The Chefs Kitchen

[Kat73]

I realise it’s been a while since I posed a question

What’s your favourite “cheat” ingredient in the kitchen?

For me it has to be the jars of curry pastes that sit in the top of my fridge, so convenient & if you get the right one they are pretty authentic- they also take the hassle out of shopping for small quantities of some obscure ingredients to make your own, and they last longer than your own paste.
The other one would be a stick of garlic butter, again for convenience- great for throwing into a pan when cooking to add a small amount of garlic & butter for those days when you don’t want a whole clove of garlic

What’s your favourite cheat ingredient- no judging here from me

Don't want a whole clove of garlic?? Just one? Even a recipe for one clove of garlic, I use three to be sure!! Garlic is a vegetable around here!!

Cream cheese. I use it in mac and cheese, on sammiches, frosting... easier than cream when I am in a hurry and has a decent shelf life.

I also have a full rack of freeze dried foods. All the nutrition with no chopping!

 

[Anastasia1999]

Yes to the first one, it’s a staple in my cupboard too, definitely no to the 2nd one if it’s the type in the jars as that stuff is vile, the only time pre made store bought pesto is ok is if it’s fresh chilled pesto

Home made pesto is definitely superior, and a lot of the factory made pestos out there are gank, but we find the brand B*rilla to be quite good as a cheat alternative. My strapping teenaged sons, built like tanks, often open a jar when they are making a late evening supper of spaghetti pesto mountains.

I also sometimes buy chilled potato dumpling dough (Knödelteig) when I get a dinner request for gulash. That’s probably a better cheat ingredient.

 

[2021Noobie]

Home made pesto is definitely superior, and a lot of the factory made pestos out there are gank, but we find the brand B*rilla to be quite good as a cheat alternative. My strapping teenaged sons, built like tanks, often open a jar when they are making a late evening supper of spaghetti pesto mountains.

I also sometimes buy chilled potato dumpling dough (Knödelteig) when I get a dinner request for gulash. That’s probably a better cheat ingredient.

After the work of making homemade pesto, freeze some for next time you are short of time or basil

 

[Modern_drunkard]

I realise it’s been a while since I posed a question

What’s your favourite “cheat” ingredient in the kitchen?

Miso paste.

 

[HotChef1970]

I've been wracking my brains over this one, but I really don't know I've got one that I use that often.

I feel like I must be forgetting something... <shrug>

Well good on you if our don’t have one, I guess you either have way too much time for cooking so you make everything from scratch or you cook incredibly simple food

Mine is red onion: steamed, or sauteed or raw (in salad, if I mince it well), adds a lot of flavor, as does the red wine, too.

I like the marinara idea, but have been avoiding Costco at this time, due to sheer number of people there - j/s!

Red onion? A cheat ingredient?

Don't want a whole clove of garlic?? Just one? Even a recipe for one clove of garlic, I use three to be sure!! Garlic is a vegetable around here!!

Cream cheese. I use it in mac and cheese, on sammiches, frosting... easier than cream when I am in a hurry and has a decent shelf life.

I also have a full rack of freeze dried foods. All the nutrition with no chopping!

Don’t get me wrong I’ll use garlic like it’s going out of fashion, but sometimes you just want to add a hint

Interesting uses for cream cheese, I’ll try a couple of those

Freeze dried foods wow for someone who seems to know their shit in the kitchen that one surprised me..... not something you’d find in my kitchen but each to their own I suppose

Home made pesto is definitely superior, and a lot of the factory made pestos out there are gank, but we find the brand B*rilla to be quite good as a cheat alternative. My strapping teenaged sons, built like tanks, often open a jar when they are making a late evening supper of spaghetti pesto mountains.

I also sometimes buy chilled potato dumpling dough (Knödelteig) when I get a dinner request for gulash. That’s probably a better cheat ingredient.

Pesto in a jar I find is gross, it’s the colour more than anything that I don’t like but also the taste particularly as the jars like that will have been pasteurised which totally changes the flavour of a delicate ingredient like basil

I guess the potato dumplings are a better example yes, something that you could make but if you can buys as good and it cuts out the time then why go to all the effort yourself

After the work of making homemade pesto, freeze some for next time you are short of time or basil

Pesto shouldn’t need to be frozen, it will last well in the fridge if the jar you have it in is clean and you put a very generous thick layer of olive oil on the top to stop the air getting in

Miso paste.

Good shout, nobody wants to be trying to make that shit from scratch

 

[AlpineFresco]

Well good on you if our don’t have one, I guess you either have way too much time for cooking so you make everything from scratch or you cook incredibly simple food

I don't have space, that's a large part of it.
I guess stock from veg scraps would count? Certainly tons better than any veg stock I can buy here.
You could say garlic and ginger pastes, but I wouldn't consider them 'cheat' ingredients 'cause I use them differently from powdered or fresh.

I don't have much spare time, so I don't do many things that take longer to make. I do make a lot of my stuff from scratch but I'm fairy quick with what I do.

 

[SisterJezabel]

I don't have space, that's a large part of it.
I guess stock from veg scraps would count? Certainly tons better than any veg stock I can buy here.
You could say garlic and ginger pastes, but I wouldn't consider them 'cheat' ingredients 'cause I use them differently from powdered or fresh.

I don't have much spare time, so I don't do many things that take longer to make. I do make a lot of my stuff from scratch but I'm fairy quick with what I do.

Makes sense- and I do get the space thing. I've never understood powdered onion or garlic though and if a recipe calls for them I usually replace them for fresh and change things anyway. Someone recommended a recipe to me on Facebook today- it looked amazing- a version of a Mexican layered casserole, except she lost me when she added a tin of tomato soup and a tin of chillies and a tin of this and that. Then I thought I could experiment with a jar of salsa instead of the soup, or even tomato passata.

If you are looking for a bit of a laugh, check out Nat's What I reckon on YouTube and/or Facebook. Death to jar sauces! (warning though, his language might offend delicate ears!)

 

[Anastasia1999]

Stock cubes and jars of ready made stock that you can buy here. All kinds from beef to duck to fish stock.

I’m stuck at my desk working long hours and trying to feed a family so I would be lost without these cheat ingredients.

 

[tigger_lover]

chef

I have a challenger for you for a maximum of £50 UK Pounds

you need to cook for a family of 4 for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for 7 days

you have a basic store cupboard with herbs and spices

What would you plan