Cooking is the art of crafting the food ingredients and techniques, all together to make magically tasty dishes. You can consider it as science, where the kitchen is the laboratory for a new invention. You will see thousands of cooking processes all around the world are followed by different types of people of ethnicity. Do you love cooking and believe this in the same way? Then, you have a good understanding of cooking.
Are you a beginner as a cook? Do you want to learn the easy and efficient recipes during this lockdown? Then, stay with us. The whole article is about the cooking recipes and fundamental kitchen basics for the beginner.
Is Cooking A Skill Or A Talent?
When you go to cook something, do you feel natural happiness, and do you feel confident? How do you start cooking in the first place? All these questions are related to the solution of “is cooking a skill or a talent?”. Let’s discuss this.
Many people inheritably get cooking talent. They don’t need to spend much time learning the necessary things.
On the other hand, you will see many people have a passion for cooking, but they need to spend more time grabbing basic things. So, by nature, some of us get an advantage to start the cooking process, and some don’t. But when you want to be good at cooking or anything, you have to be consistent, hardworking, and passionate. These things make the difference.
You have to learn hard to be a skillful cook. Cooking is not easy work. You need to practice with your dedicated mind to get the skill. And if you have the talent, then the process would be easy for anyone. So, at last, we can say, to be a skillful cook you must not need to have the talent. Better cooking is somehow a mixture of skills and talent.
Fundamental Challenges For The Beginners In The Kitchen & How Do They Overcome It?
For a beginner, starting anything is hard. And if it is about the cooking, then yes, of course, you need help to create. Many small pieces of advice can make a big difference in handling the kitchen. Are you a beginner in the kitchen? Don’t worry. We are going to give you some advice to overcome the fundamental challenges.
Messing The Kitchen While Cooking
For the beginner keeping the kitchen clean is a tough thing. If you think in a calm head, you will understand that it is all about organizing the cooking process. First, chopping the cooking ingredients uses the bowls to keep different parts on them. Use a paper towel or kitchen rags to wipe up the countertop always. When it is prepping, you can wash the dishes that you are not going to use again.
Understanding The Cooking Quantity
In the beginning, it is tough to understand the quantity, how much I need to cook. Ask yourself first how many times and how many people will eat. If you know the answer, then you have the solution. For one person and one time, you can have the recipe. You need to just multiply the quantity according to the people and times. So, the foods are not going to waste or less as expected.
Buying The Cooking Ingredients
Buying the right cooking ingredients is not an easy task. Many experienced cooks may face problems to choose the best ingredients. A tasty and healthy dish requires fresh ingredients. First, you need to make a list of what you need for cooking. Decide which recipe you need to cook for a day or a week. Check the ingredients you need for a recipe. Make a list.
For vegetables, select the green and fresh ones. For packaged ingredients, check the expiry date and formula or preparation. If you are satisfied, then choose that one.
Buying The Kitchen Tools
In the beginning, you don’t need many things to cook. For primary selection, a knife, a chopping board, an iron skillet, and a stovetop are enough. Other essential tools you can purchase slowly. Some devices are very efficient. Choose wisely to select the tools you need. Otherwise, these things can make your kitchen only messy.
Managing The Cooking Time
For the beginner, it is evident that you need more time to end your dishes because of the lack of skill and experience. An experienced cook can give time for multiple tiny parts of work. That’s the process to end the job in a reasonable time. So the advice would be, divide the whole piece into some small portions. And slowly start together with multiple tiny fragments.
What Are The 9 Basic Kitchen Kits Or Accessories A Beginner Should Buy Before Start Cooking
Knife
The knife is an essential accessory for cooking and the kitchen. For cutting or chopping the ingredients in eatable and cookable sizes, the blade has no alternative. A good quality knife can give you a comfortable experience. Below we will discuss some fine quality knives.
- Damascus Chef Knife
Do you want a sharp knife with elegant and esthetic features? Then, you should buy a Damascus Chef Knife. With all cutting guarantees and most durability elements, the blade will give you a perfect shopping solution.
Check our most beginner Damascus Chef Knife.
- Japanese Knife
Do you feel uncomfortable using a knife in the kitchen? Then, you may not use a good quality knife, which means the Japanese Knife. Japanese knife is durable and sharper, but its thinner and lightweight features will give you a fearless using experience.
Check our amazing Japanese Knife especially for the beginner.
- Serbian Chef Knife
Do you know what Serbian Chef Knife is? The Serbian Chef Knife is generally made with 1% carbon content. You will surprise to know that our Serbian Chef Knife has the quality of extreme sharpness. And their edge lasts for many years without any doubt.
Click Serbian Chef Knife to check our coolest knives.
Juicers & Ice Maker
If you want to start a cooking career, then start with making the juice. Making juice is most easy work, but if you first at then you need some time to learn the process. A good juicer and an icemaker make your job easier. In summer everyone wants to drink frozen juice or smoothy. So, a juicer and an ice maker can help you to release the tension.
- Masticating Juicers
Masticating Juicers is a particular juicer that has twin gear to produce more nutritious juice. The juicer breaks down the fiber more properly of fruit and vegetables to get more vitamins and nutrition.
Check our best Masticating Juicers for the beginner.
- Nugget Icemaker
Do you know what Nugget Icemaker is? Nugget Icemaker is a special icemaker that makes the nugget ice. Nugget ice is special small-sized ice.
It has an evenly distributing element. You can check or the wonderful Nugget Icemaker for the new cook.
Oven
An oven is an essential part of the kitchen. Without a range, you cannot cook many things. Oven makes your food tasty, juicy, and roasted. A well-featured oven makes your cooking experience easy and tidies up. Many types of ranges can help you, but below, we will discuss two significant ovens.
- Rotisserie Oven
Did you hear about the Rotisserie Oven? Rotisserie oven makes rotisserie, which is also known as spit-roasting. Any food lover doesn’t miss the chance to take rotisserie. So, how do you miss the opportunity to buy a Rotisserie Oven!
Buy our best choice Rotisserie Oven for the beginner.
- Convection Microwave Oven
For fast cooking, Convection Microwave Oven is the best one. In particular for the beginner who spends more time than an expert. You will see that the heating procedure and the fan make fast heating in the oven.
A Convection Microwave Oven will be a great time saver for the beginner.
Pasta Strainer
Are you a pasta lover? Do you want to make pasta on your own for the first time? Don’t worry, and we are here with an excellent solution for you. For straining the boiling water from the pasta, you need a strainer. The strainer is the bowl-shaped tracery or mesh.
Many people know the strainer as a colander. This gadget is very time and food saver. Besides the pasta, you can also strain the vegetables, fruits, noodles, spaghetti, and many more. For the beginner cook, a strainer would be the life savior.
So, don’t be late. Check our coolest Pasta Strainer for you.
Cutting Board
Without Cutting Board, you cannot cut any cooking elements. Moreover, if the chopping or cutting board is not up to the mark, then you won’t be happy to miss anything on it.
Cutting Board is a robust and durable board. Wood or plastic is the main component with built up. Do you feel fear to use a knife or cutting anything? Then, as a freshman cook, you need to choose a better Cutting Board.
Kitchen Scales
A kitchen device is like Kitchen Scales makes the justice for your hard work in the kitchen. Because you can easily understand the exact quantity for your recipe. The Kitchen Scales are like a device of a tastemaker. If you can use the device correctly, then for any chef, food would be more tasty and healthy.
Spatula
Without a spatula, a kitchen is not fulfilled. A perfect sized and shaped spatula makes you more confident to cook. Buy a spatula that you feel perfect for your hand. About six types of spatula are available in the market. They are made with plastic, silicon, wood metal, or offset. Could you choose any of them?
Grill/Smoker/Gas Stoves/Electric Burner/Gas Burner
Do you have a Gas Burner in your kitchen? If not, then choose the best Gas Burner or Electric Burner from the market.
For the information, Grill and Smoker are for the roast or grill the meat. You can easily make any grilling recipe with a Grill and Smoker.
The gas stove is the perfect solution for any kind of cooking except grilling. You can heat up to maximum temperature with a Gas Stove. This stove runs by gas.
Choose what do you want to start with.
Non-Stick Copper Pan
Without a Non-Stick Copper Pan, you cannot cook anything. Sticking on the pan of the food ingredients can spoil your tasty food. All the hard work can go in vain if you don’t use a Non-Stick Copper Pan. So, purchase a perfect Non-Stick Copper Pan for your kitchen.
Check our super Non-Stick Copper Pan or the Best Crepe Pans article for a beginner chef.
7 Easy Recipe Ideas For Beginners | Easy Cooking But 100% Tasty & Healthy
Do you want to become a great cook or a master chef? Are you getting frustrated to overcome the first challenges of being a cook? Then, we suggest you start with simple and easy recipes. These recipes build your confidence. All these recipes are both tasty and straightforward. We are going to discuss the seven easiest recipes that help you to improve your skill.
Salmon Loaf by Chef John
Salmon Loaf by Chef John is a straightforward and inexpensive recipe. The main ingredient is salmon fish. And you can get salmon from a cheap can. Any time you can serve the food for your lovable family member. You will see that the recipe is healthy, tasty, and very simple.
So, do you know what the ingredients you need are? At below, the list is given.
- ¼ cup salted butter
- ⅓ cup onion
- 2 cans of red salmon
- ½ cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Worcesters sauce
- Two teaspoons rice vinegar
- Three eggs
Several easy steps are needed to end the dish. First, you need to preheat the loaf pan about 325 degrees. Now, give the butter. Take time to melt the butter in medium heat. After bubbling the melting butter toss the onion and stir for about one minute. Mash the salmon with the fork that gravy can ago through all parts.
Worcestershire sauce, Cracker crumbs, onions, rice vinegar, salt butter, and cayenne pepper all mix with salmon in a bowl. Now mix this salmon with the yolk. Then, mix the salmon to the previous pan. Bake the salmon now for about 45 minutes. Assure that the salmon gets well cooked. Use the spatula to even and soft the fish after five minutes loaf is ready to serve.
Italian Bean Ramen
Do you love ramen? Then, this recipe is for you. Italian Bean Ramen is a ramen noodle with cannellini beans. For the soup lover, this also would be a great choice.
To make the Italian Bean Ramen, you need,
- Three tablespoons olive oil
- One large sliced onion
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- Five large chopped garlic
- One tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons sliced rosemary
- Three medium chopped carrots
- Two large celery stalks
- One medium potato sliced
- 4 cups of water
- One can of cannellini beans
- One can of diced tomatoes
- 2packages of ramen noodles
- 1/3 cup of chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup and two teaspoons Parmesan cheese
Preheat the pot in medium heat. You have to cook the onion with salt for about 10 minutes. After adding the rosemary and garlic, cook for about 1 minute. With water, boil carrots, potato, celery. Cover up the pot and wait for 15 minutes.
Blend half a cup of beans and one cup of soup in a blender. With soup, add diced tomatoes and boil together. Add ramen and reduce the heat. Stir the ramen occasionally for about 3 minutes. Before serving the ramen, one tablespoon of Parmesan cheese is put over the dish.
Rustic Marinara Sauce
Rustic Marinara Sauce is the perfect choice for the beginner chef. The extraordinary richness and color of tomatoes make this dish tasty and attractive. You will be happy to know that the ingredients are so much available. Most people have these ingredients in their fridge.
For six people, the ingredients are given below,
- ½ cup of olive oil
- Two diced onions
- Eight cloves garlic
- One can of petite tomatoes
- One can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup of white wine
- One can of tomato paste
- One tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
- Three bay leaves
- 1 cup of divided grated Pecorino-Romano cheese,
- ¾ cup of chopped fresh basil
- ½ cup sliced parsley
In medium heat, cook the onion with olive oil. About 5 minutes, stir the onion with garlic. After that, reduce the heat and add tomato paste, salt, oregano white wine, red pepper flakes, petite diced tomatoes, black pepper, sugar, bay leaves, and diced tomatoes to the onion mixture. After mixing, cover up the pot for about 1 hour.
Finally, add basil, 1/2 cup of Pecorino-Romano cheese, and parsley into tomato sauce for about 5 minutes. After melting the cheese, serve the dish.
Delicious Ham and Potato Soup
Delicious Ham and Potato Soup is an easy recipe, and the beautiful central part is that you can experiment with this recipe. If you want to add another element according to the taste, you can do it.
For eight people, the list of ingredients is below.
- 3 ½ cups of peeled and chopped potatoes
- ⅓ cup of diced celery
- ⅓ cup of finely chopped onion
- ¾ cup chopped cooked ham
- Three ¼ cups of water
- Two tablespoons of chicken bouillon granules
- ½ teaspoon of salt
- One teaspoon of white or black pepper
- Five tablespoons of butter
- Five tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups of milk
First, in a stockpot, mix all celery, potatoes, ham, onion, and water. Boil them for about 10 to 15 minutes and cook for a while. Add salt, pepper, and chicken bouillon and stir them.
Separately melt down the butter in medium heat, add flour, and whisk until it gets thicker. After adding the milk, stir the sauce for about 5 minutes. Then, add the milk mixture into the stockpot and cook the soup for a while. Finally, it’s ready to serve.
White Chili VI
White Chili VI is a super quick recipe for anyone. No need for any cooking knowledge to make this. Super available ingredients make the recipe inexpensive and easy.
For eight people, the list of ingredients is given below.
- One jar of Northern beans
- One jar of salsa
- ½ pound of pepper jack cheese
- One can of shredded white meat chicken
In a slow cooker, combine all ingredients like salsa, pepper jack cheese, Northern beans, and chicken. After that, for 4 hours, cook the whole mixture. Finally, serve the combination with the extra cheese.
Cheap Veggie Beans and Rice
Cheap Veggie Beans and Rice is a healthy and straightforward skillet recipe. With the vegetables, pinto, rice, and black beans, the formula has a unique taste. For the family, the recipe has excellent craving making power for all the members.
- 3 cups of water
- 3 cups of uncooked instant rice
- Two tablespoons of olive oil
- One small chopped onion
- 2 carrots with thinly sliced
- One chopped clove garlic,
- One can of undrained black beans
- One can eat pinto beans, undrained
- One can of drained whole kernel corn
- One tablespoon of ground cumin
- One teaspoon of lime juice
- One teaspoon of chili powder
- salt and ground black pepper according to taste
- 1 cup of shredded Colby cheese
First, boil 3 cups of water with rice and wait for 5 minutes. In over medium-high heat, add olive oil and a large skillet. With this, add carrot, onion, and garlic—Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add lime juice, corn, pinto beans, black beans, cumin, salt, chili powder, and pepper to the cooked skillet. After that cover, the Slimmer, stir for about 15 minutes. Finally, serve with the Colby cheese.
Goulash Supreme
Goulash Supreme is also a recipe for the beginner cook. Do you love macaroni? Then, you will love the dish. With beef, the taste of macaroni just increases.
For four people you will need,
- 1 pound of lean ground beef
- 1 ½ cups of macaroni
- 1 quart of stewed tomatoes
- Two teaspoons of paprika
- One tablespoon of chili powder
- ½ cup of sliced onion
- One minced clove of garlic
- 6 ounces of tomato paste
First, with all the spices, onion, and garlic, stir the mixture in a saucepan. After a while:
- Add the tomatoes and tomato paste—Cook the sauce for 7 minutes.
- Add the boiled macaroni and beef with water.
- Cover the saucepan for simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
- Serve the food for eating.
Conclusion
Are you feeling the confidence to start with any of these recipes? If you are feeling like that then, we are satisfied to bring this article to you. Our main motive of this discussion to help a beginner chef or cook. At last, our advice would be don’t worry, take time and relax to start any of the recipes is comfortable for you. Good luck!
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Last updated: September 24, 2023