What kitchen hacks help reduce oil usage in curries?

Question

What kitchen hacks can help you reduce oil usage in your curries? Learn techniques for healthy, low-fat cooking without sacrificing taste.

Answer 1

Use a wide, shallow pan to maximize surface area for cooking with less oil, and consider techniques like dry roasting spices or using an air fryer for certain ingredients to minimize oil dependence.

Detailed Explanation:

Reducing oil in curries is a common goal for health-conscious cooks. Here's a breakdown of effective techniques:

1. Use a Wide, Shallow Pan: A wider pan allows for more surface area, enabling ingredients to cook more efficiently with less oil. The increased evaporation also helps concentrate flavors.

2. Dry Roasting Spices: Instead of frying spices in oil, dry roast them in a pan until fragrant. This intensifies their flavor and reduces the need for oil to bloom them.

3. Air Fry or Bake Vegetables: For vegetables like potatoes or cauliflower, consider air frying or baking them before adding them to the curry. This pre-cooks them and reduces the amount of oil needed during the curry-making process.

4. Use Non-Stick Cookware: Non-stick pans require significantly less oil to prevent food from sticking.

5. Add Water or Broth: If the curry seems dry during cooking, add small amounts of water or broth instead of more oil. This helps maintain moisture and prevents sticking without increasing fat content.

6. Use Oil Sprays: Instead of pouring oil, use an oil sprayer to apply a thin, even coating to the pan. This helps control the amount of oil used.

Pro Tip:

When sautéing onions, add a pinch of salt and a splash of water. The salt helps draw out moisture from the onions, preventing them from sticking and reducing the need for excessive oil. The water steams the onions, softening them without added fat.