Normally I’m not a fan of ‘trends.’ ‘Trends’ too often are marketing devices, and I really think we could all use a break from hidden marketing devices, don’t you? But once in a while, a trend is actually that: something happening because a lot of people are making it happen. And in this case, Millennials are making it happen. That is, they’ve got this trend going of getting by with as few possessions as possible.
They have, I’ve observed, gone minimal.
I totally approve of this. Travel light, you guys. But here’s the other thing I admire about the Millennial trend: traveling light does not mean they are skimping themselves on food.
These days, we all need to be as well nourished as possible. We need to keep our bodies in good trim so that our minds work well, and our souls can respond to whatever challenges the present day sees fit to throw our way. If the present day sees fit to throw a fit, as seems to be happening all too frequently, what we all need is a good meal. Preferably with friends. Loved ones. And a glass of something good.
This can be done with minimal equipment. A glass, of course. A pot, a pan, a cutting board, a knife. A plate, a bowl. A wooden spatula, a wooden spoon. A pair of chopsticks. I would always include a grater and a mortar and pestle, though some would call me a fake minimalist for it (so sue me).
You can see the trend toward minimalist cooking in the rise in ‘bowl’ cooking recipes. And ‘wrap’ recipes (see ‘Nori Wraps,’ p. 55). Easy stuff. Tastes good. Nutritious. Inexpensive. Satisfying.
I love bowl cooking, myself. By which I mean a meal in a single bowl, including starch and protein with as many veggies and as much flavor as the genre allows.
You make the starch in the pot. If brown rice, steam it. If pasta, boil it. If diced potatoes, simmer them. (Use the lid of the pot to strain the liquid out at the end.)
Protein can be added in a bunch of different ways. Tossed in the pan with the veggies, even. Or if it cooks at a different rate, cook it separately, and save it in the bowl you’ll serve it in until the last minute, when you add it back to everything else in the pot.
Sliced beef marinated in oyster sauce. Sliced pork marinated in hoisin sauce. Diced chicken marinated in a mix of fish sauce and lime. Shrimp marinated in chipotle and olive oil. Sliced fish fillets marinated in soy and lemon. Diced tofu marinated in a little oyster or soy sauce. Toss over high heat until almost done; set aside in the bowl.
Now for the veggies. For the ones that can cook easily in high heat, stir fry in a little olive oil, or butter mixed with olive oil, or even bacon fat. Asparagus cut on the bias. Onion shreds. Carrot shreds. Seaweed that’s been soaked till it swells back to its normal shape. Whole garlic cloves. Chopped broccolini. Mushrooms. Sliced cabbage. Fennel. Frozen peas (no need to defrost).
For the ones that need more time, add them to the pot with the rice, or the pasta, or the potatoes. Steam or boil till done. Broccoli. Sweet potato. Diced winter squash.
Then, heat a little more oil in the pan, toss the veggies, protein, and starch all together. If you want a little more flavor, when you heat the oil, add a little curry powder until it smells lovely, then add the veggies, protein, etc. Toss all together, and for extra, add a bunch of chopped parsley or cilantro.
Put back in the bowl. You can leave it to cool, if you want. Toss with a little more oil and vinegar or lemon juice, and you have a meal-sized salad. I like to toss it all with shredded lettuce. That’s nice, too.
Eat with chopsticks. Soy sauce works here. A squirt of chili sauce is good. You can use a clean bandanna for a napkin. It might not be solely Millennial. But it’s still a good way to eat.
There are so many different ways to play with this dish. It’s not just good for your body, it’s good for your soul as well.
Because in making a dish your own, you’re taking a stand about your life. We don’t have to own a lot of stuff. We can live the way we want, as long as we’re not a drag on those around us, on the planet we find ourselves on. Our lives are our own. Our needs. Our likes. Our dislikes. Our ways of handling the inevitable changes of the culture around us. That’s our own, too, that culture. We make it every time we make a decision about our likes, our dislikes.
It belongs to us. Once we know that, who needs a lot of stuff?
Don’t let anyone tell you different, either.