People Who Like Food

[bednobs]

i know there's a few of you on here. Do you think it makes a difference the order you add ingredients? just made a casserole and recipe was to cook onions and peppers together for 4 mins, then add garlic and cook for 1 min, then add chicken and cook for 2 mins, then add courgette and sweet pots then add stock and cook for 8 mins then add peas then add basil
would it have made much difference if i'd just shoved it all in toether?

[woofgang]

well garlic will burn before onions soften so adding the onions first is sensible. Then you want the chicken to have a bit more browning time so its a good idea to add it next and it will pick up flavours from the cooking onion, peppers and garlic. It will also cool the pan and stop the garlic burning. Courgette and sweet pots only want slight browning and softening Stock will start the stewing process and halt the browning process and the peas and basil need the least fast cooking time so they go in last. You can toss it all in together but you risk burnt garlic which is disgusting, and steamed rather than saute'ed other ingredients.

[DTCwordfan]

yes the veg need to cook at different rates before you add the chicken, the late veg its about being crunchy/soft as you like it.

[society]

The reason for not cooking all the ingredients at the same time is because different foods / ingredients have different textures, some are tougher than others, some are more porous etc. So the cooking time varies.

But, me, for most dishes I cook everything at the same time and they always turn out great - stews, curries, soups, stir-fries, beans etc.

Now using herbs for garnishing is different, this usually would be the last ingredient to add as you want it to remain fresh and 'alive' and attractive.

[society]

And by the way, I like the heading "People Who Like Food". This attracted me :)

[AlwaysConfused]

I don't know, Bednobs, but I was only planning on fish and chips tonight so all I have to worry about is popping the salt, vinegar and dollop of ketchup on in the right order. On second thoughts, save me some of your casserole, it sounds divine!