Can You Really Cook Without a Recipe?
We might be too obsessed with perfection
I recently read a book called 'Cooking as Though You Might Cook Again' and it deeply resonated with me. The author makes a case for enjoying the process of cooking and going back to the methods of cooking that our grandmothers used. Naturally, he is anti-recipe.
Although I cook and share recipes for a living, I completely agree.
We've become too obsessed with recipes and exact measurements to a point where cooking is no longer about experiencing the wonderful transformation of the raw ingredients into something delicious.
It's become more about following instructions, comparing our dishes to professional food photographs and getting discouraged if it didn't turn out to be perfect, all while trying to close out the pop-up ads that cover half of the recipes.
My First Time
I remember the first time I 'cooked' something. I was probably 9 or 10 years old. I wasn't allowed to use the real stove so my uncle made me a small fire on our terrace with torn up newspaper.
I was attempting to cook a potato curry that was a staple at my house in Calcutta. Needless to say, the fire didn't last long enough to cook the potatoes and they were terribly under-seasoned.
Regardless, my family graciously ate the raw, bland potatoes and even complimented me on my first attempt.
Did you notice that there was no recipe involved? My grandmother gave me some verbal directions which sounded something like 'add a bit of turmeric' and 'cook it for sometime'.
I clearly remember this experience and what I remember is how excited I was to finally be able to cook for my family. I don't remember being disappointed at my underwhelming dish and neither do I remember the steps I followed or didn't follow. I was cooking with real fire and that made 9-year old Roshni feel so accomplished!
Lessons I Learned
As I reflect on this core memory, it teaches me two lessons that I want to share with you.
If we focus too much on the instructions and measurements, we lose sight of the bigger goal. The goal is to make a delicious version of the dish we're cooking. The goal is not to replicate the dish in the recipe. Practically, that's impossible because there are so many variables, like the cookware you're using, the variety of ingredients where you live, what medium heat means on your stove, etc., etc.
If we focus too much on the recipe, we forget to be present and enjoy the cooking process. If I am constantly thinking about the next step, there's no way I can focus on what's happening in the current moment. As someone who's mind is constantly full of thoughts and to-do lists, cooking is the only time I can let go.
Don’t Follow the Recipe
We live in an age where we are more conscious of what we put into our bodies, we're getting more educated about how the things we consume are made and what it takes to nourish our bodies properly.
The easiest way to control what we consume is by cooking our own food. Yes, it's a time investment. But what if we learned how to enjoy cooking so we might cook again, and again?
If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I'd love your help with a community I am building teaching people how to cook without a recipe, just like my grandmother did. It's at it's early stages and I cannot wait to build it with you so I can make a real difference in how you spend time in your kitchen. It would mean so much to me if you joined. See you there!