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Home Coronavirus Food

Lockdown Cooking Q&A – Ask Me Anything!

By:Nagi
Published:3 Aug '20Updated:3 Aug '20
1,030 Comments

This Cooking Hotline is dedicated to the people of Victoria who went into COVID Lockdown 2.0 last night. While everyone is welcome to use this post to ask any questions about recipes or cooking, if you mention that you are in Victoria, I will prioritise responding to your questions.

Just leave your question in the comments section of this post and I will answer it promptly!

Lockdown Cooking Help Hotline

Victoria COVID Lockdown II

Over the weekend, Victoria (the second most populous state in Australia) declared a State of Disaster due to a second wave of coronavirus. Sweeping new restrictions, including night time curfews and strict rules on movements restricted to essentials such as medical, food and 1 hour of exercise per day, came into force last night.

These Stage 4 restrictions will be in place for 6 weeks. The Federal and State government has deemed these measures necessary due to the alarmingly high rate of community transmission in the state, and getting COVID under control in Victoria has serious ramifications for the rest of Australia.

I know this is a very difficult period for Victorians. Saying that I’m thinking of you, to stay strong and positive, that we’re with you in spirit – it just doesn’t seem like enough.

So I’ve decided to offer up my services doing what I know best – personalised cooking help.

Dozer watching Nagi ladling pho into bowl

Offering up my services!

With COVID Lockdown 2.0 restrictions on movements and purchase limits back in force, and because I hope that you will stay home as much as you can, this once again creates challenges around making do with what you’ve got and menu planning so you can minimise grocery outings.

So Victorians, I’m here for you to ask me anything at all about cooking. No boundaries. Whether it’s ideas, or what to make with x, y, z, a recipe you’re after or a specific cooking question you have, drop them below and I’ll answer them as a priority over questions I get on any other recipe for the duration of your lockdown.

While this recipe hotline is dedicated to the people of Victoria and I will prioritise questions from Victorians, everyone is welcome to leave general cooking questions on this post!

Victorians – sending all my love down to you. We’re thinking of you. Please stay strong – and stay home! – Nagi x

PS Dozer is still on standby for virtual hugs, 24-7.

Dozer-giant-tongue

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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1,030 Comments

  1. Sheyma says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    Hi Nagi, I’m from VIC. Not asking a question as of yet but I just wanted to say thank you for your lovely msg, it’s nice to receive kind gestures in a time like this. Also thank you for amazing recipes, your website is the first place I look at when I’m in need of a recipe and they have always been easy to understand and so delicious! I wish you so much success in everything you pursue.
    Take care

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:43 pm

      That’s great to hear Sheyma, thanks so much! N x

      Reply
  2. Claire says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Nagi. Do you have a cheats guide to preparing and storing conditions for dry beans/legumes ? I’m a Melbourne mum homeschooling and working part time. I have bought dry chickpeas and different lentils to make hummus and your lentil salads for lunches but am unsure about preparing them as so many options. Also how long can they be stored dry and cooked? Many thanks

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:46 pm

      Hi Claire, great question! Dry – keep up to 6 months and once cooked, you could even freeze them up to 3 months. To cook chickpeas, you’ll find instructions here in the notes: https://www.recipetineats.com/chickpea-salad/. I talk about cooking lentils in this recipe here: https://www.recipetineats.com/lentil-roasted-eggplant-salad/ N x

      Reply
  3. Lyndall Rice says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Nagi
    I’m from Melbourne and I just wanted absolutely love all your Recipes and look forward to my emails when you have sent a recipe. It has really helped to get through this horrid time and then to see your lovely gesture today has really cheered me up. Thank you so much for your kind words, your awesome recipes and your little snippets of Dozer, love it all.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:47 pm

      Oh that’s so great to hear Lyndall, thank you so much!! N x

      Reply
  4. Erin MacGillivray says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Hi Nagi,
    I’ve been using your site pretty exclusively since I discovered it in April! LOVE IT!! Thank you!! Can’t even express how much it’s been a highlight of Melbourne Corona living.
    I have an almost 2year old who unfortunately Due to his defiant nature, won’t try a lot of your delish meals (just means more for my partner and I 🤪). He will always eat tofu, despite how terribly and blandly I cook it!!
    You have such an extensive array of recipes and instructions I enjoy following, was hoping you might be able to assist with a few more tofu recipes that my partner and I could also eat, pretty pls.🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
    Thanks Nagi!!!💜💜💜

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      Hi Erin, yes defintiely!!! Will add tofu to my recipe development, I do have a few things in mind! N x

      Reply
      • Erin MacGillivray says

        August 4, 2020 at 10:31 am

        You are AMAZING!!🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 Made my day!!
        Thank you so much💜💜💜

        Reply
        • Yumiko says

          August 4, 2020 at 11:20 am

          Hi Erin, I am Yumiko, Nagi’s mother. Just in case you haven’t discovered yet and you like Japanese food, I have a Japanese Home-cooking website and have about a dozen of Tofu dishes.
          https://japan.recipetineats.com/?s=tofu

          Reply
  5. Joanie says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    Thank you gorgeous lady for your serve to teaching us how to get back the basics of cooking easy and yummy. Know you are most needed during this time. Joanie from Bendigo, Victoria

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:48 pm

      You’re so welcome Joanie, thanks so much 🙂 N x

      Reply
  6. Josh M says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    Hi Nagi, in sunny Queensland here so understand if the Vic’s get priority 🙂
    I would love to know how to make the honey chicken that you find in the Chinese / Thai restaurants. My attempts never turn out right 🙁 I do have a deep fryer

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:49 pm

      Hi Josh! Yes, I must post a recipe for this – I actually have one half written up! In the mean time try this one: https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-chinese-honey-sesame-chicken/ N x

      Reply
  7. John A Phillips says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Can I ask you about slow cookers? No matter which one I use, on low, they all seem to cook too fast. I notice after a few hours that any liquid in the cooker is vigorously simmering.

    Any brands you would recommend? Or is this how they are meant to be? If so, the cooking times are considerably less than a recipe specifies.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:51 pm

      Hi John – that doesn’t sound right at all – the temp should get that high that the liquid is simmering. I use a breville that is a fast and slow cooker – t has both functions (so it saves space too rather than having two appliances!) – N x

      Reply
  8. Diane says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    We are experiencing quite a heat wave here in Los Angeles. Can you recommend yummy meals that don’t require the stove?
    PS. I love your recipes!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      Hi Diane, about about the BBQ? I have a stack of recipes that are perfect for Summer! N x

      Reply
  9. Catherine says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Thankyou Nagi – it’s getting harder by the day here in Victoria- I love your recipes and thankyou for your support in these trying times 👍

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 3, 2020 at 8:52 pm

      You’re so welcome Catherine! N x

      Reply
  10. Sue Dalitz says

    August 3, 2020 at 4:11 pm

    You rock Nagi! Tho I’m in SA I think this such a thoughtful gesture. Thank you from us all.

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      August 5, 2020 at 9:50 am

      That’s so sweet of you Sue – thanks so much 🙂 N x

      Reply
    • Lorraine says

      August 3, 2020 at 4:16 pm

      I agree Sue, I’m in WA and we really feel for the Vic’s. You are such a love, Nagi. x

      Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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