Something was recently brought to attention that I had never really given much thought to before...simplicity.
The word "simple" can be associated with many different ideas: simple-minded (as in "ignorant"), simple kind of man (as in the Lynyrd Skynyrd song), simple (as in a minor level of difficulty).
I am a right-brained thinker, drawn to creativity and all things non-conventional. This carries over into my cooking and food choices. There is nothing more boring to me than basic mashed potatoes, buttered corn, and pot roast. My critical mind perceives these dishes as lacking in thought and preparation!
My significant other has given me a new outlook on food and cooking. He is from Sardinia and, as you might have guessed, grew up on pasta and wine. We take turns cooking each other dinner...mine always being something new and complicated or odd and his always being the exact opposite: simple. His theory (more or less) is "the fewer ingredients, the better." He cooks pasta to perfection, "al dente". Then, completes it with a simple sauce of sauteed onions, garlic, fresh cherry tomatoes, tuna, olive oil, salt and pepper. That`s all! And...it is probably the best pasta that I have ever had. My version of that would have consisted of a whole list of ingredients found from a Food and Wine Magazine, plus a few ideas of my own "thrown-in".
Furthermore, when we go to a restaurant, my Sardinian avoids the ahi tuna-coated-in-toasted-sesame-seeds with some fancy sauce blah blah blah....whereas for me, that`s the first thing I would go for! He says "you should be able to taste the fish", which is true for any quality ingredient. Is not the point of a protein-centered dish to highlight the quality and taste of the protein itself? If it is a quality piece of fish (or whatever ingredient you want to propose), it should be cooked in such a way that you talk about the fish...not the super spicy-cha cha-herby sauce that was poured over it.
Though I don`t agree 100% with him, this discovery definitely got me thinking...maybe simplicity is not so bad afterall! Simple does not always have mean uncreative. Simple, when combined with technique and/or quality (such as proper cooking technique and quality ingredients) can result in a satisfying combination.
Simple combinations i would now recommend (after this enlightening experience)...
- Whole wheat penne, canned tuna (drained), fresh italian parsley (chopped), EVOO (buy the good stuff from Italy or Greece), salt, pepper.
- Stone fruits (pears, peaches, plums), quartered and tossed with a sprinkle of sugar, then baked until fork-tender.
- Asparagus, lemon juice, salt, and pepper- grilled or baked until stalks are al dente.
