Food and Cooking Thread

[No:1 Final Fantasy Fan]

They meant using a microwave to prepare food. I thought it was stupid also.
Thx

[Rax]

I work with a guy who wont microwave anything in a plastic container because "the plastic leeches into the food and gets stuck in your body".

[KB]

I'd rather just eat something cold than microwave it.

[Curls]

Good afternoon gents. Said I'd cook for a friend thursday evening.


Any ideas would be great as my imagination isn't that great. I think she's pretty easy going when it comes to food. Was thinking maybe a salmon (or fish) dish? Any suggestions, nothing too fancy as shes just a friend but still I want to impress with good cooking!

[Poser]

Teriyaki Salmon. It is insanely easy but looks classy. This is my favourite cook-in-ten-minutes dish.

This is how I like to make it:


2 salmon fillets
Sesame oil

Marinade:

Two tablespoons of soy sauce
Tablespoon of sake or rice wine vinegar or sherry
Crushed garlic clove
Tablespoon of honey


Sides:
Rice
Asparagus
Sesame seeds

Mix the marinade ingredients together (or just pour them over the salmon in a dish). Leave this for as long as you can beforehand.

When you are ready to eat, cook the rice as per instructions. If I'm in a hurry, the Tilda Egg Fried rice things in the microwave are decent.

Put the salmon (but not the marinade) in a hot frying pan with a little sesame oil, skin-side down. Turn it down to a medium heat. Make sure nothing is burning. Cook for a couple of minutes. Put the asparagus on in a separate pan, set a timer for 3 minutes.

Turn the salmon over to cook from the top, and flip it onto its sides if necessary. Then return it, skin side down.

When the timer goes off, drain the asparagus and put the rice in the microwave, if you're using Tilda.

Add the marinade juices to the salmon and heat through (need to burn off the alcohol). Return the asparagus to the heat in a dry pan, add a little sesame oil, the sesame seeds, and fry very quickly. The rice should be ready.

That's it. Dish everything up.

[Rax]

Teriyaki salmon is a good shout, tastes good, looks good and is super easy to make.

If you like spicy food try some Mexican, make the guacamole and salsa yourself, theyre easy and taste great. Homemade burgers and oven baked chips if you want something a bit simpler, can also add a salad to that or knock up a sauce or two to go with it.

[Bunni]

I recently had Seanad with oxtail and spinach sauce which was pretty strawberry floating Devine.

[Clarkman]

I don't even like fish but that looks damn good.

[Dual]

Could you use frozen salmon fillets in that recipe? I'm never sure what the rules are with cooking frozen fish - does it need to defrost or can you just cook it?

[LewisD]

When cooking fish (Presuming that you're cooking fillets) lay the skin side onto a tray of seasoned flour before adding it to the pan.. you'll get an amazing crispy skin on it afterwards.

Also, only turn your fish once in the pan. Skin side down for 90% of the cooking then flip it onto the other side for 15-20 seconds to finish it off.

Looks lovely by the way Poser, oriental marinades on salmon made me go from hating it, to really enjoying it!

[Poser]

Skin side down for 90% of the cooking then flip it onto the other side for 15-20 seconds to finish it off.

Cool, cheers for the tip. I think I'll try that flour dip as well. I sometimes end up sacrificing the skin - if it ends up too blackened, I just peel it off before serving and give it to the dog. Clearly cooking it on too high a heat.

[Poser]

Could you use frozen salmon fillets in that recipe? I'm never sure what the rules are with cooking frozen fish - does it need to defrost or can you just cook it?

Dual - I don't know the answer to this. I would assume you need to defrost it. Because salmon takes so little time to cook, you'd end up butchering the outside layers just to make sure it's even defrosted in the middle.

That is mainly a guess though so if anyone wants to elaborate, feel free.

[Dual]

On the packet it says cook from frozen, but it doesn't mention pan frying only oven baked.

With chicken I would always defrost no matter what - but fish I'm never sure.

[Outrunner]

I'm looking for ideas for recipes for one. Bearing in mind I don't particularly enjoy cooking, stuff that's easy/minimal effort would be good. I'm getting bored of the same few meals everyday and need a bit of a change

[SandyCoin]

You can cook from frozen, but better with a fresh bit of salmon. I always find frozen fish, whilst still tasty, can be a bit...watery at times.

[SandyCoin]

I'm looking for ideas for recipes for one. Bearing in mind I don't particularly enjoy cooking, stuff that's easy/minimal effort would be good. I'm getting bored of the same few meals everyday and need a bit of a change

Pizza is always a good bet for a meal for one. Only "effort" is making the dough. Sauce is simple as anything and can be frozen for another time. Hell, even the dough can be frozen. Then get your favourite things and put them on. Easy.

Linguine with a garlic, chilli, anchovy and lemon extra virgin olive oil sauce is also delicious and takes minutes to make. Toss in some basil...yum.

Stir fries are a piece of piss, but sometimes call for ingredients you may never bother owning if you don't particularly enjoy cooking. Still...a ginger, garlic, chilli, oyster sauce, soy sauce mixture on top of some stir fried chicken and veg and spring onions with rice is still very tasty.

[Pan]

Does anyone have a foolproof way of how to stop the ends of linguine sticking together when cooking it?

[Dual]

You can cook from frozen, but better with a fresh bit of salmon. I always find frozen fish, whilst still tasty, can be a bit...watery at times.

I agree, however it is the most cost effective method for a mid-week dinner.

[Dual]

Does anyone have a foolproof way of how to stop the ends of linguine sticking together when cooking it?

Toss in olive oil once you've drained the water?

[Pan]

Does anyone have a foolproof way of how to stop the ends of linguine sticking together when cooking it?

Toss in olive oil once you've drained the water?

Doesn't seem to do the trick. Neither does adding olive oil as it boils, or over salting the water.

It doesn't seem to be a common problem but it's one I've always suffered from.