Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Back of House

Thanks to AI recipe generators, 2023 became the Year of Artificial Intelligence in the restaurant industry. This relatively new technology has finally entered the kitchen. From TikTok creators pitting recipes created by an AI recipe generator against world-renowned chefs to home cooks turning to it for pantry inspiration, AI is lacing up its apron strings.

So how are restaurants utilizing AI back of house?

Recipe development, ideation, and management support are all popular ways to leverage AI technology. It reduces the time involved in writing new recipes, creating a dairy-free dish, analyzing nutrition, or creating a food-waste reduction strategy.

In this post, we’ve asked several AI recipe generators to create a dish using the same three ingredients:

• Frozen riced cauliflower
• Tomatoes
• Chicken thighs

Note: Please remember to avoid sharing confidential information or trade secrets in conversations with AI platforms, to ensure data security and protect sensitive intellectual property.

AI recipe generator #1: DishGen

Recipe prompt: “Create a recipe using frozen riced cauliflower, tomatoes, and chicken thighs for my restaurant.”

Here’s the result:

Mediterranean Riced Cauliflower with Tomato-Braised Chicken Thighs

A Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring tender chicken thighs cooked in a rich tomato sauce served over flavorful riced cauliflower. This low-carb and gluten-free recipe bursts with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a delightful and healthy dish that will leave your customer's taste buds wanting more.

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
1 cup frozen riced cauliflower
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
3. Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and paprika. Place them in the skillet, skin-side down, and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
5. Add the diced tomatoes, dried oregano, and dried basil to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
6. Place the chicken thighs back into the skillet, nestling them into the tomato mixture. Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and transfer it to the preheated oven.
7. Bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
8. Meanwhile, prepare the frozen riced cauliflower according to package instructions.
9. Once the chicken is ready, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
10. Serve the tomato-braised chicken thighs over a bed of fluffy riced cauliflower. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

AI recipe generator #2: Let's Foodie

Recipe prompt: "Riced cauliflower, tomatoes, chicken thighs"

Here’s the result:

Cauliflower Fried Rice

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound chicken thighs, cubed
1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cups riced cauliflower
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Add the cubed chicken thighs and season with all-purpose seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes.
3. Cook the chicken for 7 minutes or until cooked through.
4. Add the riced cauliflower and diced tomatoes.
5. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the vegetables are softened.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Serve warm and enjoy!

AI recipe generator #3: ChatGPT

We asked ChatGPT to give us a recipe using the same three ingredients as above with an Indian influence, a Spanish influence, Michelin style, and fast-casual (below). We also prompted it to create a recipe using the same ingredients with a sweet and savory flavor profile. In response, it generated recipes for a Honey-Glazed Cauliflower, Tomato, and Chicken Bowl (recipe below) and a Moroccan Cauliflower Chicken Wrap with Tomato Chutney.

While we love it for its recipe-writing abilities, the real power of ChatGPT is its ability to search out and synthesize information, much like humans do when looking for inspiration, but in seconds rather than hours. Because the prompting process is more general, you can tailor it more carefully to your needs. The possibilities are endless; you just need to learn how to prompt effectively.

Recipe prompt: “Create a recipe using riced cauliflower, tomatoes, and chicken thighs for a fast-casual restaurant.”

Here’s the result:

Cauliflower and Tomato Mediterranean Chicken Bowl

INGREDIENTS

For the Chicken Marinade:
2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Cauliflower Rice:
2 cups riced cauliflower
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Tomato Relish:
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste

For Assembly:
1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Lemon wedges, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate the Chicken:

1. In a bowl, combine olive oil, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and pepper.
2. Place chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag and massage the marinade into the chicken. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Prepare the Tomato Relish:

1. In a bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, finely chopped red onion, chopped fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine. Set aside to let the flavors meld.

Cook the Chicken:

1. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess.
2. Cook the chicken thighs for about 6-8 minutes per side, or until they are cooked through and have nice grill marks. Cooking time may vary based on thickness. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Once done, set aside to rest for a few minutes before slicing.

Prepare the Cauliflower Rice:

1. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the riced cauliflower, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender and slightly golden.

Assemble the Bowls:

1. In each serving bowl, start with a bed of baby spinach or mixed greens.
2. Divide the cooked cauliflower rice between the bowls.

Add the Chicken and Tomato Relish:

1. Slice the grilled chicken thighs and arrange them on top of the cauliflower rice.
2. Spoon the tomato relish over the chicken and cauliflower.

Finish and Serve:

1. If desired, sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the bowls for added flavor.
2. Serve the bowls with lemon wedges on the side for a refreshing squeeze of citrus before eating.

Note: Feel free to customize this recipe by adding other ingredients like olives, cucumber slices, or a drizzle of tahini sauce for extra Mediterranean flair. This recipe is designed for a fast-casual restaurant setting, so the ingredients and steps are optimized for efficiency while maintaining delicious flavor and presentation.

Other ways to use an AI recipe generator

1. Nutrition analysis: We asked ChatGPT to analyze the nutrition for the recipe generated by DishGen, and it proceeded to return a full breakdown of the dish by each ingredient (including calories, vitamins, and minerals) and ended with the nutritional facts. Though it notes at the end that using a verified nutrition calculator or nutritionist is best, this is a great way to get a general idea of your dish’s nutrition.
   
   
2. Ingredient substitution: If you have a recipe you like, you can input it into the AI tool of your choice and ask it to “make it vegan” or “replace the butter,” it will return different ways to substitute ingredients due to dietary restrictions and allergens.
   
   
3. Beverage pairings: You can provide additional prompts: “Give me 3 beverage options (one wine, one beer, one cocktail) you would you pair with a tomato tart.” It returns three beverage options with pairing notes, as well as a note reminding us to offer nonalcoholic options.

AI recipe generators are a powerful tool for creativity

In fast-paced restaurant operations, chefs are constantly challenged to create innovative, enticing dishes that captivate the palates and imaginations of their guests. Turning to the power of an AI recipe generator can be a creative and easy way to transform how restaurants approach recipe development, maximize their time and continue creating and executing dishes that customers love.

While these tools are great for quickly creating new recipes and ideas, make sure you review and test them. It’s still a computer program, and nothing can replace human experience and touch. Bottom line: Using an AI recipe generator as another restaurant technology may stretch your creativity, recipe planning and creation more than you know. Give it a try and have fun with it!