Cooking Without Measuring

When I talk with people who aren't comfortable cooking, or who rarely cook for themselves, there's one thing that often surprises them:

I hardly ever measure ingredients.

For many people, cooking might look like this:

Decide what you want to eat↓Buy the ingredients↓Follow a recipe

But I do things a little differently.

For example:

• I sometimes feel that my body is craving a particular ingredient or nutrient, and I build a meal around that.

• I decide what to cook while looking at what's available at the grocery store.

• I may use recipes for inspiration, but I generally cook by eye rather than measuring everything.

That's simply how I cook.

Some people who don't cook much may think:

"You have to follow a recipe exactly."

And of course, there is enjoyment in following a recipe and recreating a dish as intended.

For me, however, what's more important is:

Eating the nutrients I need in a way that tastes good.

For example, instead of making a full omurice, some days I'm perfectly satisfied with rice and eggs.

Instead of cooking mapo tofu, I might simply eat chilled tofu topped with miso and a few garnishes.

In that sense, I often prioritize ingredients over specific dishes.

I've been cooking for myself for more than five years now, and except for things like pasta or rice that require a certain amount, I rarely measure anything.

The reason is simple:

Measuring is a hassle. (Laughs)

If even I find it tedious, people who already dislike cooking may find it even more discouraging.

So I try to cook in a way that feels easy, relaxed, and sustainable.

Simply reducing the number of meals eaten out can have several benefits:

• Lower food expenses

• More control over ingredient choices

• Easier management of nutritional balance

There's no need to create perfect meals.

If this approach helps make home cooking feel a little more approachable, I'll be happy.

In this section, I'll be documenting the "Cooking Without Measuring" dishes that appear in my YouTube videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCR83DsuXchnCYfU7PdVeKQ

Rather than strict recipes, these posts may be closer to records of what my body felt like eating on a particular day.

I hope they can be useful or inspiring to someone.

Kohshi