The Joys of Stirring Slowly

When the world is fast, cook slow.

Everything in my day goes at hyper speed. And the things that don’t move at that pace on their own, are helped with automation tools. The name of the game is output. Get more done. And do it as quickly as you can.

Even when work ends, this is the pace that the world wants me to continue operating in.

Between multi-purpose blenders, instantaneous pots, and cookers that promise to mince chop and stir – the message I receive consistently is that I should be productive with something else while my food is prepared. Cooking, in this way, is an extension of the rest of my workday. Do more. Keep grinding. Maximize productive hours.

But, in focusing on the output, are we losing track of the journey that gets us there?

Whatever it is, it’s an instant stress reliever. And I feel like a different person by the time I scoop the beautiful, warm grains of rice onto my plate.

So, while the technocrats might have their hearts set on a future where machines take care of meal prep, I’m happy to keep my pots and pans out and ready. Cooking slow helps me slow down, it lets my mind recalibrate, and keeps me sane. And it’s an activity I’ll gladly make time for.

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Here are four of my favorite dishes you can cook slowly. When your brain needs to escape somewhere or you need a bit of distraction for your conscious mind while you let your subconscious do the work, these have you covered.

1. Mushroom Risotto. Perfect for the winter months. Hearty, satisfying, and can easily be made to serve to guests. Here are two versions I like – one is vegan, the other uses cheese.
2. Chicken Tikka Masala. There’s something about the smell of toasted spices that does wonders for the psyche before the food even hits your stomach. (Though we assure you, that will do wonders for you, too.) I like to do a version of this recipe, subbing in chicken thighs, a tsp of cayenne, and toasting the spices before the tomatoes are added.
3. Hot + Sour Soup. For when you want all the stirring and staring into a deep pot, but realistically don’t have 2 hours, this soup is the way to go. An ENSEMBL original recipe, bringing together the flavors of Stackware’s two homes, Shanghai and Montréal.