If there is one kitchen gadget that you will be using the most, that would be your food processor. Even without a stove, you can easily create something edible with it. Just watching MasterChef US will already convince you on how helpful it would be. Just imagine, a food processor mixes and chops all your ingredients together. No wonder chefs can cook a recipe in just an hour.
So if these cooking shows convinced you of buying a food processor for yourself, you might want to read up on its capabilities. They might not be the most expensive kitchen appliance out there, but they sure are versatile. It would be such a shame not knowing what it can do. So to help you discover these things, here is a list of all the things you can create with your new food processor.
Homemade Pesto Sauce
Whether you’re a pasta lover or a sandwich lover, pesto is always a great flavor to use. With just 6 ingredients needed, it’s become a staple for anyone who wants to add an Italian and rustic kick to their meals. Besides, it’s healthy enough to eat all the time.
To make your homemade pesto sauce, you will need a cup of fresh basil leaves, 3 garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons of pine nuts, ⅓ cup of Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and ⅓ cup of olive oil. When you have all your ingredients ready, simply place them all in your food processor. Turn it on and see how everything is getting shredded and chopped to create the perfect sauce consistency. Make sure to adjust the salt and pepper to fit your taste. Once you’re satisfied with the texture, transfer the sauce to an airtight container and voila. You already have pesto sauce.
Hummus
Next up is hummus. Thanks to the Middle East, many Americans are eating so much hummus today. It’s been used as a dip and sauce for chips and meat that it has become a well-known spread. And just like your pesto sauce, you can easily make this in your food processor. All you need is 250 grams of cooked chickpeas, a big lemon, 60 ml stirred tahini, 1 garlic clove, 2 tablespoons olive oil, ½ teaspoon of cumin, salt, and 30 ml of water.
The trick to having a creamy and smooth hummus is to first mix the tahini and lemon juice for 1 minute. The mixture should be similar to a thick dough. Then, place all the ingredients in the food processor. You can add more cumin or salt to taste.
Salsa
Did you know that you can also make salsa with your food processor? This means that you don’t have to buy bottles of salsa in the grocery anymore. You can also create a healthier version of the salsa by using fresh ingredients. Just mix fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapeno peppers, and lime juice to create a classic Mexican sauce. With your food processor, simply put them all in while the motor’s running. You can even stop the mixing until you get the consistency you want.
Homemade Dressings
Now that you know you can create pesto sauce, salsa, and hummus, you can definitely use your food processor for other sauces as well. In fact, this kitchen appliance opens your doors to different kinds of sauces you can make at home.
You can now use it to create dressings of different kinds. You can also try to experiment with different pasta sauces. One example is a homemade sun-dried tomato sauce. There is also a range of American dips that you can recreate at home.
Ground Meat
Moving on from sauces, there is another important use for your food processor. That’s grinding meat. Whether it’s chicken, pork, beef, or lamb, your food processor can take any meat you put in there.
If you plan on grinding the meat for making meatballs or a hamburger, it’s best to choose something high in fat. The fat helps put the meat together so that it doesn’t disintegrate. It’s highly recommended that when you put the meat in the processor, cut them into smaller cubes to make it easier to grind. Then, place them in the processor and grind it for 30 seconds. You can also pulse them yourself.
When grinding meat, your goal is not to produce finely chopped meat. Instead, a rough grinding to it is enough so you don’t remove all the texture and taste.
Shredded Veggies
If you’re a lover of coleslaw, then you know how bad it is to buy shredded vegetables right from the grocery store. It doesn’t look fresh at all, and what’s worse is they don’t have the quality you’re looking for.
Thanks to the food processor, all the veggies that you wish to shred can be made at home, from shredded cabbages, carrots, zucchini, you name it. Suddenly, being so healthy has become a lot easier. Just imagine how many recipes you can make without having to chop all the vegetables. Plus, you can also chop some fruits here. Needless to say, you can now make your salads and veggies on the side without worrying about your prep time.
Baby Food
So if you can shred veggies and fruits, then you can definitely blend food for your baby. No need to buy expensive baby food because you can create these yourself. But that’s not the only advantage.
When it comes to baby food, it’s important that you know every ingredient your baby eats. This is why homemade baby food is always better than its processed counterpart. You can also experiment with the vegetables and fruits that you will be mixing. By doing some research on the important vitamins and nutrients, you can handpick the ingredients your baby needs. Just make sure to take out all the seeds before you start mixing everything.
Dough
A lot of people swear by creating their own dough at home. It has a certain freshness and taste that is way better than the grocery-bought ones. If you’re looking for a way to make the dough, then a food processor can help you.
The food processor is a great alternative to a handmade dough. Some people shy away from the thought of making the dough with their hands because of the technique and precision that’s needed in making it. However, you won’t need any technique once you use a food processor. Just put the flour, sugar, butter, salt, and some water in the food processor. Pulse it until the mixture becomes coarse enough. Then you can shape them into a ball, or a crust, or any dough shape you want.
Ice Cream
A staple in any heartbreaking experience, ice cream is often considered as an unhealthy snack for everyone. It’s full of sugar so it’s definitely a no-no for anyone who’s dieting and managing their weight.
But it doesn’t have to be this way with a food processor. With this useful kitchen tool, you can make ice cream healthy. All you have to do is pick healthy ingredients and sugar substitutes that can produce a great flavor. For example, you can make a dark chocolate ice cream filled with just dark chocolate and a few nuts. You can also convert fruits to ice cream by simply mixing some fruits, milk, a bit of sugar. See? Your guilty pleasures suddenly turned healthy.
Related Post: Best Ice Cream Maker
Dessert Balls
You shouldn’t forget about dessert balls either. Usually, dessert balls are associated with healthy snacks. Instead of buying them in packages, you can create your own dessert balls with all kinds of ingredients. A simple recipe has dried fruits, chia seeds, cocoa powder, nuts, and a pinch of cinnamon. Just a few pulses in the food processor and you can make your homemade snacks that are healthy and delicious.
Nut Butter
And lastly, don’t forget about nut butter. Nut butter is all the rage these days because you can use them for a lot of snacks and meals. If you like oatmeal, then you’ll be glad to know that you can create your own nut butter to top your meal off.
The best part of this is that you just need the nuts. You can choose almonds, walnuts, or even sunflower seeds as the base. Just put them in the food processor and blend from 10-12 minutes. Unlike your usual food processing time, this will take a while because the nuts need to be ground properly.
So you see, a food processor is not just for chopping vegetables. It has so many uses that it can help you create even complex dishes. From sauces to desserts, your food processor is a handy appliance that every home cook should have. Not only that, you will definitely save a lot more time and effort to produce properly chopped and blended ingredients. If you have spare time, you might want to experiment on other recipes to see how far you can stretch your cooking skills.
Sources:
- Meet your new sous-chef: The food processor – The Washington Post
- How to Use a Food Processor – wikiHow
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