Five Dishes Every Man Needs to Know How to Cook

There is something very appealing and sexy about a man who knows his way around the kitchen. Being able to grill a good medium-rare steak is great, but watching a man flip, toss, dice, and julienne shows his precision and attention to detail likely goes beyond the kitchen.

You don’t need to be a professional chef to create some easy but delicious and impressive dishes to wow just about anyone. Ideally, your repertoire of dishes should include something worldly, vegetarian, budget-friendly, family-friendly, and a romantic meal for two.

Worldly – Chicken Rogan Josh

Being able to perfect a dish, or even just offering to make a dish, other than your traditional American fare will not only make you seem worldly and cultured, it will make you appear to be a far more experienced chef than you really are. Indian dishes are wonderful dishes to learn how to make since while they are not as mainstream as Thai or Chinese food, the dishes are delicious and gaining popularity. Indian dishes have great flavor and are easy to prepare. The dishes can also easily be made with chicken, lamb, or vegetarian. These dishes also typically allow you to cater the spiciness based on your tastes.

Vegetarian – Spinach lasagna

There are many reasons to learn how to make a great vegetarian meal. Vegetarian diets are becoming more popular – especially in certain regions. Many restaurants are not only offering vegetarian options now, but they are also offering vegan options. And studies are showing that eating one meat-free meal each week is not only great for your health, it’s also great for the environment. Being able to master a vegetarian dish will be a crowd-pleaser for your vegetarian friends while also helping to reduce carbon emissions and help the planet. Most vegetarian dishes are easy to make vegan if need be. There are many substitutes for butter and cheese. And what’s nice about having a vegetarian lasagna in your repertoire, is that you can easily change it up by adding chicken, different cheeses, and switching from a red sauce to a white sauce.

Budget – Chicken and Vegetable foil packet

Foil packets are super easy, delicious and budget-friendly dishes. You can easily swap out different vegetables depending on the season or your tastes. These work in the oven, grill, or even over a campfire. These are super versatile and are definitely a crowd pleaser.

Family – Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Slow cookers or instant pots are one of the easiest ways to cook. It’s all about prepping ahead of time, and then basically walking away. When you have a family, or find yourself without a lot of time to cook, these types of dishes are lifesavers. A slow cooker mac and cheese will satisfy all ages. It’s familiar enough for the youngsters, but also appeals to the adults’ nostalgia without using powdered cheese. And there are so many variations – with bacon, with added veggies or chicken – that you’re sure to find a recipe that works for you.

Romantic – Garlic Butter Baked Salmon

You always want to make sure you have at least one dish to impress the special someone in your life during life’s important milestones. This dish works well when celebrating new jobs, anniversaries, or to showcase your culinary skills when you first start dating. This dish pairs fantastic with a bottle of white wine and baked asparagus. Salmon is a great light, but filling meal, that doesn’t weigh you down so you are prepared for anything else that may come up.