Finwell

One of the most unforgettable moments in my early cooking journey takes me back to a time when I was young and still learning my way around the kitchen. I was home alone, tasked by my mum to prepare a meal of rice and meat, a dish known as Pilau in Kenya. Feeling confident, I carefully prepared all my ingredients, excited to cook the perfect meal.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly—until it wasn’t. When I added the cooking oil and onions, I got distracted, and before I knew it, the onions were burnt. Panic set in. At that age, I was quite the perfectionist, and seeing the burnt onions felt like the beginning of a ruined dish. Still determined to salvage the situation, I pressed on, adding the meat. But my lack of experience showed again, and the meat overcooked and burned too.

At that point, I was on the verge of giving up. I even considered throwing everything out. But there was no going back. The shop was quite far, and I had no choice but to keep going. So, I added the rice and water, said a little prayer, and let it cook.

When it was time to serve, I was filled with dread. I was sure the meal was a disaster, and I braced myself for complaints. But to my surprise, as my family sat down to eat, not a single negative word was said. In fact, they all loved it! My uncle, who happened to be visiting, even said it was the best meal he’d had in a long time.

What could have been my greatest cooking fail turned into a win that day. And that unexpected triumph was what sparked my love for cooking. Turns out, even burnt onions can add a special touch!