I am making Kenji Lopez Alt’s Channa Masala, which is incredible and I’ve made it many times, but every time I see “5 minutes” of prep here, I think I must be in another part of the multiverse where 5 minutes is a half hour minimum. Still one of my favorites, tho: www.seriouseats.com/channa-masal...

Channa Masala Recipe

As one of the most popular dishes in the world, channa masala—chickpeas cooked in a spicy and tangy tomato-based sauce—is the kind of dish that stirs passions.

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“Prep time” and potato cook time misinformation requires Congressional investigation

Ok, so a chef friend told me years ago that it's fairly standard to leave mise en place out of overall cook times in recipe writing. This is insane violence IMO, but knowing that even *chopping an onion* is not included in prep time has helped me estimate realistically.

what time should I be there?

Oh I keep meaning to try that recipe; I have no experience cooking Indian food, but I love it, and I trust Kenji’s recipes. The fact that you have made it many times is further proof it must be a good recipe. I’ll have to see if he’s made this on YouTube, I always enjoy watching him cook.

When I see "5 min prep":

a man in a military uniform with a sash that says right to jail on it

Alt: "right to jail" meme

📌

📌

Making chicken karahi this evening and can relate, just digging out and sorting the spices feels like 10 minutes of prep.

If you are getting out a mortal and pestle, it is not five minutes of prep!!