We all have that one dish from a restaurant that we absolutely love and always look forward to having. It may be an Indian curry, a Japanese ramen, or a Mexican enchilada — sometimes we just think of them and instantly crave them. But what if you could recreate these dishes at home with much more ease than you’d realize? It’s possible! With a little effort and the right ingredients, you can start serving up your favorite meals at home.
After a recent cruise, my kids have all kinds of ideas about the food we should have at home! But they’re not going to get New York Strip Steak nightly or late-night pizza snacks at home like they did on the ship. Even so, I loved seeing them try new foods, like my boy eating his first lobster tail, which he had mixed feelings about.
Research
To get started, you need to do your research. So start by looking up recipes online, watching cooking tutorials on YouTube, and reading cookbooks. The more you know about the cuisine, the easier it will be to replicate it. Look for the key ingredients and techniques that are used in that particular cuisine. It might be that you need to know exactly what does into chicken gyros or what spices make a Thai curry pop. Doing your research will help you understand the flavors and techniques of the cuisine and give you the confidence to experiment a bit more in the kitchen.
Get the right ingredients
Once you have done your research, it’s time to gather the right ingredients. In my small town, I’m going to need to find these at Kroger or Walmart. I’ve been known to ask Alexa for substitution possibilities! Just make sure to keep the essence of the cuisine intact.
Practice makes perfect
Recreating your favorite cuisine may take a few attempts before you get it right. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Cooking can be about experimenting, so keep trying until you achieve the desired taste. Start with simpler recipes and then move on to more complex ones. I always follow the recipe the first time and then tweak it in the future. Make adjustments according to your taste buds and experiment with different spice combinations. And then it’s always best to share a meal with friends and family who appreciate the meal and gathering.
Some people would say presentation is the key, but we aren’t formal people around here. Sometimes after I’ve spent time preparing a meal, I just want to eat it – on my pretty plastic Pioneer Woman plates. Of course, others may want to break out the garnishes and china.
Enjoy the process
And finally, recreating your favorite cuisine should be a joy. So make sure that you enjoy it and don’t get too hung up on the outcome. Remember, cooking is all about experimenting and having fun. Be creative with your dishes and try new things. Cooking is a skill that takes time to master, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time. Keep practicing and before you know it, you’ll be a pro in the kitchen – and your family will thank you!