6 Ways to Get More Confident in the Kitchen

Jeremy Rock Smith, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

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Instagram: @kripalucenter | kripalu.org

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Before I came to Kripalu, I took a few years off from cooking professionally, and that time turned out to be invaluable— because I had the opportunity to take all my commercial experience and apply it to making healthy meals at home. I learned what works when translated to the home kitchen, and what doesn’t. I figured out time-saving shortcuts, ways to plan meals for a busy week, and how to make dishes that appeal to a variety of palates (including those belonging to toddlers). That experience, along with what I hear from guests who come to my programs at Kripalu, helped me understand some of the most common roadblocks that home cooks face.

1. Don’t expect too much of yourself.

Your family is not going to judge you if you don’t cook a three-course meal every night—or ever. To take the pressure off, try filling their plates with one special thing and two really good things, rather than three elaborate components. For example, tofu with adobo spice and an avocado puree as the centerpiece, and simple rice and beans, cooked with nothing but olive oil and salt, on the side.

2. When you have time, cook for cooking’s sake.

Find a day once a week, or every couple of weeks, to cook as a learning experience, rather than cooking just to eat. Go for a new, more complicated recipe, or experiment with an ingredient you’ve never worked with before. You’ll gain confidence and expand your repertoire.

3. You don’t need a ton of spices to make food taste good.

People tend to think that you have to use a million exotic spices in order to make a dish flavorful. Actually, all you need is the right ingredient or two—usually stuff you already have on hand. It can be as simple as a sprinkle of cumin and a squeeze of lime on a sweet potato, and the whole flavor changes.

4. All you really need is one good knife.

My favorite style of knife is a small vegetable cleaver, otherwise known as a Santoku. Okay, it also helps to have a couple of bamboo spoons, a spatula, a few cast iron or stainless steel pots and a baking dish or two. But you don’t need all kinds of fancy, specialized implements in order to cook well. What they mostly do is make more dirty dishes.

5. Make meals that are easy to modify.

If you’ve got a range of preferences or eating styles in the family, you don’t need to make half a dozen different meals. Instead, focus on the vegetable- and grain-based side dishes—they’re usually user-friendly for everyone.

6. Think of recipes as guidelines, not laws.

Do it once according to the instructions and, if you like it, toy with it next time so you like it even better. Recipes will get you 85 percent of the way to a great dish, but the rest is all about your personal preferences. Make it yours!

Quick 20-Minute Dinner: Citrus Broccoli Slaw

Makes 4 cups

INGREDIENTS

Zest and juice of 1 lime

Zest and juice of 1 orange

1½ tsp minced jalapeño pepper

1 tsp minced garlic

¼ cup tamari

1 tbsp brown rice syrup

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

½ cup red bell peppers, thinly sliced

3 tbsp cilantro, chopped (optional)

4 cups broccoli crowns and stems, chopped in small pieces (peel stems before chopping)

METHOD

Make the dressing: Combine lime and orange zest and juice, jalapeño, garlic, tamari, brown rice syrup and sesame oil. Toss dressing with the peppers, cilantro (if using) and broccoli. Serve over mixed greens or rice.