What meals should everyone be able to make?
Posted by Quirky-Possibility52@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 78 comments
What are some basic (or not!) meals that you think an adult should know how to make?
SomeHSomeE@reddit
Cooking rice not the way our parents did. My mum boiled it like pasta.
I now do it properly. Rinse it a few times. In the pan, water so it's 1-2cm higher than the rice. Bring to the boil then low simmer with lid on. It's done in 10mins or so and all the water is absorbed. Then mix in a little bit of salt and blob of butter. Perfect fluffy rice every time
Other basics
How to fry an egg without it going black and crispy on the bottom but still runny on too.
Scrambled eggs that aren't just a congealed overcooked mess.
Basic meat + seasoning and not cooked to death (chicken breaststroke, pork chops, lamb chops)
Green veg not boiled to a mush, and seasoned (grilled/baked or steamed)
Basic use of salt, sugar, spice, acid, fat. A lot of people just seem to make very bland food.
Basic understanding of needing to simmer for a long time for any tomato-based dish (chilli, bolognese, ratatouille, etc). I don't want to taste like I'm eating meat in tinned tomatoes.
HirsuteHacker@reddit
This is a perfectly acceptable way to cook rice, it's the main way used in and around India/much of Africa. The East Asian absorption method is also perfectly good, better for the sticky short grain rice common in much of that region.
Neither is better than the other.
anonoaw@reddit
I don’t think you can call yourself a Brit if you can’t make a decent Spag bol
HirsuteHacker@reddit
Most brits make awful spag bol tbh
Do_not_use_after@reddit
Beans on toast
Pasta with stuff in it
b_of_the_bang_@reddit
What’s for tea mum?
Pasta with stuff in it is my new go to response.
Do_not_use_after@reddit
Note, this can also be "Pasta, with stuff, 'innit", works either way
b_of_the_bang_@reddit
As a Mancunian this works perfectly. Pasta with stuff innit, innit.
idreaminlowercase@reddit
Pasta is simple and there’s so many different types. A box can last me a week and is great if I need to save money
SM_83@reddit
Casserole's are very easy to make. Get your meat, cut your veg, make some sauce and stick it all in a dish. If you're really adventurous you can make your own dumplings too.
No-Dinner-3715@reddit
Cheese on toast
Jumpy_Maximum8889@reddit
Oh this is, the great debate in our house.
Many years ago when I first started seeing my hubby I asked him if he wanted some cheese on toast as I was making some for myself.
He stood in the kitchen with me while I made it and when I turned to give it to him the look of horror on his face was very disturbing.
He asked me who taught me to make cheese on toast and I told him no one I just figured it out myself.
He said I can tell and just shook his head as he hesitantly took the plate while obviously fighting the urge to politely decline.
Apparently making toast and then pouring on cheese you had melted in the microwave was not the correct way to make cheese on toast 🤣🤣
No-Dinner-3715@reddit
That’s ridiculous, you grill (broil) the one side of the bread turn it over place slices of cheese and grill till it browns a bit. Ketchup for street, Worcester sauce for al la carte
Jumpy_Maximum8889@reddit
Rediculous? How did you know to do it that way? We're you taught? Did you see someone do it! Growing up I never had cheese on toast and never ate it as an adult. One night my drunken friend was puking and crying and I asked her what I could do to make her feel better. She straight up stopped crying and said cheese on toast.
So I was in the kitchen pretty pissed myself thinking omg how do I do this cause she needs it. So my drunken brain was toast with melted cheese so I made toast and melted cheese.
She stopped crying ate it gave me a thumbs up and a smile and passed out.
So began microwaved cheese on toast!
No-Dinner-3715@reddit
I think you’ve complete missed the humour in my comment. Who genuinely gets upset about cheese on toast.
Jumpy_Maximum8889@reddit
Yep your right I completely missed the humour part!
Although I wasn't being defensive. You said it's ridiculous I made it that way and implied everyone knows the right way.
My comment was just a light hearted story about cheese on toast.
I mean who genuinely gets upset about cheese on toast obviously ppl that dont put microwaved cheese on toast 😂
Dimac99@reddit
Was not expecting the horror of that ending, especially given he still married you! 😂
Jumpy_Maximum8889@reddit
🤣 he probably felt like not staying in that moment! I think I redeemed myself by seeing the error of my ways and subsequently made it under the grill.
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
Add some ham or chorizo 😋
Coconutpieplates@reddit
Pasta with a protein and vegetables, chilli and rice, one type of curry, an omelette, and if you're a meat eater; then you should be able to roast a chicken imo.
Subbredditidot@reddit
Banana bread, fried egg, vickie sponge, bacon
breakwater99@reddit
Risotto, stir-fry over rice or noodles, soup, cottage pie
Ollie_002@reddit
Beans on toast
i_am_simple_bob@reddit
Beat me to it. Could maybe be fancy and add some cheese. I like some Worcestershire sauce on mine.
RockAndHardPlace81@reddit
I like a bit of madras paste mixed into my beans. I can't go back to regular beans now!
Quirky-Possibility52@reddit (OP)
Genuinely made me smile to come back and see this as a top choice
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
Lol. Such a British answer! But love it! ❤️
Ollie_002@reddit
There’s a reason why baked beans were considered ‘essential food’ during WWII rationing.
The-Jelly-Fox@reddit
If you are actually want to be considered a good cook, a roast chicken, and a Sunday pot roast.
If you just want to be competent, rice stirfry, spag bol, and mashed potatoes.
repair-it@reddit
Spag Bol - it's very simple really. Omelette is good, nutritious, and can be made in many flavours.
prustage@reddit
At the most basic level, everyone should be able to make a stew (or casserole) because its the easiest way to turn cheap fresh produce - including leftovers - into a tasty meal.
No-Door-3181@reddit
100% need to be able to cook good rice
I-Am-The-Warlus@reddit
Lasagne and Garlic Bread
Decard_Pain@reddit
It's not about meals, it's about understanding how to cook.
If you learn cooking techniques you can make pretty much anything.
A protein, a carb and a green minimum in each meal and you're fine.
Chop up chicken, cut some veg you like, get some rice amount you need and add double the water.
Throw in chopped onion and pressed / minced garlic with a small amount of oil, what a bit, throw in the chicken, have the rice boiling whilst doing this, add the veg once the chicken is at least sealed (lightly cooked on all sides).
Cool the veg, plate the rice and chicken / veg.
Job done. It's barely cooking it's that easy
edfosho1@reddit
Using seasoning, spices and herbs is also important!
Decard_Pain@reddit
Aye but to start if you can't cook just throw a chicken stock cube in with the rice and you're good.
This_Suit8791@reddit
This, cooking really isn’t hard and there’s so many recipes online which people can follow.
knittedbeast@reddit
Simple: (vegan adaptations are possible)
Everyone should be able to cook pasta and rice, fry an egg, and warm canned foods.
Slightly more complicated:
Basic red and white sauces - they're far easier than you think and they're the base for a lot of wonderful dishes.
and
Cook onions to all different levels from softened to caramelised
I'm not shaming. I'm encouraging. If you can read and follow instructions you can cook.
seven-cents@reddit
Anything fried, steamed, grilled or roasted.
yolo_snail@reddit
A British carbonara
Rekyht@reddit
What on earth is that?
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
British carbonara is heavy on cream and cheese such as cheddar.
Rekyht@reddit
Sounds absolutely horrendous, let’s make sure no one ever learns that
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
Lol you are a few decade too late!
Harrry-Otter@reddit
Like the Italian one but it has cream in it for some reason.
LifeMasterpiece6475@reddit
Omelette
takesthebiscuit@reddit
Clear a space on the periodic table! For Ommlettium!
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
With chorizo and cheese pls
Swimming-Lie5369@reddit
A protein with some vegetables and a side of carbohydrates. Maybe a sauce if you're feeling fancy.
buttnuggetmaster@reddit
A really good tomato sauce. You can use it on it's own or as a base for so many dishes.
CynicalSorcerer@reddit
Whenever I see fresh tomatoes in the reduced section I but a bunch.
Chop em with fresh garlic and onion, salt, pepper, drizzle of olive oil. Then in the oven on as low heat for a few hours.
Easy base for so much stuff, freezes, and costs pennies.
Radiant_Chart3163@reddit
Bangers and mash.
Upset-Woodpecker-662@reddit
Pasta with frankfurters sausages, tomato sauce, topped with grated cheese
Strong-Librarian-OOK@reddit
Soup. So versatile you can make it with nearly anything so ideal for making a meal with what you have in.
Relevant_doom@reddit
In my opinion, onions, mince and mushrooms as a base because it branches out into so many other meals from there.
If you can do that from scratch then you're on a good footing.
El_Bastardo_Grande@reddit
Buddha jumps over wall.
RoyofBungay@reddit
Tagliatelle al Ragu Bolognese. Not the jar shite but starting with a soffritto from scratch. Just llight years better than ultra processed nonsense. You
Watchkeys@reddit
Depends where you get your 'shoulds' from, really. So, assuming they're fully grown, they 'should' be able to make whatever they want to make. No point knowing how to make a bunch of basic foods you don't/can't eat.
Odd-Accident-3287@reddit
Noodles , eggs & toast
WhatIsInAName2000@reddit
beef wellington
Jamie2556@reddit
I always cook from recipes. I think being able to follow a recipe and have common sense when the recipe wouldn’t work in your oven/looks under or over done etc is all you need.
OutrageousRhubarb853@reddit
Boiled egg
Scrambled eggs
Beans on toast
Basic veg soup
Goldman250@reddit
Pasta bake. Simple hearty food, with enough portions for at least three meals.
Active_Doubt_2393@reddit
Breakfasts lunches and dinners
Charming-Objective14@reddit
Sausage and mash with gravy.
jennymayg13@reddit
Pasta and a sauce
Terrible-Song-4405@reddit
cheese omelette
Waits-nervously@reddit
Steak and chips Stir fry and rice
Artistic_Table5293@reddit
Mince and tatties....
ArgumentativeNutter@reddit
a simple tomato sauce for pasta
mashed potatoes
AdComplete937@reddit
Most basic pasta dishes are just pasta, sauce and maybe a meat or vegetables. Sandwiches and rolls. Most basic noodle and rice dishes. Maybe even a fry up and most of is just cooking in one pan.
musicallymotivated93@reddit
Some kind of pasta meal, doesn't matter what kind.
togtogtog@reddit
Anything with the instructions written on it.
Anything you can google.
FormalAd604@reddit
I think anything that can come in jar form is a no brainer. You can do a variety of meals with a jar sauce.
Toasties, eggs in more than two forms (boiled, scrambled, fried), most pastas are simple enough.
It’s not hard to cook a variety of meals without needing to multitask or have a million pans on the go.
VolcanicBear@reddit
Pasta and grated cheese.
clueless_bunga@reddit
After watching The Apprentice show, it's definitely the potato wedges!
Sudden_Accountant762@reddit
Supernoodles
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