Intuitive and Mindful Cooking

Written by Chef Mimi Lan

Cooking has become one of the most joyous activities in my life. It helps reduce my stress and anxiety while offering a fun and exciting way to express my creativity. More importantly, it’s one of the best ways I can show love to others.

That said, cooking can feel stressful for some, especially when it seems like you’re a slave to a recipe. Unlike baking, where precise measurements are crucial, cooking allows for flexibility. Recipes don’t have to be followed step-by-step—they’re more like a guide. Instead of aiming to master a recipe, focus on mastering the art of intuitive cooking.

I’ve been cooking for most of my adult life and helping in my family’s kitchen since I was a kid. One thing I’ve noticed is that no one in my family ever cooked with recipes. In our Vietnamese culture, cooking isn’t about precise measurements; it’s about using feelings and intuition to guide the process. It’s about trusting your instincts and letting your intuition lead, rather than rigidly following a recipe from start to finish.

Tips for Becoming an Intuitive Cook

Before you delve into these recipes, here are some pointers to help you become a good cook—not just a good recipe follower:

• Make the most of fresh ingredients – Enhance their flavors by using your own preferred cooking methods and seasonings.

• Adapt recipes – You can adjust recipes to suit your preferences, budget, available ingredients, and time. Sometimes, a lack of resources or a recipe mistake can lead to innovation. You might even create something better than the original or at least make the dish your own. Some of my best dishes came from accidents when I improvised with ingredient substitutions.

• Fine-tune your taste buds – Learn from your favorite dishes by first researching the foods you love. Try to perfect them, then experiment to make them even better based on your own taste.

• Use taste memory – Cooking can provide an opportunity to connect with personal and precious memories. Let your taste memory guide you to excellence.

Practicing Mindful Cooking

Mindful cooking is about being fully present and engaged in the process. It fosters patience, appreciation, and a non-judgmental attitude. It can also help develop self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and stress management while bringing joy and calmness to the act of cooking.

• Be present throughout the process – From ingredient selection to chopping and cooking, immerse yourself in each step.

• Engage all five senses –

  • Touch the ingredients, feel the texture.

  • Listen to the sounds of cooking.

  • Smell the aromas.

  • Taste each morsel slowly.

  • Focus on one sense at a time while blocking out distractions.

• Learn where your ingredients come from – Understanding the origins of your food adds appreciation to the process.

• Express gratitude – Acknowledge the ingredients and the environment that allow you to cook.

• Pay attention to presentation – We eat with our eyes first. Thoughtful plating makes the experience even more enjoyable for you and your guests.

Embracing Adaptability

Cooking is an evolving art. Food tastes better when it’s made with passion. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes—those moments often lead to the best discoveries. Once you master intuitive and mindful cooking, you’ll naturally become a better cook while fully enjoying the process.

Happy cooking, and live deliciously!