10 Cooking Tips for Tastier and Healthier Meals

Are you tired of the same old dishes? Do you want to enhance the flavor of your meals without sacrificing your health goals? If you answered yes to both questions, then this article is for you. In this article, we will provide you with 10 cooking tips that will make your food both delicious and healthy. These quick changes will not only improve the taste of your food but may also reduce the amount of waste you produce each week.

1. Quick Spice Guide

Spices are essential in creating flavorful dishes, but they can be intimidating for those who are new to cooking. Here’s a quick list of starter spices:

– Cumin: This spice adds a rich, smoky flavor to dishes and is commonly used in Mexican, Indian, and African cuisine. It’s perfect for adding to ground meats and stews.
– Paprika: This spice adds a subtle sweetness and a nice red color. It can be used similarly to cumin with ground meats, sauces, and stews.
– Allspice: This earthy spice adds warmth to sauces, marinades, and baked goods. It can be used like cinnamon.
– Ginger and Ginger Powder: Ginger is commonly used in Asian cooking, baking, and sauces. It’s especially delicious in marinades.

2. Quick Herb Guide

Herbs are another great way to add flavor to your meals. Here are some common herbs you can start using in your everyday cooking:

– Mint: This herb has a strong, fresh, green flavor and is commonly used with lamb, green vegetables, and desserts.
– Chives: Instead of using a whole onion, add the crunch and flavor of an onion using chopped chives. They’re usually added after cooking, on top of baked potatoes, and can also add flavor and texture to soups.
– Rosemary: Another Mediterranean favorite, rosemary adds a bright, piney flavor to your food, similar to citrus. It’s ideal for using in rich sauces, lamb, and poultry dishes to create uplifting flavors.

3. Flavored Salts

Using salt in moderation is important, but you can use less salt if it’s more inherently flavorful. Flavored salts come in many enticing options, like lemon salt, Sriracha salt, and even vanilla salt. You can even make your own! Check out this guide for making your salt.

4. Be Careful About Seeds and Pits

Before cooking most fruits and vegetables, you’ll want to remove the seeds. Seeds tend to be bitter and can release toxic-tasting chemicals into your food when cooked. However, tomatoes are an exception, so their seeds pack the most flavors and should be left in when cooking.

5. Make Your Own Stock

Stock is easy to make and much better than purchased stocks at the grocery store. You can season it to your liking and make it thicker or thinner as needed. Here’s a recipe for a quick and easy vegetable stock.

6. Cook Pasta in Sauce or Stock

Cooking pasta in sauce is essential for infusing it with flavor and creating an even distribution of sauce and noodles. Cook your pasta in water until it’s al dente, or undercooked but flexible. Then, add it to the saucepan and let it finish cooking there, stirring often. Alternatively, you can boil pasta in stock instead of water.

7. Chop Onion and Garlic as Needed

Both onion and garlic add a big kick to our dishes, but once they’re cut, they begin losing flavor. Always prepare onion and garlic right before cooking and make sure leftovers are sealed and refrigerated to preserve their flavor.

8. Versatile Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette is not only for salads! It is an easy, acidic flavor that can be used on deli sandwiches, picnic salads like potato and noodle, French fries, grilled vegetables, and more. Here’s a guide to making your own vinaigrette.

9. Grill Sandwich Breads

Grilling bread before making a sandwich will make a big difference in its taste. Restaurants do this for good reason – grilled bread tastes much better and releases the aromas of the ingredients. Grilled bread also holds up well against wet ingredients and is ideal for soup. Even PB&J can be enhanced with grilled bread.

10. Wheat Germ

Wheat germ is a nutritious and versatile food that you can start incorporating into your diet. It’s great on dairy, like ice cream and yogurt, and can be used as filler in recipes like meatballs. Just add a spoonful and enjoy the boost of flavor and texture.

These 10 cooking tips will make your healthy meals even more delicious. Making your own stocks and dressings can reduce sugar and preservative chemicals, while taking a few extra minutes in prep can go a long way in making your food tasty. By removing seeds from fruits and vegetables and properly seasoning your dishes, you can enhance the flavors of your food. Give these tips a try and elevate your cooking game today!