Smart Cooking Tips: How to cook food with less oil

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been guilty of using too much oil in our favourite Indian dishes. But if you are looking to lighten up the meal without sacrificing the taste, you've come to the right place. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy the same flavourful meals for your palate, but lighter and better for your health! And it all starts with how you prepare the food, and the ingredients with which you prepare it!

Before we get into how to make your meals taste good without excessive oils, let's talk about the oils you should choose. If you want to find the best cooking oil for Indian food, don't just think about flavour. Look for oils that are better suited for your dish, oils that have a high smoking point, don’t leave an aftertaste, and support your heart health. The right oil enhances your food’s natural taste without overpowering it or adding unnecessary fat.

Here is a list of things that you should try when looking to cook with less oil:

1. Choose Non-Stick Cookware

Non-stick pans are a total win for lighter cooking. A small spoonful of oil, or at times, just a brush, is enough to get the job done. You’re going to get food that is crispy, well-cooked and full of aroma, but now without excessive oil. Non-stick pans are perfect for dosas, stir-fried vegetables, paranthas, or any sabji.

2. Grill, Bake and Air-fry

If you often reach for deep-fried snacks, you are not alone. But eating deep-fried food is not ideal, try baking, grilling and air-frying instead. Why? Because it uses less oil and the texture and flavour of the dish is as good as fried.

This way, your food will be less greasy and better for your heart health, with the same taste.

3. The Most Underated Ingredient?

Here's a simple idea: combining a small amount of oil with other cooking liquids like stock or water can better develop the flavours. In everyday cooking, like sautéing masala or cooking curries, it is ideal to start with a little oil and then add stock as you go along to help hold moisture and depth.

And when you are using high-quality and balanced oils, even more than a small amount can help you get the best from the spices and other ingredients.

4. Layered Flavour Starts with Quality Oil

In Indian kitchens, we understand that flavour is built in layers. Spices and herbs are vital to flavour, but oil is what carries the closeness of those layers. The purpose isn't to eliminate it, but to make it work!

First, select an oil that is light and complements your ingredients without overpowering the taste. Toast the spices, then add aromatics, then let the oil do its work. Once you strike an appropriate base, your food shouldn’t need to be oily to be great in flavour, and the right oil can do this.

5. Choose better oils, not just less.

Let’s be clear, this isn’t just about cutting back, it’s also about what you’re consuming in the first place. Picking a cooking oil that doesn't make your meals greasy is simple if you select one that is light, yet flavourful, one you can use every day and goes with all your dishes when cooking, whether sautéing, frying or drizzling.

Switching to a light oil can help you with your wellness goals without having to miss out on foods you love. Eating healthy is not about complicated diets or bland meal plans, it’s about small, smart changes, like the right cooking techniques that cut down the fat, or selecting oils that support your foods and also fit your lifestyle.

6. Cook better with Vibhor Oil

Speaking of better choices, Vibhor Soyabean Oil is here to support you. It’s a light and wholesome cooking companion crafted for modern kitchens. With low absorption, a high smoke point, and the support of Omega 3 & 6 for heart health, it brings balance to every bite and vitality to every day.

So, next time you are in your kitchen, choose Vibhor Soyabean oil for light and healthy cooking. Developing healthier habits starts with what you put in the pan, choose smartly!