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I’m all for embracing new things, but when it comes to artificial intelligence, I must admit I’m a bit of a laggard.
As a writer, I’m afraid it will replace me. I’m therefore mistrustful of it and, until recently, have actively avoided it. To me, using AI is the equivalent of having someone else run a marathon for you and accepting their medal; the joy of writing is in creating something yourself!
However, lately I’ve been wondering about how generative AI can help us older women … and in ways we might not even consider.
Confession time; I’m not a natural in the kitchen. Before the pandemic I famously only went into the kitchen “to get wine." After months of lockdown, I had to step up when my husband got sick of cooking. A few burned pans, singed recipe books and crosswords later, I’m now a passable cook.
While I’m no longer a disaster in the kitchen, I’m far from accomplished and my impatience means I strive for simplicity and speed. I’m always looking for tasty and easy recipes that don’t have a million ingredients. My heart sinks when I see mouthwatering pictures which turn out to have 20-odd components, including things I’ve never even heard of.
Just as I have a style formula of jeans, blazer and a statement necklace, I have a formula for recipes. I’m looking for chicken, a sauce and some vegetables. Stir fries are ideal for this; I like to prep everything and then set the items aside so I can cook dinner at my leisure.
My husband and I love Asian food, so I’m constantly on the hunt for a great Chinese or Thai recipe. But who has the time to trawl through cookbooks and websites looking for fresh ideas every week?
A woman in my circle mentioned she used AI for recipes, and I was intrigued. Research done for me? I’m listening … All the best recipes scoured and shortlisted on my behalf? I’m in! I duly signed up for a ChatGPT account, and I was cooking with gas! (Excuse the pun.)
Here's the formula for the best recipe ChatGPT has ever given me. It’s ideal for busy women like me because you can prep the chicken, vegetables and sauce in advance and then cook the dish in around 15 minutes.
My ask:
“Please give me a Thai recipe for chicken that takes less than 30 minutes to make and has fewer than 10 ingredients.” (I’m always polite, even if it’s to a non-sentient being …)
ChatGPT’s response:
Thai Basil Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2-3 Thai bird chilies (chopped; adjust for spice level)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves (or sweet basil)
Instructions:
1. Prep the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking.
2. Cook the aromatics: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or wok over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped chilies, stir-frying for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
3. Cook the chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the pan and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Make the sauce: Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, oyster sauce and sugar to the pan, stirring everything together. Let the sauce cook for about 2 minutes, allowing it to coat the chicken evenly.
5. Add the basil: Toss in the fresh Thai basil leaves and stir-fry for another 30 seconds, just until the basil wilts.
6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve with steamed jasmine rice.
Total Time: 20-25 minutes
This dish is quick, flavorful and packed with the fresh taste of basil and chilies! ___________________________________________________________________________
This is by far the most successful recipe ChatGPT has ever provided me. Over the many times I’ve cooked this, I’ve made some refinements; the chili level was a little too much for our taste, so I’ve edited that down to just one. I also toss the chicken pieces in corn flour because it gives it a nice crispy crust and helps the sticky sauce to coat better. Plus, I use microwave Jasmine rice, so I don’t have to multitask at the critical moment of bringing it all together (or maybe I’m just lazy).
Be wary when using AI to generate recipes. Forbes reported in 2023 that one AI recipe generator actually produced deadly chlorine gas. In addition, as you'll see below, not every recipe is a tasty one.
I’m cooking a new AI-inspired recipe most weeks, however the Thai basil recipe is so delicious that it’s almost a regular Friday night feature in our house. Sadly, there are a few that didn’t make it into the AI hall of fame, like the Honey Garlic chicken one below. On paper it ticked all my boxes, but it was a bit generic and neither of us were keen for second helpings. It just goes to illustrate that in food, just as in love, there’s a lot more to a successful match than ticking boxes.
ChatGPT’s response:
Here's a simple and delicious Stir-Fried Honey Garlic Chicken recipe that takes less than 30 minutes and uses fewer than 10 ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts (sliced into thin strips)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional, for flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch (for thickening, optional)
- 2 green onions (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions:
1. Prep the chicken: Thinly slice the chicken breasts into strips for quick cooking.
2. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and minced garlic. Add cornstarch if you want a thicker sauce.
3. Cook the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken strips and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until browned and cooked through.
4. Add the sauce: Pour the sauce into the pan, stirring the chicken to coat it evenly. Let the sauce simmer for 2-3 minutes, allowing it to thicken and caramelize slightly.
5. Finish and garnish: Drizzle with sesame oil for extra flavor (optional) and stir for another 30 seconds. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped green onions.
6. Serve: Serve with steamed rice or noodles.
Total Time: 25-30 minutes
This recipe is quick, flavorful and has a nice balance of sweet and savory with just a few ingredients!
___________________________________________________________________________
Will AI and I ever be friends? I suspect our relationship status will always be “frenemies." But in the meantime, I make a mean Thai basil curry.
What's YOUR favorite chicken recipe? Let us know in the comments below.
