AI for Breakfast (actually Dinner in this case!)

Post 22 – Dinner with ChatGPT…

Although I’m perfectly capable of cooking a meal on my own, last night I thought I’d get some help from ChatGPT as part of my ongoing AI experiment.

I had some ingredients that I let it know about and asked it to rustle up a recipe for me, here’s what I got.

I think it’s pretty good with regard to the format and how it’s presented. I followed the instructions and it turned out pretty tasty too!

On a technical level despite my default custom GPT instructions I'm still getting title case on the headings, which I have changed manually but apart from that I’m getting close to perfect results as far as text construction and layout. More tweaking to be done though.

As for the image I think it looks very good, although the actual ingredients were a little more mixed on the plate. To be fair the prompt didn’t mention flaking the salmon!

Me: I have some salmon fillet, mushrooms, sugar snaps and some spaghetti along with a puttanesca ready-made sauce. Please suggest a recipe?

ChatGPT:

Alright, Chris, let's whip up a delicious meal with the ingredients you've got! How about we make a Salmon Spaghetti with a Puttanesca Twist? This dish will beautifully combine the rich flavour of salmon with the bold, zesty puttanesca sauce, adding mushrooms and sugar snaps for extra texture and freshness. Here's a simple way to bring it all together:

Ingredients:

• Salmon fillet
• Mushrooms
• Sugar snaps
• Spaghetti
• Puttanesca ready-made sauce

Recipe:

• Prepare the salmon:
• Season the salmon fillet with salt and pepper, and perhaps a little olive oil.
• Pan-fry the salmon skin-side down in a hot, non-stick pan for about 3-4 minutes until the skin is crispy. Gently flip it over and cook for another 2-3 minutes (depending on thickness) until just cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.

• Cook the spaghetti:
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and reserve some of the pasta water for later.

• Sauté the vegetables:
• While the pasta cooks, slice the mushrooms and trim the sugar snaps. In the same pan used for the salmon, add a bit more oil if needed, and sauté the mushrooms until they begin to brown.
• Add the sugar snaps to the pan with the mushrooms and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes until they're bright green and slightly tender. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.

• Combine with Puttanesca sauce:
• Pour the puttanesca sauce into the pan with the vegetables and warm through. If the sauce is too thick, add a bit of the reserved pasta water to reach your desired consistency.

• Assemble the dish:
• Flake the cooked salmon into large chunks.
• Add the cooked spaghetti to the pan with the sauce and vegetables, tossing well to ensure the pasta is evenly coated. Gently fold in the salmon chunks, being careful not to break them up too much.

• Serve:
• Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve the salmon spaghetti hot, perhaps with a sprinkle of fresh herbs like parsley or basil if you have them on hand, for a fresh burst of flavour.

This recipe offers a fantastic way to combine the heartiness of salmon with the vibrant flavours of puttanesca sauce, all while incorporating the earthy mushrooms and crisp sugar snaps for texture and freshness. It's a balanced dish that brings out the best in your available ingredients.

Summary:

• Pan-fry the salmon and set aside.
• Cook the spaghetti to al dente.
• Sauté mushrooms and sugar snaps, then add the puttanesca sauce.
• Combine the pasta with sauce and vegetables, gently fold in flaked salmon.
• Serve hot, optionally garnished with fresh herbs.

Enjoy your cooking, Chris! This should make for a delightful meal that's both satisfying and packed with flavour.