1. Always have your essential ingredients on hand
There are a few ingredients that chef Neil Perry, who runs renowned Sydney restaurants Margaret and Song Bird, is never without. "Sea salt, fresh lemon, butter, extra virgin olive oil and a tin of anchovies. You can add anything roasted or pan-fried and get a really good dish." For more Asian-inspired flavours, "If you have some Shaoxing wine, ginger, garlic, chilli, a little soy and sesame, you can make all sorts of wonderful stir-fries."
2. Elevate the everyday with quick, tasty sauces
When it comes to whipping up fast meals at home, Perry and his wife, Samantha, usually prepare a protein with a side of salad or vegetables. But the magic is in flavour-filled sauces. "The girls [daughters Josephine, Indy and Macy] love me cooking a minute steak. Then you can just combine butter, lemon juice and mashed up anchovies and you’ve got something delicious on a piece of steak."
3. Give your leftovers a makeover
Leftovers can quickly become boring so if you want to give your batch-cooking an exciting second life, turn it into something (kind of) new. "Anything left over from a roast goes really nicely tossed into a salad," says Perry. "If you want Asian flavours, use lime, chilli and fish sauce. Pull a roast chicken apart and throw that in there with some lettuce." He also says that adding an egg to leftovers can work wonders. "A poached, fried or boiled egg on top of a stir-fry or even on top of some rice with a bit of chilli sauce and fish sauce is just magic."
4. Have the right tools on hand
"A sharp knife and a decent chopping board go a long way to making you feel good as a cook," says Perry. "Because you can cut your vegetables and your meat really easily and quickly." Other tools of the trade that are worth the investment? You need a decent sized roasting pan; a medium-to-large skillet to pan-fry fish or meat; and a decent-sized saucepan and pasta pot. "Then you can pretty much make anything."
5. The best option is often the simplest
While it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the idea of cooking an impressive meal for loved ones, some of the best food is the simplest. "People tend to overcomplicate things," says Perry. "The reality is, if you’re using nice produce, it’s really just about adding good seasoning." If you can, choose fresh seafood, grass-fed beef or free-range chicken and you’ll find you don’t need to do all that much to make it enjoyable. "Just don’t forget to season your ingredients well."
