Quick meals

Voltjunkie

Voltjunkie

Voltjunkie

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Joined
9 Apr 2009
Posts
718
As we all know, takeaways are both expensive and unhealthy (i.e. something that should be saved for a special treat!) I try to avoid ordering takeaways regularly but find I end up ordering them when I just cannot be bothered to cook when I'm tired after a hard day at work.

So when you're feeling tired or lazy what sort of thing do you find yourself cooking? It has to be quick, easy and taste good ;)
 
Wholewheat pasta, tin of tuna, some sweetcorn, big pinch of chilli, lots of pepper and a good dollop of mayo. That was always a favourite of mine when I was a student :D
 
Chicken, half a jar of tomato based sauce, blue stilton over the top.
Omelette with whatever filling you fancy.
Microwavable rice, some meat, soy sauce, season as you like.
Tuna and pasta, season as you like.
Soup and some big chunks of bread.
 
I eat a lot of stir fries if I'm feeling lazy or haven't got much time. Simple and quick.

Packet of stir fry veg from supermarket (Sainsbury's do good mixes).
Pre-diced chicken/turkey or a pack of big prawns.
Oyster sauce.
Soy sauce.
Five spice powder.

Takes about 10 minutes including the time to heat the wok and open the packets. Serve with rice or quick cook noodles. I like brown rice which takes ages to cook but I buy a packet and cook the whole lot in a oner and freeze in individual portions. De-frost and then two minutes in a microwave - et voilà.
 
Have to agree with Stan_Lite on the stir fries - you can make them much tastier than you get at the takeaway and there are so many varieties once you look outside of the typical "Chinese" ones.

Another good thing to cook is fish as it is really quick to make, healthy and can be really tasty once you start thinking about how to flavour it in different ways.

Make multiple portions of food (not just 2 but make 4-8) as it is cheaper and means you can either freeze portions to eat later in the month or in the case of salad/couscous/new potatoes you can use them over the next few days (e.g. just cook a fish fillet or chicken breast on the griddle as you have the rest of the meal made).

I could not reccomend a wok and griddle enough as it is so easy to just rub some spices on e.g. a plain chicken breast and then have something delicious in minutes that the supermarekets would charge a fortune for.
 
whatever you make when you can be bothered, just make more of it, portion it into food bags, and freeze. Then whenever you hungry just nuke it for 6-8 mins or so from frozen. cooked pasta / potatoes etc can be kept in the fridge for a few days just nuke when needed.
 
Pataks do great curry sauces.

Takes 10 mins to make a curry!! Much quicker than driving to the chinese or getting it delivered.

Tastes 10000 times better. Costs roughly the same though.

Chicken or prawns... sauce from jar. Make your own rice. Or use the 2 min microwave rice. Although, your own is much cheaper and nicer. 2 parts water to 1 part rice. Use a mug or cup, whatever is close to hand. Throw water and rice in pan... bring to boil... cover... 12 mins later (on average) once water is disolved, you have lovely rice once you season it with whatever you like. Don't take lid off during cooking, don't stir it or anything. Just forget about it simmering for 12 mins.

Pasta and sauce. Lloyd sauces are lovely. Or use chopped tomatos and do your own.

Stir fry packs, sauces and meat. Add noodles straight to wok to keep it all in the one pan. Been eating them since I was 5. amazing food!

What else. As said, make lots... freeze it!

Failing all this. Just have ready meals in the fridge, frozen pizza etc. Supermarkets do convenience food also. Only they come with an ingredients label unlike the chinese who serves up cat and seagull curry :p
 
Don't think pataks are that good if I'm honest, but for a quick meal I guess they'll do.
Not a fan of jarred sauces in general to be honest.

I've got a bit of a nigella thing going, ie. "stuff I keep in the store cupboard" (By the way nigella, for an over 50's bird would still get it so hard)
I basically make a few jars of curry paste at a time, it's pretty easy to knock up a curry from a paste in less than 20 minutes.
 
To serve 2 hungry souls or 2 and leftovers:

Cook 100 grams of linguine (has to be linguine) till al dente (preferably undercooked to overcooked)

Whilst pasta is resting/drying out in the colander in the same pan add a (very) generous knob of garlic butter (easy enough to make yourself at any time) and melt gently. Add a tbl spoon of passata and the same of Linghams Garlic and Chilli sauce, whack the heat to max and throw in some prawns. When they are nearly cooked add the pasta back in and take off the heat. Leave for 1 minute (but not much longer so that the prawns do not go rubbery) throw in some chopped herbs of your choice and season to taste.

Serve with a good salad to cleanse your palate and a decent dryish white (the passata and Linghams provide sweetness to the dish) cheese and sea food are a no no in my house but you can add if you want.

If you want to vary it a little then try adding either sundried/sunblushed toms or deskin and finely chop some fresh toms and add in not long after you throw in the prawns (you want them to keep their shape and not break down after all)
 
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