In your 20’s and still struggling in the kitchen?
Here are 10 simple dishes you should be able to master by the time your 30th birthday comes around to ensure you can sustain yourself, feed your friends, and have some fun in the kitchen.
- Scrambled Eggs
Skill Level: Easy
The creme de la creme of eggs and, quite possibly the best form of eggs on offer. Creamy, fluffy and flavourful… cooking scrambled eggs is quite effortless. Mastering the art could lead to having scrambled eggs as a daily breakfast or weekend treat. They are so easy to make and extremely versatile. Dress them up with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and spinach or dress them down with some toast and butter.
How to make scrambled eggs:
- Crack as many eggs as preferred into a bowl (usually around 2 per person)
- Add milk (optional), salt and pepper.
- Heat a pan to medium and grease with oil or butter.
- Pour egg mixture into the pan and use a spatula to pull the outer cooked edges in towards the centre of the eggs.
- Cook until desired and serve.
2. Pumpkin Soup
Skill Level: Medium
As easy as it is to pour a can of Hein’s Pumpkin Soup into a saucepan and butter some toast, it can be just as easy to make a fresh batch instead. Making a pumpkin soup, or any soup for that matter, from vegetables in your fridge is simple and healthy. Add your own twist with an array of spices and herbs to achieve the ultimate winters day meal.
What to add to spice up pumpkin soup:
- Extra vegetables: carrot, leek or, potatoes
- Extra flavour: Garlic, Onion, Ginger
- Extra Herbs: Coriander, Parsley
- Extra Spice: Cinnamon, Chilli, smoked paprika, curry powder
3. Lasagne
Skill Level: Medium
A step up from Spaghetti Bolognese, Lasagne is a great dish to serve at a dinner party, or make and store for ages. Pasta, Bolognese and a creamy, cheesy bechamel sauce makes lasagne the perfect ‘chuck it all together’ dish.
Avoid these common mistakes when making lasagne:
- Make sure the first layer is with sauce, (not lasagne sheets) to ensure your dish will be moist
- Don’t be stingy with the layers, it will turn out dry and unenjoyable.
- Don’t overdo it with the Bechamel, it’ll ruin the dish. If you’re a cheese lover just wait it out and put extra cheese on top.
4. Butter Chicken
Skill Level: Medium/Hard
Having a signature curry is like having a signature look… you need it and you have to nail it. Going back to basics, a butter chicken is a classic curry that’s packed with flavour and suits everyone’s tastebuds.
Once you’ve nailed Butter Chicken, try out these other curries:
- Korma
- Tikka Masala
- Vindaloo
5. Brownies
Skill Level: Easy
Fudgey or cakey? Choc Chips or Walnuts? The options are endless when creating the perfect brownie. Finding a killer combo may take some time, so sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you just might be forced to make heaps of batches … Torture right!
Here are a few things to add to a basic brownie:
- Raspberries and white chocolate
- Dark chocolate and Walnut
- Peanut Butter
- Oreos
- Marshmallows
6. Pancakes
Skill Level: Easy
Whether it’s a hungover meal, or making mega stacks for kids in the morning, having the perfect fluffy pancake topped with sticky maple syrup or tangy lemon and brown sugar, this classic Sunday treat breakfast is a must know
Once you’ve mastered regular pancakes, give these healthy two ingredient pancakes a shot
How to:
- 1 banana
- 2 eggs
- Mash banana and whisk in eggs.
- On a medium heat, pour in small pancake circles
- Cook for about 1 minute before flipping
- Serve, top with berries and maple syrup.
7. Pavlova
Skill Level: Medium
A pavlova is a classic and staple in most Aussie households. A light and summer dessert that can be decorated with anything you want. Bringing a pavlova to a party will definitely provide brownie points.
Pavlova topping combinations:
- Mango, pineapple, passionfruit and mint
- Cherries, dark chocolate and coconut
- Raspberries, Strawberries, Blueberries and Blackberries
- Caramelised figs
8. Fish Tacos
Skill Level: Medium
Spice up your weeknights with a Mexican favourite. Fish Tacos are healthy, fresh and delicious and definitely a staple to know how to make. Flavour combinations are endless with toppings such as spicy mayo, sour cream, guac and salsa.
How to have your own Mexican fiesta
- Homemade margaritas
- Mexican decorations and accessories
- Mexican music
- Lots of chilli
9. Chicken and Mushroom Pie
Skill Level: Medium/Hard
A chicken and mushroom pie is a classic that is easy to master. It doesn’t matter whether the pastry is from scratch or ready made (no judgement), because the filling is the most important part. Wow friends at a dinner party or make one for yourself.
After creating the perfect chicken and mushroom pie, try out these new flavour combos:
- Chicken and leek
- Chicken and cheese
- Chicken, artichoke and spinach
- Chicken, ham, chorizo and herb
10. Stir Fry
Skill Level: Easy
They are quick, they are easy and they are versatile. It’s almost impossible to go wrong with a stir fry. All you need is veggies, a protein of choice and some stir fry sauce. Cook your meat first, add in the veggies and sauce and voila… its that easy.
Not sure what to put with the stir fry?
- Have a carb-free night and eat on its own
- Jasmine Rice
- Hokkien noodles
- Rice noodles