There’s something undeniably appealing about the convenience and flavours of restaurant takeout. However, the cost and unknown ingredients can be off-putting. That’s where DIY takeout comes in. In this article, we’ll explore how you can recreate your favourite restaurant dishes at home from the comfort of your kitchen. With some creativity and basic cooking skills, you can enjoy the flavours of your favourite food without leaving the house. Let’s explore some DIY takeouts and discover how to bring the restaurant experience to your dining table.
1. Pad Thai
An Asian delight, Pad Thai is one of the most popular dishes. It is a quintessential Thai dish known for its bold flavours and satisfying textures. Pad Thai offers a delightful balance of sweet, savoury, and spicy flavours made with stir-fried rice noodles, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, eggs, and a tangy tamarind sauce.
Recreating Pad Thai at home is easier than you might think. Start by soaking rice noodles in warm water until softened, then stir-fry them with protein, vegetables, and Pad Thai sauce. Garnish with crushed peanuts, lime wedges, and fresh cilantro for an authentic touch. An easy-to-follow Pad Thai recipe can help you easily prepare this dish at home.
2. Sushi Rolls
Make sushi rolls at home with your favourite fillings. It’s economical as well as fun. Plus, you’ll be surprised to know that making this Japanese treat is quite simple. You don’t need special tools or a high skill level to roll up your sushi.
Simply get some sushi rice, nori sheets, seasonings, and filling of your choice. Cook the rice and season it. Spread the rice and your filling on the nori sheet. Roll it up tightly. Finally, cut the roll into smaller pieces and serve with soy sauce.
3. Crispy Fried Chicken
Here is a fast-food favourite. With the right ingredients, you can cook it in your kitchen and get the same restaurant-like crunchiness. And the juicy meat? We can have that, too.
Add a spoonful of vinegar to regular milk to create buttermilk – the secret ingredient that helps make chicken tender and juicy. Now, soak some drumsticks or thigh pieces in buttermilk and refrigerate overnight.
Next, mix a cup of flour with seasonings, including salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and thyme. Remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk and coat them with the flour mixture.
Fry the coated chicken over medium heat until each piece is well-cooked. Enjoy your crispy fried chicken with fries or coleslaw.
4. Chicken Tikka
If you are craving a spicy Asian barbeque dish, don’t worry—you can cook delicious chicken tikka at home. The recipe includes some flavorful spices: salt, red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric, and cumin. Additionally, use garlic and ginger to create the perfect Indian flavour.
The dish looks exotic, but it’s quite easy to cook. You just need to mix the seasonings with a cup of yoghurt and marinate the chicken in the mixture. Then, you may grill, bake, or pan-fry the chicken. The result will be a juicy chicken piece that’s full of flavour.
5. Bread Bowls
Serve your homemade soup restaurant-style using bread bowls. You need just 5 to 6 basic ingredients for your edible bowls, such as yeast, all-purpose flour, eggs, butter, salt, and sugar. Make a dough using all the ingredients and let it rest for around an hour. The yeast will make the dough rise during this time.
After an hour, divide the dough into small balls. Place the balls in a baking tray and bake at 400 degrees. Finally, your bowls will be ready in about 30 minutes. Hollow them out and fill the cavity with some thick and creamy soup.
6. Smash Beef Burger
Restaurant-style smash beef burgers are irresistible. The good news is that you can create these juicy burgers at home.
First, gather the key ingredients – beef, seasonings, cheese, and buns. You can use your favourite toppings like onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. Additionally, you may use some basic condiments, like ketchup, mustard sauce, and mayo.
Now comes the fun part, where you “smash” the beef. Begin with small mince balls. Place the balls over a greased skillet and smash each using a spatula or burger press. Cook the patties on both sides.
The next step is to toast the buns on the skillet to add a crispy touch to your burger. Finally, assemble your burger.
7. Pizza
Pizza is a beloved comfort food that can be customized to suit any taste preference. Whether you prefer classic Margherita, meat, or veggie-loaded pies, making pizza at home allows you to get creative with toppings and flavours.
Prepare homemade pizza dough using flour, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil. Roll out the dough, add your favourite sauce, cheese, and toppings, and bake until golden and bubbly. Experiment with different combinations of ingredients to create your signature pizza masterpiece. With a bit of practice, you’ll be enjoying restaurant-style pizza in the comfort of your own home.
8. Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao chicken is a lip-smacking Chinese dish. Your homemade version can be just as good as the quality and flavours in a Chinese restaurant.
Marinate boneless chicken pieces with soy sauce, vinegar, and minced garlic. Next, prepare the sauce. You would need soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, minced ginger and garlic. Mix all of these ingredients and set the sauce aside.
Now begin the cooking. Coat the marinated chicken pieces with flour. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet and add the chicken pieces. Fry for a few minutes. Next, add the sauce to the skillet and simmer over medium heat. Add chopped green onions, bell peppers, and some peanuts. Cook till the chicken is tender. Finally, use corn flour to thicken the sauce.
Serve with rice and enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine.
Final Thoughts
Recreating your restaurant favourites is quite fun. Plus, it lets you enjoy delightful treats without spending a fortune. From Pad Thai to pizza, sushi to tacos, the possibilities are endless for recreating restaurant-style meals in your kitchen. By mastering a few basic cooking techniques and stocking your pantry with essential ingredients, you can whip up homemade versions of your favourite takeout dishes that are healthier, tastier, and more budget-friendly.
DISCLOSURE – This is a collaborative post.
