Stepping outside your comfort zone can be difficult no matter what you’re doing, but if you’re looking to branch out, the kitchen is a great place to start. Even the most seasoned cooks need inspiration sometimes. Whether you’re an old pro or a newbie to the cooking world, here are some ways to spice things up in the kitchen.
Get creative
The very thought of getting creative in the kitchen can be intimidating, especially if you’re new to cooking. A great place to start? Flipping through cookbooks, saving new recipes on Instagram or trying new cuisines are all great ways to step outside your comfort zone. Don’t want to try something new? You can put a fresh spin on an old recipe as well. Instead of pouring jam over your brie for an appetizer, try plum chutney. Serve with crackers and fruit. If your family loves eggplant parmesan but wants to try something different, Achari Eggplant Parma introduces new flavours to an old favourite.
New spices are another great way to bring life to old recipes. When your cooking motivation is down, try these foods to bring some inspiration and ease back to your kitchen.
Instead of sweet and sour tofu or chicken, make your meal with tangy tamarind sauce, which will provide the same type of flavour with a new twist. Tamarind can also be used in pad thai, curries and as a sour complement to sweet chutneys. It’s also a great substitute to lemon: Anywhere you use lemon in a savoury recipe, tangy tamarind can be subbed for the same zesty taste.
When you’re burnt out on cooking, things like mincing garlic or peeling ginger can put you off cooking the whole meal. With a ready made paste, like National Ginger Garlic Paste, meal prep no longer feels like a chore. Try ginger garlic paste as the base for soups, curries or in quick and easy recipes like Chilli Garlic Prawns.
If you’re looking for something new and delicious that will please both kids and grown-ups, pakora mix is a great place to start. This is a fun way to test out a new cuisine in a familiar way. Try different variations of pakora (cheese, potato and cheese, onion and cheese, vegetable) or take an old favourite like Macaroni and Cheese and make it into Mac and Cheese Pakora!
Spicing up your go-to meals can be as simple as adding a new spice or as complex as creating a recipe you’ve never made before. Getting creative in the kitchen, trying new foods and spices and sharing meals with your family will give you confidence in your skills and breathe new life into your meals. It’s a great way to get outside your comfort zone and push your limits in the kitchen (and beyond!)
