5 cooking tricks to steal from Accra's most sought after private chef

For some, cooking is a sort of therapy. Laying out their utensils, gathering all of the necessary ingredients, and diving right into a carefully thought-out recipe can sometimes be the perfect night in.

For others, they find excitement in trying something new or re-creating a dish that they ate out of their homes.

Where do you start when you are trying to replicate that flavour-packed curry that you relished in someone's abode.

To answer this question and more, we have asked Accra's most sought after private chef Victor Kojo Bequin who has gone through years of training, for his ultimate cooking tips.

Check out 5 incredibly useful cooking tips from Chef Victor who knows his way around a kitchen like the back of his hand.

The CEO of Beqz Catering services spoke to Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa.

Don’t forget the garnish

To make an impression on your guests, throw a simple garnish on your finished platter: easy and beautiful, or take an element from the dish, such as whole herb sprigs or extra spice, and add just a small amount to create a pop for the eye.

Let your meat sit out before cooking

If you are going to cook a steak, for instance, take it out of your fridge and let it come to room temperature before you throw it on the grill or in the oven. A lot of times people will take meat from a cooler or a 40-degree fridge and throw it on the grill and want it medium rare. What do you think the inside is going to be? Cold, right? You have to let your meat come up to room temperature.

Don’t cry over onions

Put onions in ice water for 10 minutes before cutting them; this prevents them from causing your eyes to water.

Always consider the smoke point of your cooking oil: Be sure to use a fat that correlates to the level of heat you will be cooking at. Low-heat oil, such as butter and some nut oils, will burn at a medium or high temperature, so be sure to use those only when cooking on low heat. With high-heat oils, such as almond, avocado, canola, or grapeseed, you can cook at low or high temperatures without having to worry about them burning

Edit what goes into the pan

When cooking in a pan, don’t overcrowd. This will create steam instead of direct heat.

With all the cooking tips, he was also generous enough to touch on smart buying.

The first step to cultivating a healthy eating habit is by making healthy shopping choices, says Victor Kojo Bequin, CEO of Beqz Catering services.

Instead of stocking up on canned products or processed food from the supermarket, Victor advises Ghanaians to go to their local market and shop for fresh fruits and vegetables.

“You have so many affordable fresh produce in the market. If you give your body the right daily nutrition, you give your body and brain strength to focus on your daily work,” said the chef.