Cooking techniques are the foundation of good culinary art. By understanding various cooking methods, you can create delicious and satisfying dishes. The two main categories of cooking techniques are dry-heat cooking and moist-heat cooking. Let’s explore six cooking techniques you can practice at home!
Dry-Heat Cooking Techniques
Sautéing
Sautéing is a quick cooking technique that uses very high heat and a little oil. Food is cooked quickly in a hot pan, helping to retain moisture and produce dishes with rich texture and enticing color.
Dish example: Sauté fish and fresh vegetables with a little olive oil and your favorite seasonings, such as garlic and black pepper.
Frying
There are two types of frying techniques: pan frying and deep frying. Pan frying involves cooking food with a little oil over medium to high heat, resulting in dishes that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Deep frying uses a significant amount of oil to perfectly fry the food.
Dish example: Deep fry battered fish to achieve a crispy crust and tender flesh inside.
Roasting/Baking
Roasting involves cooking food using hot air around it. This can be done in a home oven, where the temperature can be accurately controlled. When baking bread, this technique is called baking, while when roasting meat or vegetables, it is referred to as roasting.
Dish example: Roast pieces of fish and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and squash in the oven with a little oil and spices to achieve rich flavors.
Grilling
Grilling is similar to roasting but is done on a grill with direct heat from below. It produces dishes with a distinctive smoky aroma and attractive grill marks. Grilling is a fantastic way to cook meat, fish, vegetables, and even fruits.
Dish example: Grill tilapia on the grill with a little lemon and rosemary seasoning for a fresh taste and enticing aroma.
Moist-Heat Cooking Techniques
Boiling
Boiling is a cooking technique that uses a large amount of water. There are several variations of boiling, including poaching, simmering, and boiling, depending on the heat used. Poaching and simmering are more suitable for cooking delicate foods, while boiling is used to cook foods that require high and fast heat.
Dish example: Boil fish and vegetables in boiling water along with various spices such as turmeric, ginger, salt, and broth to produce a savory and delicious fish soup.
Steaming
Steaming is a cooking technique that uses steam to cook food. It is a healthy and low-fat cooking method since it does not require additional oil or fat. Steaming retains the natural nutrients and flavors of the food, making it suitable for a variety of ingredients, from vegetables to fish.
Dish example: Steam broccoli and carrots to serve tender and colorful vegetables with preserved nutrients. Another example is steamed fish dim sum and siomay.
You can try these various cooking techniques to bring variety to your daily meals. And don’t forget to test your cooking skills with flexible, practical, and highly nutritious ingredients, such as fish fillets from Regal Springs Indonesia. With quality ingredients, your dishes will be even more special and nutritious.
