What is garnish and how to cook it quickly?

In the world there are a lot of second dishes - dishes invented by mankind for the whole history of its existence. To many of them, according to classical recipes, an addition is recommended, which is often used as an ornament, but also has practical functions: giving an additional flavor palette or contrasting with the main flavor ingredient. About what is a garnish, we will tell in our next article.

Importance in the modern kitchen

In the modern art of cooking this concept is treated somewhat more than, for example, at the beginning of the last century. What is garnish today? This additive can accompany and drinks, as well as include products that are put in a container with a consomme, or what is put on a portioned meat pieces.

Of what make

Garnishes are usually made from different kinds of vegetables and root crops, cereals and legumes. Today there are options for seafood, and with mushrooms and fruits. Also there are in the nature of cookery and compound complex side dishes from several types of products, which sometimes have cardinal differences in taste, which perfectly highlights the contrasts conceived by the cook. But today we will tell you in more detail how to make simple side dishes, for example from rice, vegetables, potatoes. In general, about the types that are available to every hostess in the average Russian cuisine. What is a garnish? In French, this word means "fill", "decorate". We will try to decorate and sate with familiar garnishes all familiar dishes.

Garnish from vegetables

The variety of options for such additives is simply amazing. Vegetables can be used in various combinations with each other. For example, potatoes with onions and carrots or zucchini, potatoes and cauliflower. And garnishes can be made from one kind. A vivid example is the mashed potatoes, all familiar from childhood. Vegetables combine well with cereals such as rice, with legumes, such as beans. Served with garnishes such as meat dishes: cutlets, chops, liver. Not an exception and fish. Who did not try fried or boiled fish with mashed potato at least once in a lifetime? Let's try to make the simplest garnish of vegetables.

Carrot plus potatoes

Excellent addition for meat or fish. And prepared easily, and absorbed by the body perfectly! For cooking, take 5-7 potatoes and a couple of carrots of medium size. Still need green (parsley, dill), salt and water.

1. Vegetables are cleaned and mine.
2. Potatoes are cut in half, and carrots - segments of 3 centimeters - across.
3. Dill with parsley (you can use cilantro for those who like its taste) cuts finely.
4. In the pan, we lay vegetables and pour cold water. Bring to a boil, add salt and inject greens.
5. Cooking on low heat until ready. We check it in a kind grandfather way: we pierce the potatoes with a fork. She should enter freely, but without spoiling the root crop.
6. We merge the water and serve it portion by part with fish or meat dishes.

Rice for garnish

This cereal is at the root of the development of mankind, and in many countries is one of the main additives used. Rice is easy to prepare. There are many ways to prepare it. We will use one of the offered culinary specialists.

Preparation

We need: rice, lean oil, garlic, salt.

1. We clean a few cloves of garlic. We make incisions on both sides.
2. In the saucepan, heat the oil (a few spoons) and fry the garlic there until golden.
3. Take out the garlic and fry the rice in a few minutes in the same oil until it becomes transparent.
4. Fill rice with water (according to the old good recipe: 1 part of cereals and 2 parts of water, that is, if you have a glass of rice, then you need to take two glasses of liquid), salt and cover with a lid.
5. Cook at the lowest heat for about 15 minutes.
6. Thus, all the water entered has time to boil away, and the garnish turns friable and fragrant.

This type of supplement is good for fish and seafood dishes. Can be used as an independent food. When served on the table, the soy sauce of natural fermentation is perfect for it. From rice, you can prepare and sweet side dishes with dried fruits or fresh fruit, adding a spoonful of honey and spices.

Macaroni, seasoned with grated cheese

What is a garnish of pasta? It is prepared as easily as the previous ones. By the way, in some countries it acts as an independent dish.

Take a pack of pasta from hard wheat varieties (those that do not need to be washed afterwards). In boiling water we throw raw materials, constantly stirring to prevent sticking of pasta to the bottom of the pan (it should be taken in larger sizes). Usually on a pack write time of preparation of a flour product. Typically, this is 10-15 minutes. To digest it is not necessary, as they can stick together and spoil all appearance. Then drain the water, and add hot oil to the hot pasta. Stir and sprinkle with grated cheese of hard varieties.

Tip: you need to take the cheese, without any additives, and not a cheese product. Then your garnish will be - just lick your fingers!