how to cook without a recipe with becoming a great cook

how to cook without a recipe with becoming a great cook

Becoming a Great Cook.

Take notes about what works. Not every dish you create from scratch will be a hit, but you're sure to cook something that you want to make again. Don't wait too long before you write down what you made. This will help you replicate the dish until you can commit it to memory.



You should also make notes of what didn't work and possible things to try for next time. For example, you could write, "Don't substitute white chocolate for dark chocolate. Try semisweet instead."



Give yourself enough time to cook. If you don't have a recipe to go off of, you should have a vague understanding of how long it will take to make certain dishes so you don't feel stressed. Keep in mind that meals like pasta, pizza, or stir-fries will come together faster than large cuts of meat, such as roasts.

Tip: Think about ways you can prep a meal in advance if you're short on time. For example, you might braise a pork shoulder and refrigerate it once it's cooked. Then, shred it the next day and use it for tacos, chili, or stew.



Use leftovers as the basis for a new meal. This is a great way to reduce food waste and come up with a new meal without a recipe. Take a look through the fridge and pantry to see what food you have and try to come up with a meal that uses several of the ingredients.



For example, if you have leftover roasted vegetables and some soft cheese, toss them with cooked noodles to make a casserole. You could also use them as toppings for a quick pizza or mix them into a simple omelette.



Use your favorite recipes as templates for new dishes. You don't need to start from scratch every time you cook without a recipe. Instead, find recipes you enjoy making and use them as a guide to make new meals.

For example, if you have a great curry recipe, try substituting the protein or swapping out the vegetables for an entirely new curry.



Cook within flavor families. Look at the ingredients you have on hand and think about which go well together. Then, try to craft a meal around those flavors. For example, if you're making a simple bean soup, you could use black beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, garlic, and onion to make a Southwestern-flavored soup. Or you could use different flavors, such as white beans with garlic, thyme, chicken stock, and rosemary.

You might find that you're already comfortable cooking a certain cuisine. Think about the ingredients and flavors that are frequently used and try to make them into new dishes.



Relax and enjoy making food. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when you cook and try to cook as often as you can. Working in the kitchen every day will make you feel more capable and confident. Practice really will make it easier to cook meals without a recipe.