A Conscious Guide To Making Food Delicious

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." ~Voltaire

I'm a firm believer that food should give us pleasure, nourish us and be easy to prepare. I am not interested in eating plain grilled chicken and steamed vegetables unless I have a medical reason for doing it. I just enjoy good food too much and know that it's easy to eat great, healthy food regularly. If you like plain grilled chicken and steamed vegetables then you should go ahead and enjoy it but please don't think that you have to eat that way because you want food that is quick and healthy. Today I want to share with you some of the easiest ways that I add flavor to healthy dishes and how I do it quickly. Sometimes it's a simple as adding a great product.

1, Onions, carrots and garlic: I use this as the foundation for so many dishes. I puree them in my food processor and sauté them in extra virgin olive oil and really allow them to get nice and brown so the sugars come out and all the flavor develops. I use this as a base for different types of chili, pasta sauces, a pot of beans and even add it to meet loaf.

2. Saba: This is a product that is made from the same grapes as balsamic vinegar. Instead of fermenting them, they slowly cook it down into a sweet syrup. Saba adds incredible flavor to salads and just a little goes a long way. I'll often use it in combination with balsamic vinegar because I like the brightness from the acid of the vinegar and then the sweet saba adds great deep flavor while mellowing any acidic bite you sometimes find in a salad dressing. I love it in an arugula salad with beets, figs or apple. It's also great drizzled on sautéed bitter greens just before serving or on roasted asparagus that have just come out of the oven. It's even a great accompaniment to cheese.

3. Parmigianino Reggiano: This cheese is always in my refrigerator. I love the flavor and the texture of it. I add it to things like salads (either in chunks, strips, grated or to the dressing), eggs and of course pasta dishes. I save the rinds for adding to soups and sauces as they cook, it adds incredible flavor.

4. Marinating: The difference between a boring piece of grilled boneless chicken and a flavorful one can be as simple as marinating it. If your grilling chicken at night, let it sit in a marinade in your refrigerator while you're out for the day. This will give it flavor and moisture. Here are a couple of simple combinations for marinades: Extra virgin olive oil, a smashed clove of garlic, a teaspoon or so of Dijon mustard, a slash of balsamic vinegar and pinch or 2 of sea salt OR equal parts organic shoyu or tamari (soy sauce) and orange or apple juice and a slash of dark sesame oil, you can add garlic or ginger to this if you have it available. When you get home, just light your grill, remove the chicken from the marinade and cook it. I also prefer thighs to breasts but use what you like.

5. Finishing with a good sea salt and/or extra virgin olive oil: This super simple tip can make a huge difference in the taste of your food. I always have a basic sea salt and a basic extra virgin olive for cooking in my house. Then I have at least one sea salt and one extra virgin olive oil that I use just before I serve a dish or when I'm making something like a salad that isn't cooked (OK, I have several olive oils and sea salts but I suggest you start with one). I will add a bit on things like a pasta dish, grilled or roasted vegetables, certain soups or even a piece of grilled fish. Again, a little can go a long way in changing your experience. For sea salts I suggest trying something like a fleur de sel or Murray River and for extra virgin olive oil I suggest you play around and try different ones. Like wine, it can be a personal preference. A couple of oils that I like a lot are Olave which comes from Chili and McEnvoy Ranch from California.

Small things can make a huge difference in elevating plain food to good food and then good food to great food. Eating well is one of life's greatest joys. These are just some examples of how you can easily improve the taste of your food while making meals that are quick and healthy.


Copyright (c) 2011 Randy Rabney