A new year calls for trying new things. While most New Year’s resolutions are challenging and involve a lot of hard work,
that does not mean that you cannot have some resolutions that are fun too!Maybe this year, you should add a culinary resolution to your list for 2021.
If you are looking to spice up your home cooking in your Harlem kitchen, consider the following five techniques to step out of your comfort zone. You might even find your new favorite recipe!
1. Dry-Aged Beef
If you enjoy beef but are looking for a more exciting way to prepare it, you have come to the right place. Let us explore dry-aged beef.
Dry-aged beef is often more tender and flavorful than meat prepared in other ways. Usually, dry aging is a process reserved for steaks and other high-end cuts.
However, buying some at the butcher means you’ll end up paying 20-50% more than you would with a fresh cut of meat.
For cost alone, it’s worth it to look up recipes on how to dry age beef. Then, next time you have friends over for a gathering, you can impress them with a mouth-watering slab of steak and your newfound culinary skills.
Most people find the extra investment more than worth it. Give it a try for yourself this year and see what you think.
2. Poached Eggs
If you want to elevate your at-home brunch, poached eggs are a surefire way to do so.
They are not as difficult to make as you may think; however, they may take some practice to perfect.
Not only are poached eggs delicious, but they are also healthier than fried eggs because they include no added fat.
The key to making poached eggs is patience. You need to take your time and keep the egg together to prevent it from losing its shape.
Even though it may take you a couple of tries to get it right, your effort will be well worth it.
3. Chicken Stock
While you can buy a pre-made chicken stock at the grocery store, it will be much more flavorful if you make it from scratch yourself.
Making your own chicken stock has other benefits, too. It is less wasteful and ensures you get the most out of the chicken carcass.
If you make a large batch of chicken stock and freeze it, it will be ready to go whenever you need it.
As a bonus, the homemade chicken stock will make all of your dishes taste like a professional prepared them!
4. Aioli
Aioli is a simple condiment that can immediately make your sandwiches and burgers much more exciting and tastier.
If you are not familiar with aioli, it is essentially a garlic mayonnaise.
Even though it may sound fancy, you can quickly whip it up at home in just a few minutes.
Trust, once you have mastered the practice of making aioli, you will never go back to simple mayonnaise.
5. Blanched Vegetables
If you are tired of cooking your vegetables the same way every day, consider blanching.
To use this technique, you must boil the veggies for a couple of minutes and immediately plunge them into an ice bath. The quick move from hot to cold helps to retain color and texture.
This technique will give your vegetables a refreshing taste that will be perfect as the weather starts to warm up for spring.
Conclusion
Just because you are eating at home does not mean that it cannot be exciting. Many cooking techniques are much more straightforward than they appear. While they may take a bit of practice, mastery is certainly not out of reach.
Make your New Year’s resolution to get more comfortable in the kitchen and expand your culinary repertoire. These techniques can help you get started!
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