How many times have you prepared some traditional dish or just an everyday meal, and noticed there is something missing?

Just a dash of a different flavour would change the whole taste.

Those minor changes are what make dishes in the fancy restaurants more memorable. 

But don’t be discouraged, as you can turn your every meal into a specialty with ingredients you already have at home, and if not, in the nearest store for sure.

On that note, if you are cooking for others, don’t forget to mention those ingredients as a food safety precaution, maybe someone has allergies or is on a specific diet – you never know.

The Importance of Mindful Meal Preparation

Before you get to the fun part of elevating your meal, there are a few things to think about first.

Simply being respectful about who you’re preparing the meal for is a massive difference on its own. If you do just that one thing, you’re already ahead of most.

It is easier to know what spices to add and how to prepare food. Nutrition should be the main thought, as combining certain ingredients can result in a more or less nutritious meal.

Proper food preparation is half of the job, as usually each part should be evenly cut and cooked well, as tough and dry textures can hurt many. Not to mention it differs if you are preparing with kids, due to extra supervision needed, or for more food-sensitive people.

Highlighting the importance of meal preparation can be clearly seen through simple examples of nursing homes.

In smaller places, such as Naperville, IL, with fewer patients, staff can dedicate themselves to each elderly person equally.That is clearly seen in the kitchen, when preparing food, it clearly defines who has certain allergies or needs fully cooked veggies, etc.

Whereas, in bigger cities, like Chicago, nursing homes have way too many patients and too little professional staff. Due to understaffing, they know just the basics about each person staying there, on a superficial level. 

As a result, many institutions fail to make fully nutritious and prepared meals. Bringing many risks to the surface.

Unfortunately, lots of residents suffered from choking hazards – one of the leading issues that happens in these types of facilities – leading families to look for legal help from a Chicago nursing home choking lawyer.

Simple Ingredients and Serving Twists to Elevate Your Meals

After you have considered every factor that might influence your meal, the people you are making it for, nutrition, and preparation.

Once you finish the basics, your next step should be one of the following hacks if you want to elevate it a bit.

Use Fresh Herbs (This Makes a HUGE Difference)

The smallest thing can transform a dish. And the smallest thing we’re using here are fresh herbs – the ones you bought at the market this morning. They’re fresh, they smell beautifully, they add SO much tastiness to any dish.

So, fresh basil and thyme are the most used ones as they not only have a strong flavour, but they also serve as a perfect decoration.

For instance, finely chopped fresh basil can be such a twist to tomato mozzarella salads or garlic pastas.

Finishing Salt for the Perfect Touch

Here’s another thing: even though you add salt and spices through cooking, there are two variations of salt that might change the overall flavor and texture.

A pinch of this salt can make the simplest meal taste like something prepared for hours.

‘Fleur de sel’ is hand-harvested salt, making it rare and of premium quality. This can be used on top of salads, especially on fish and desserts.

Plus, smoked salt, as another version, is a great way of adding smoke flavour to dishes, such as roasted veggies and meat.

What’s more, it’s also great for cocktails, like margaritas, if you’re serving them alongside the meal.

Serve in Individual Portions

Now that you are finished with spices, the way you present food might change the whole experience of a dish.

Making it feel more special, you can opt for serving into mini bowls so each has individual access or into single-serve platters.

And, to give a restaurant-quality look, choose large plates with a bit of height.

Another thing to pay attention to is portion sizes; they should be medium, just enough to prevent overeating.

Garnish with Style

Many know about the importance of garnish, but not many know how to serve it with style.

If you are making dinner, getting edible flowers in a contrasting color might be a turn for your main dish. Or sprinkling microgreens, they don’t have much of a taste, but they give a more posh look.

The main goal is to acquire a more polished look.

Conclusion

With just simple changes, even if it’s just in a way of thinking or a bit of styling, your meal gets completely new value. It becomes something new. Something better.

It’s the same dish as before, just on another level. Fresh herbs, the way you present the dish – all of this provides you, the dishmaker, with invaluable experience.

But don’t forget. Whenever you’re preparing a dish for someone else, it’s how respectful/mindful you are to them that will determine the level of the dish you create.