Cooking up an elaborate meal may sound like a daunting task. However, with just a few clever moves here and there, you can complete this task without facing any challenges. The key is to be smart and choose a menu that works for you. If you wish to cook a memorable meal for your family but are hard-pressed for time, we are here to help! Take a look at this article and know how you can cook five dishes in under an hour.
Handy tips to speed up the process
Here are some of the handiest tips to help you cook a five-course meal in an hour:
- Plan
To execute a feast of this scale, you need to plan well in advance. Write down your menu, list the number of people you’d be cooking for, check for the ingredients available in your pantry and the ones you need to stock up on, check on the other party arrangements, etc. With a proper plan in place, the cooking task becomes simpler.
- Prep
Prepping ahead makes all the difference. It isn’t realistically possible for you to cook up a five-course meal in an hour if you don’t even have your onions sliced in advance! Prep ahead as much as possible. For example, if you choose to cook a chicken dish, marinate it the night before. If you wish to bake a cheesecake, prepare the base up to two weeks in advance. Break up the tasks over a period of time to quicken up the job on the execution day.
- Use smart recipes
You need to be very smart when choosing your dishes. Look for innovative methods like the OPOS (one pot one sauce) method of cooking. Also, focus on dishes that can be made in bulk and not individually. Rather than serving chapatis which need to be individually rolled out and cooked, prepare a rice dish that you can make all at once.
- Utilize your appliances
Modern kitchens are stacked with all kinds of cooking appliances. Surely, you too have your gas oven, your OTG, air fryer, rice cooker, etc. Put different dishes in different appliances. For instance, make some biryani in your rice cooker, while you put the samosas in the air fryer. Simultaneously, put the cake in the oven and finish off the gravy on your gas top. You need not wait for one dish to cook and then proceed to the next.
- Involve your family members
And finally, ask for help. Involve your spouse or kids in the process and make it a fun family activity. Ask them to peel, chop, stir or help in whatever capacity they can. There is no harm in asking for help, so go right ahead and do so.
Follow these simple tips and your hearty, five-course meal will be ready very quickly.
To wrap it up
Time is a luxury that most people don’t have these days. However, the lack of time shouldn’t hold you back from doing the things you love. If cooking elaborate meals for your family and friends makes you happy, go right ahead and prepare a feast. As you can see from the points mentioned above, it doesn’t take up a lot of your time. Be smart and your job will be done.
