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How often have we heard somebody say that they ‘can’t cook.’ Can’t cook, or don’t know how? Like any skill, to get better at cooking you have to practice. Some of us don’t naturally take to cooking, haven’t had somebody teach us, or have never been interested. This can lead to a crisis of confidence as we struggle to cook healthy and nutritious meals for ourselves, our friends, or our families. Being able to master the basics will save you money as you won’t have to eat out, you’ll learn new skills, and you’ll get your cooking confidence back. Here’s a kitchen 101 to get you started, from common herbs and spices to utensils and simple dishes for beginners…

 

Storecupboard Staples

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If you’re new to cooking and want to stock up your cupboards and get started, then get familiar with some common ingredients. You’ll need herbs and spices. These are great for elevating a dish and taking it to the next level. They can be used to season and enhance the flavor of a dish. Paprika is a common spice which you’re likely to come across. It’s a smokey flavor which goes well with tomato sauces. Basil is another store cupboard essential. Get fresh basil if you can. This will brighten up a kitchen but also tastes much better. Basil can be added to stocks and sauces, it can also be blended up with spinach and pine nuts to make a pesto for pasta. Curry powder is another good spice to have to hand. This is great for those evenings when you’re in a rush. Add to some coconut milk and chopped tomatoes for a basic curry case. Some other essentials include oil and garlic.

 

Useful Utensils

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Kitchen utensils and gadgets are there to make our culinary endeavors easier. This is good news for novices! There are some kitchen utensils which most people can’t live without. A colander, or a strainer, is a must. You can use this to strain the water from pasta, potatoes, and other vegetables. You can also strain lumps out of gravies and other sauces if they go wrong. Cooking gloves are also a must-have. Choose gloves rather than mitts as these make it easier to grip onto dishes as they come in and out of the oven. Speaking of ovens, ovenproof dishes are also a great investment. These are great for one-pot cooking and can withstand the temperatures inside an oven. If your knife skills aren’t up to scratch, a mandolin could also be a good idea. These handy little tools make short work of slicing fruits and vegetables.

 

Simple Dishes To Ease You In

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A simple roasted vegetable pasta is a healthy and easy-to-make weeknight meal. Simply chop up a mixture of your favorite vegetables. This could include red onions, olives, courgettes, and carrots. Place in an ovenproof dish and then season with salt and pepper and some crushed garlic. Cover the vegetables with oil and then roast until they are soft and starting to brown. In the meantime cook your pasta. Once ready, combine the pasta with the roasted vegetables. Grate a little parmesan over the top and serve. Simple!