During my teenage years, I began my culinary journey as a restaurant kitchen-hand, eventually transitioning into an on-the-job-trained chef with a plethora of recipes under my belt by the time I entered university. Upon arriving at uni, my flatmates initially teased me for practicing what they considered fancy culinary techniques such as cooking salmon with freshly chopped parsley; however, their tune changed when they wanted a Christmas feast.
For those individuals who lack experience in the kitchen, it is beneficial to practice before inundating oneself with copious amounts of coursework. Here are some tips that guarantee kitchen success until the arrival of January exams:
Simplicity is Key
It is highly probable that you will never utilize various kitchen gadgets such as a slow cooker, hand blender, or electric whisk. Thus, it is best to forego these heavy, impractical equipment and instead stock up on the kitchen basics, including a small selection of pots and pans, plus food staples such as tinned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, rice, and pasta.
No Need for Cookbooks
In contemporary times, obsolete cookbooks are easily replaced by browsing online platforms such as BBC Good Food, Jamie Oliver, and Pinterest. Additionally, housemates, particularly those of international backgrounds, can introduce interesting recipes to your cooking repertoire.
Embrace Your Freezer
During my first-year university experience, a housemate of mine purchased massive quantities of vacuum-sealed chicken breasts at a significant discount, only to discard a third of them due to a lack of storage space in our communal freezer. However, I learned from his mistake; planning meals in advance for a week to ten days ensures that both food and money are not wasted. Psychology student Amy Donaghy from York attests to the convenience of freezing portions when returning home after a long day of lectures.
Vitamins Don’t Break the Bank
Food that is processed, such as beige-tinted meals, can be affordable. Nevertheless, it is equally feasible to keep costs low and maintain a nutritious diet. For instance, sociology student Rachel Coué at the University of Chester highlights that while cinnamon rolls cost £2, bananas cost £1.70. Eating healthily can keep both your mother and bank account happy while remaining cost-effective.
Experiment and Enjoy
The joy of cooking solely for oneself is the freedom to experiment and create unique dishes, such as trying to make an authentic chicken fried rice in the early hours of the morning. However, ensure that you wash up as you go and utilize as few pans as possible to make cleaning up as hassle-free as possible.
Easy Vegetable Curry Recipe
This vegetarian curry is wholesome and straightforward, requiring just two pans and three utensils, making it a surprisingly fast and delectable meal for two.
Ingredients:
– 200g sultanas
– 2 apples
– 1 tin of chickpeas
– 3 tbsp tikka masala curry paste
– 1 tin of coconut milk
– 75g basmati rice
– Salt and pepper to taste, and any additional herbs and spices desired
Instructions:
– Heat a small amount of oil in a saucepan and gently fry the curry paste for two minutes.
– In a separate pan, add the rice to cold water with a touch of salt. Bring the rice to a boil, then lower the heat and allow it to simmer for ten minutes.
Instructions for cooking the curry involve simmering on a medium to low heat for a period of 5-6 minutes while continually stirring. Following this, the addition of cubed apple and sultanas allows for a further 2-3 minutes of simmering. After completion of these steps, the curry is ready to be served.
There are additional options to enhance the dish, such as the inclusion of potato which should first be put in cold water and boiled for ten minutes before being added to the chickpeas. Additionally, chicken can be browned in a small amount of oil and added to the paste mixture, allowing the entirety of the dish to be simmered for an additional five minutes. If the taste of the curry does not suit your preferences, view it as a starting point for further experimental recipes.
For more recipes suitable for students, visit our website.
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