebrate my growth? While I still believe in making my sauces, broths, etc. there are still some really good brands you can use with really good results. 

For this recipe, I used Panache’s Stone Baked Original Pizza Crust from Sobeys grocery store & Primo’s Traditional Pizza Sauce in the squeeze bottle. I find that the Pizza Sauce isn’t as tangy with the additional cooking time on the pizza plus your toppings give it the extra flavor kick it needs. And for the pizza dough, it has a fluffy and light interior and if you want very crisp ends, you can bake directly on a baking pan for 12-14 mins on 375 F. You can literally have amazing pizza you can be proud of, on your hands in 30 mins. 

If I am being honest, when pressed for time, I always use store-bought pizza dough and sauce when hosting friends, and when I have private catering events and I always get positive feedback.

 I believe what makes a great pizza is all in the toppings you use. 

Today, I will be sharing my Dutty Pizza recipe & my Beef Suya, Fried Plantain & Capers Pizza recipe.  

What I love about this fusion pizza are the different textures and flavor profiles. The well seasoned slightly spicy beef steaks, the sweetness from the fried plantains, and the crispy, slightly salty capers marry very well together. I used grated Mozzarella and Swiss cheese for this recipe, I find that the sweet & nutty taste of the Swiss cheese, pairs beautifully with the Suya spice in the beef; I recommend grating your cheese as it is of better quality. You can get Suya Spice in any West African/Caribbean grocery store. 

This fusion pizza without showing any preference is the way to go today. 

For how to make the Dutty Pizza, click here for the recipe

Now let’s get to it! 

Tried this recipe? 

Sharing is caring 😃😏

Mention me @thefoodisciple  #thefoodisciple and pin this recipe 

 

 

RECIPE CARD