THE ART OF PATIENCE: THE MOST ESSENTIAL SKILL FOR COOKING

The truth remains that every Nigerian cuisine holds a rich cultural heritage, diverse dishes, and vibrant flavors.

One essential part of this cuisine that seems to be lost in today’s fast-paced world of fast food is the meticulous process of preparing traditional meals. This art of cooking slowly is often viewed as outdated in a society that values speed. And no, the problem is not with the emergence of new and easy-to-make meals. The real issue is how we’ve reduced cooking to just taste and appearance, while overlooking the most essential skill for cooking, patience.

I recently helped my wife prepare a fish barbecue and wheat-based coconut bread for my birthday.

Watching her work in the kitchen, carefully following each step, rinsing, cutting, stirring, measuring, etc., was a reminder of why traditional Nigerian food tastes so rich. The process may seem long, but it’s what brings out the flavor and the health benefits. When you prepare food with love, attention, and patience, it always tastes better.

How do we cook our own meals? Many people are learning how to cook better, but there’s one crucial skill they’re missing: patience.

Why Patience Matters in Cooking

Fast foods are often unhealthy because they’re cooked in a rush. Many of these meals are poorly rinsed, undercooked, or over-processed to make them quicker to prepare. But when you have patience, you take your time, paying attention to details—like properly washing your ingredients, using natural sweeteners instead of sugar, and following the right cooking processes.

Traditional dishes like Jollof rice, Moin-Moin, Bitterleaf soup, Pounded yam, and Ofada rice require patience. If you rush the process, you’ll miss the depth of flavor and richness they offer. For example, frying dodo or boiling eggs may seem simple, but they require patience if you want them to come out perfectly. Don’t rush your food; treat it with the same respect as you would when preparing a meal fit for a king.

The Dangers of Rushing in the Kitchen

Many people can’t get even the basics of cooking right because they lack the patience to follow through. Something as simple as boiling rice or spaghetti requires patience to avoid overcooking or undercooking. But when you rush, you might end up with a burnt meal or underdone food. It’s not enough to know the recipe; the real secret is the patience to follow every step properly.

Lack of patience is one of the reasons some people struggle to cook great meals. They want instant results, but cooking requires time. My mother always taught me that there’s no substitute for patience. She never left the kitchen until the meal was done, no matter how long it took. That’s the kind of dedication it takes to make truly amazing food. If you want to make something great, you can’t rush it.

                        

Life Lessons from the Kitchen

Cooking, like life, is about the journey, not just the destination. If you rush through life, you miss the beauty of the process and the lessons it teaches. In cooking, as in life, patience pays off. You can’t skip the necessary steps and still expect a great outcome. Whether it's a simple dish or an elaborate feast, patience is the secret ingredient that makes all the difference.

Next time you find yourself rushing through the kitchen, take a moment to pause and reflect. Cooking isn’t just about the end result; it’s about the time and care you invest in the process. Patience is the true secret to great food and, in many ways, to great living. So, slow down, savor the process, and enjoy the richness that comes from preparing meals with love and patience.

Unpaid advert: If you’re looking for healthy, delicious fish barbecue and wheat bread, my wife’s creations are top-notch; cost-friendly, beautifully packaged, and made with patience!

Share, drop a comment, and click the "follow" button at the top-left corner if it speaks to you.