Having dependable recipes that you can make any night of the week is an important factor in eating at home, but it can get a little monotonous. To mix it up without creating too much work for yourself, swap out “standard” ingredients for those that feel just a bit fancier.
Photo by Neil Conway.
The trick is to pick a substitute that feels special, but takes the same amount of effort to prepare. Bon Appetit suggests subbing in ground lamb for beef, but smaller swaps can have a big impact as well. Some suggestions:
- Instead of regular ol’ lemons in a vinaigrette, try the more flavorful Meyer variety, or get even fancier and use a mixture of half lemon juice and half blood orange.
- Use homemade or panko bread crumbs instead of the plain boxed kind. Extra credit if you saute them in butter first or throw some lemon zest in there.
- Upgrade your ‘shrooms by using criminis or chantrelles in the place of boring white mushrooms.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of condiments. Switching up a vinegar, hot sauce or even cooking oil can change the flavour profile of your meal just enough to make it exciting again, without the hassle of having to learn an entirely new recipe.
17 Tips for Faster, Healthier, and Easier Weeknight Dinners [Bon Apetit]
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