Interest in healthy vegetarian cooking has been an explosion across the nation over the past decade. Even those who might not otherwise want to partake on a totally vegetarian diet today realize that healthy vegetarian living needs to be part of every day life. But how do you prepare your first vegetarian meal? Is it even possible?
Of course it is. And the good news is – it doesn’t take very much time at all! The meatless revolution is upon us. Starting with just four simple ingredients you can be creating wonderful meals in under thirty minutes. Don’t be surprised if the entire family does it together. Kids love eating vegetables and family debates over whose turn it is at the dinner table are always settled before dinner has started.
Start by selecting the best vegetables for cooking for starters. Carrots, zucchini, squash, and summer squash are favorites. You can even add lentils to the mix. Be sure to get rid of skin and seeds – not only are they tasteless, but they can also be contaminated with parasites or bacteria. If you are scared of raw vegetables, try steamed vegetables instead.
To make cooking for starters even easier, try marinating the foods you are going to serve. A simple marinade of soy sauce, black pepper, garlic, dill, and sea salt works well. Other ideas include adding chopped tomatoes to the marinade, or serving salsa with the meat. You could even go the extra step and use barbecue sauce as the marinade – just be sure to leave out the onions.
For cooking for starters, use olive oil whenever possible. It is the perfect cooking medium for a starter because it holds the heat so well and is very easy to stir fry without boiling over. Next, get rid of any excess fat or grease from the meat that you don’t need. Then, drain off any excess liquid. You can always refrigerate leftovers if necessary.
When cooking for starters, be sure to use a small quantity at a time. Add at most a quarter of a pound of whatever you are cooking for starters. If the recipe calls for half a pound, go with that. You can always add more at a later time in case you feel the recipe needs it.
Make sure you cook the meat thoroughly – unlike many other dishes, this one tends to lose much of its tenderness while it is cooking. Depending on what kind of meat you are cooking will determine how long it takes. Some recipes call for roasting the meat, while others suggest steaming it. Both methods can end up with the meat being overcooked and dry. So, pay attention to your recipe and only cook enough.
Lastly, remember to serve the dish with some salad and bread. You may find that this step doesn’t sound very important, but trust me, your guests will absolutely love it! And, if they do, chances are they will ask for more. Cooking for starters is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your first dish turns out great.
There are a few things you need to keep in mind while cooking for starters. For starters, you should make sure that you select a suitable sauce. You can choose from a variety of sauces, but be sure to keep it simple. You can even make a couple of ‘sister’ sauces – just be sure to get them from the same recipe. That way, you will be able to use the same ingredients, if not the same brand.
You could also try marinating the meat for a few hours before cooking. Just rub the marinade into the meat and let it soak in for several hours before you begin to cook. This will give the meat an aroma that will guarantee a fantastic meal. Of course, you will need to serve it on its own – with the juices inside. Don’t forget the salad and the bread – that’s what makes it a starter!
A word of warning: don’t try to cook for starters the night before. You could end up with a mushy meat – and mushy vegetables. Your guests will definitely appreciate that. If you want to get your starter right, make sure you marinate the meat overnight. Don’t open the bottle of marinade the next morning and expect perfection; you may find it a little too dry or too spicy for your taste buds.
With these tips in mind, cooking for starters is not as difficult as it seems. And once you’ve tried it, you will understand why it has such a high popularity among the cooking fraternity. You won’t cook the same starter dish every time, which is a great thing, because everyone will have their favorite. And since there are so many different ones out there, you are bound to find a good one that suits you perfectly. So start cooking for starters today!
