Cooking in a Tiny Kitchen

Missing from photo: baking tray for oven, dishes, glasses, and silverware.

Most of you know I’m living in Italy at this very moment studying for a Master’s in Food. This is like a full-time job. I’m in class Monday-Friday and gone from 8:00-5:00 each day. My days are filled learning about biodynamic farming, EU food law, history of food, sensory analysis, tastings, and more.   

I love my little modern Ikea kitchen, but it’s tiny. At first, I was disillusioned when it came to cooking here in Italy. Many ingredients were not available and I had to rethink favorite recipes. In addition, I’m used to cooking with all my American cooking instruments. How could I make delicious food without my immersion blender, KitchenAid mixer, food processor, etc. Poor me.

Then, I realized people all over the world cook in tiny kitchens, with little equipment and I got to work. I had to scale down recipe size to just 1-4 portions. Guess what? It makes cooking easier and there’s less food waste. If I make 2 portions for dinner, the 2nd becomes lunch or dinner the next day. And I’m eating freshly prepared food, that is not days old. This Italian method of cooking and shopping suits my wellness goals.

I did buy a tiny food processor, mainly for chopping onions, but that’s the only electrical equipment I have.It was a misnomer to think in order to cook delicious food; I needed all “that” equipment. Well, I didn’t. That’s why I included a photo of all I have in my kitchen to cook with equipment-wise. For you to see it’s possible to cook delicious, healthy food without lots of expensive equipment.

It’s entirely possible to cook with very little equipment and often that allows an ingredient to standout – even better. Simple food is best, quick, and easy. While I LOVE cooking this is my go to method of cooking most days – especially after a long day at the university. And when in doubt: a little Italian aperitivo (cocktail time with snacks) can fill in for a meal here or there – vino or no vino, cheese, nuts, bread/crackers, olives, fruits, or whatever you have on hand.

A few of my quick favorites are: apple pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, savory buckwheat salads (variety of toppings), soup (often made from frozen homemade stock), tomato soup, omelettes or frittata, fried rice, chicken piccata, & hamburgers (topped with sautéed zucchini & onion)

If more time: risotto,roasted chicken & vegetables, lentils (turkey, chicken, or vegetarian), curry, & beef bourguignon