Enhance Your Cooking Techniques + Ingredient Substitutions

Cooking Techniques

Mastering cooking techniques can take your dishes from good to great. Here are some essential techniques to enhance your culinary skills:

1. Searing

Searing meat at high temperatures creates a flavorful crust and seals in juices. Use a hot pan and dry the meat thoroughly before searing.

2. Braising

Braising involves cooking food slowly in liquid at low heat. This method tenderizes tough cuts of meat and infuses flavor.

3. Blanching

Blanching vegetables involves briefly boiling them then transferring to ice water to stop the cooking process. It helps retain color and texture.

Ingredient Substitutions

Running out of an ingredient? Don't worry! Here are some common ingredient substitutions to save your dish:

1. Buttermilk Substitute

For 1 cup of buttermilk, mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice with enough milk to make 1 cup. Let it sit for 5 minutes before using.

2. Egg Substitute

Replace 1 egg with 1/4 cup of applesauce for baking. For binding in recipes, you can use 1 tablespoon of chia seeds mixed with 3 tablespoons of water.

3. Tomato Paste Substitute

For 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, you can use 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce or ketchup as a substitute.

Experimenting with these techniques and substitutions can help you become a more versatile and confident cook in the kitchen!