The internet holds an abundance of recipes and ideas for almost anything you wish to cook, but when searching for that perfect recipe how do you know which one to choose? Will it work? Will it taste good? Will it turn out as expected?
Searching for a recipe is easy. You can search by name or even search by typing several ingredients to get a list of recipes containing those items. But once you hit search you are bombarded with hundreds of thousands of recipes claiming to be the best for the job. Phrases like 'nanna's homestyle biscuits" or "gourmet lemon cheesecake" can be inviting but you may find that the plain looking recipes with no photos and a simple heading can work out to be the prize winning one you we're looking for.
When searching for a recipe, take into account the following:
Read it over several times. Is it clear? Are there any obvious mistakes or missing ingredients?
A lot of recipes on the internet are not even tested and human error can occur quite easily. If you see one mistake, chances are that there are others you can't see.
How many does it serve? Can it be increased in size?
I know a lot of dessert recipes that when doubled lead to disastrous results.
Is there a photo?
A photo can give a good indication of how the dish should look. But keep in mind that the photo next to the recipe may resemble something completely different.
Can you understand it?
If it contains words that you can't read or don’t understand then maybe move on. Be aware though, some fancy words are used to describe basic techniques. For example, "Sauté brunoise of onion and de-glaze with white wine then reduce to half" can translate to "Cook diced onion then add wine and simmer for 5 minutes"
Do you have the skills to complete the recipe?
If it involves making elaborate sugar garnishes or using skills that are way out of your league, the maybe consider opting for something a little more simple.
Is the recipe practical?
If the recipe contains a page of ingredients and a method that would put a novel to shame, then maybe move on.
How long will it take?
Does it involve marinating beforehand or lengthy periods of resting, proving or braising. It may work out that you can't have it ready until tomorrow's dinner.
Do you have the equipment?
It's no point getting halfway through a recipe and finding out that you need a whisk to finish the hollandaise or even a steamer to cook the dish in.
Does it involve ingredients that you normally wouldn't buy?
It may work out that you need to buy a kilo of the ingredient just to use the specified 200g. This could prove to be quite expensive especially if you can't use the ingredient again and it sits in your cupboard or freezer until spoiled.
Can you substitute an ingredient?
You may be able to use beef instead of lamb or spaghetti instead of hokkien noodles.
Are the ingredients in season?
Imported ingredients tend to cost a lot more and sometimes taste quite different to the local in-season produce.
However, it is important to remember that no recipe is set in stone. It is quite acceptable to substitute ingredients and flavour combinations to create different variations of the dish, it's the method that is important. When testing a recipe write down notes and ideas as you will most likely forget then next time round. Also, a recipe doesn't have to be long and complicated to be a good one. Some of the best dishes are created using only 4 or 5 ingredients.
Below is a list of some good food related sites that have a reputation for good recipes.
Cooks.com
Gourmet Sleuth
Taste.com
Epicurious
Cuisine.com
Matt Clark Culinary Madness