To think 15 minute meals are a con?

[joystir59]

I'm an experienced cook with some commercial experience but these recipes use all kinds of short cuts to get to such fast results, including food processing fresh veg to the extent that they lose all their texture. What do others think?

[Scholes34]

Absolutely. They rely on preprepared stuff too much and more expensive food. You can't beat slow cooked meals! No more work is involved, you've just got to be organised and plan ahead.

[Lynnm63]

I agree. It's only 15 mins if you have an assistant to do all the prep. It might take 15 mins to assemble but not to prep and cook.

[BeachyKeen]

When I think 15 minute meal, it's something like veggie stir fry, on protein noodles, or a blt with a bowl of homemade chicken soup.
Nothing bought prepackaged, but I do make big batches of soup and freeze it in single portions. It defrost quicker, and you can adapt to however many people are there easily.
I make an omlette with salad and toast, or grilled cheese. Sometimes i make waffles/pancakes, take 7-10 minutes for the batter, and then it's just cooking time. Throw on some sausage or ham in another pan and your good.

[BeachyKeen]

You're

[piginboots]

Sorry to derail thread but BeachyKeen - what are protein noodles?

Fwiw, 15 minute meal for me is microwave meal plus some steamed veg to make it "healthy"

[2rebecca]

Pasta and pesto with rocket salad is the only meal I can definitely make in 15 minutes. Anything with chopping takes longer

[Tanaqui]

If you mean Jamie's 15 min, they all took me about 40 at first, but some are lovely and there are now 3 I can def do in 15 min, not counting washing up!

[Camomila]

Cheese toastie and some salad, broccoli and cheese pasta, scrambled eggs on toast, cream cheese and salmon bagels are mine.

I once made one of Jamie's 30 minute meals and it took two hours

[Discopanda]

I can't make his meals in 15 minutes because I can't chop as fast as him! And the "don't peel your garlic, put it straight in the crusher" is a load of codswallop too, you lose half the clove!

[Lynnm63]

I assumed it was Jamie Oliver's 15 mins meals we were talking about. I can make meals in 15 mins, omelette and salad or grilled chicken wraps for example. I did both tonight as well as tuna pasta as all three wanted something different less than 20 mins from omg I'd better start dinner to on the plates.
I remember in my pre kids days saying I'd never cook more than one meal and they should all eat the same.

[Brightredpencil]

Jamie's 15 minute meals take me about 45 and use every single pot, pan, knife, board and fork. I can eat them in 15 minutes though...

[SparkleShinyGlitter]

I've never had a 15 minute meal recipe that actually takes 15 minutes, Mayne they do if your a chef but not for your home cook.

Only meal actually achieved in 15 mins in this house is jacket potatoe/ beans/ cheese or pizza

[tyngedyriaith]

Similar in a way to a 50 minute curry. From start to finish.

Aye fuck off was it. 5 bloody hours it took me!! Oh yes it's only 50 minutes if you've pre made and frozen all the purees!

[BeachyKeen]

Protien noodles are like Ramen, but have 10 to 12 g protien per serving. You have to read the labels, some have very little, or like 4g. They are the same price as the other noodles.
I am in Canada, and I can get them in most chain grocery stores

[Rache1983]

I've been using joe wicks lean in 15 and am really impressed with them. They're really tasty and they actually do take 15 mins!

[BoyFromTheBigBadCity]

Agree re Jamie's 15 minute meals. Add 5/10 minutes to the 1037461 pans and plates and tools, add the washing up time for said things, I'd rather spend 5 minutes chopping and have one knife and one board to wash afterwards.

[GerdaLovesLili]

Ha! While we were watching Jamie this evening, I was assembling a shepherd's pie. It took me 15 minutes to make it (with instant mash, ready-grated cheese and dried onion thrown in at the start of cooking the lamb to soak up the fat). So I cheated a bit, but I still got to watch most of Jamie with Small Son who hates nearly everything except the blandest food, but loves watching cookery programmes. I also think that you'd be hard-pressed to make most of his 15 minute meals in less than half-an-hour though....

[HeddaGarbled]

Yes, agree with Rache and other PPs, Joe Wicke's lean in 15 are doable in 15 but Jamie's aren't without the pre-prep. Different styles of cooking though. Jamie's aren't really for a weeknight after work when you're tired unless you are a very keen cook IMO.

I don't mind waiting while stuff is in the oven (allows time for a glass of wine and read the paper) but I don't want to be standing up in the kitchen for ages after work. Tray bakes are my favourite quick dinner: any meat or fish plus any veg into baking tray, olive oil, lemon or lime juice or balsamic vinegar etc, any herbs or garlic or spice mix etc, cook in oven until done, serve with salad.