Most people expect children to be picky eaters, but they’ll also expect those children to grow out of this problem and eventually be happy to try anything they’re offered. Even if this takes a while, by the time they are adults, they’ll have a broader […]
Baking and cooking shows can have us drooling over delicious desserts we all want to eat. If you’re someone who likes to cook or bake, or you’re interested in starting, you might also be interested in making some of them yourself. But some desserts can […]
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.
If you are looking to cook healthier meals but don’t know where to start, you’re in luck. This blog post will share with you five healthy cooking tips for beginners. These tips will help make cooking at home easier and more enjoyable while also helping […]
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 […]
This is how I spent Shrove Tuesday, burying my face in this plate of the fluffiest, richest pancakes you’ll ever have. I am a lover of pancakes and I’ll use just about anything and turn it into a pancake. Have you tried plantain pancakes? I have a recipe here for you and it’ll be one of the best pancakes you’ll ever have trust 👊🏾
All my vegans this one is for you too. In this post, I show you how to make plantain pancakes and also how to enjoy pancakes in 3 different ways, check it out here.
Now back to this recipe.
I went all-in with this one.. oh yeah all in!
My goal was to use all leftovers I had in my fridge to make way for new groceries, and this was the result, call me the leftover queen👑
Let me attempt to describe how good this is. Imagine the fluffiest pancakes you can think of, filled with scallions (green onions) for that savory touch, now layered with queso fresco cheese, pancetta & slaw. Once you bite into these rich pancakes, you get a hit of that ooey-gooey mild slightly tangy cheese, then you are hit with a slight salty meaty feeling from the pancetta, and finally a slight crunch from the slaw and scallions. My oh my too good! 😋🤤 as if that’s not enough, I topped it with my Chilli Sauce for a little kick.
The taste reminds me of a cross between Korean, Nigerian & Buttermilk Pancakes, although I did not use buttermilk in it. All I had was table cream 18% in my fridge; I was a bit skeptical at first because I have never heard or seen cream used in a pancake batter but let me tell you, the richness and thickness of this pancake were as a result of the cream.
No need to try to imagine it when you can just make it; you can also find the recipe video here
PS: Check out another leftover gold recipe, my Dutty Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Leftovers make for the best snacks…or in this case, a perfect lunch-time meal. My Dutty Grilled Cheese Sandwich deserves all the rave and accolades 😂 I had some leftover ground cajun sausages from my previous Dutty Pizza recipe and I turned it into this delicious […]
This pizza recipe was inspired by Cajun Dirty Rice. This is one recipe I would love to share on this blog sometime in the future. You know that simple, inexpensive, and fast recipe that is your go-to; you know it, Bangs! every time you make it, […]
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!
I’m proud to collaborate with more than 30 Black recipe developers as we celebrate Black History Month 2022. This Virtual Potluck explores Black food through the lens of Afrofuturism. Our collaboration of recipes explores the intersection of the Black diaspora via culture, future, geopolitics, imagination, […]