Starting with a bowl of water

Many dishes involve frying vegetables and spices over a medium or high heat for a reasonably long time, but the ingredients must not be allowed to burn. Before you begin, place a bowl of water by the hob. You can add a tablespoonful of water if the ingredients start to cook too quickly. This will allow you to sauté them for longer periods, enough to achieve the required depth and robustness of flavour, and darker colour.