Super quick preparation dinner ideas

[RoganJosh]

Anyone got any? I am fed up with snarling at the children while I cook barely edible slop.

My contribution would be baked chicken thighs on the bone (with herbs, lemon and garlic if I'm feeling energetic), potato wedges and veg.

Anyone got anything with a similar teeny prep time (can be prepared in advance and take a while to cook, it's just the prep time itself I want to minimise). I'd rather avoid bought sauces etc.

Thank you

[Cordial]

Omelette jazzed up with pancetta peas and goats cheese.

Make potato wedges in oven with chorizo and onion then near end add red peppers and crack an egg for everyone on top.

[Cordial]

I do eat things other than eggs

[Gerrythetootallgiraffeswife]

Pack of diced lamb (nice and fatty, none of this lean rubbish). Pack of casserole veg if you're feeling really pushed for time, although takes no time to chop some veg. Couple of tins of tomatoes, some stock (you don't need to make the stock up, literally pour some water in and crumble a stock cube. Stick it all in a heavy lidded casserole dish. Bring to boil on job then stick in oven on 120 for hours. No need to brown the meat first, just whack it all in together and cook it for long enough. Can obviously make it more interesting with dried herbs/spices (I do Moroccan spices and add some raisins and call it a tagine sometimes). Depending on the veg you've put in you might not need anything on the side. I always like something green on my plate so will steam some broccoli or green beans. Also- make double and freeze what's left in portions for another day.

Obviously might not be ideal for the weather we're having at the moment...

[Gerrythetootallgiraffeswife]

*hob not job

[SerenaJoy]

Chop 1 onion and 1 clove garlic
Fry in olive oil for a few minutes
Add tin of chopped tomatoes to frying pan (or 2 tins, depending how many you're feeding) and let it simmer while you cook some pasta.
Once the pasta is ready, mix everything together then stir through half a jar of basil pesto.

At this point you can eat it as is, or top with breadcrumbs and bake in an oven proof dish, depending how much time you have. I sometimes throw some olives or chopped smoked sausage in, and/or a tin of sweetcorn for added veg and colour.

The pesto makes it seem like you've made much more effort with the sauce than you actually have!

[RoganJosh]

Thanks everyone, great ideas. I've thought of another, a Jamie quick one,

Throw some paprika and oregano on chicken breasts or thighs, cover with bacon and bake for 15-20 mins. They're cooked when the bacon looks cooked.
I do these with wedges or baked potatoes.

[Hakluyt]

Fresh pasta. Bag of spinach. Packet of vacuum packed mussels.
Cook pasta and spinach together. Microwave mussels. Chuck together. Add a bit of pasta cooking water to make a bit more sauce.

Dinner in 7 minutes. A bit longer if you use dried pasta instead.

[TinTinsSexySister]

I've got two:

1. At one end of a roasting tray put some oiled and seasoned salmon fillets (one per person). At the other end put some green beans, cherry tomatoes and olives (if you have them). Cover in oil and S&P and then put anchovy fillets on the top - these will melt down. Put in hot oven for 10 to 15 mins or until salmon is done and tomato skins have begun to split. If you want carbs, serve with new pots smothered in mayo, but mostly that's a complete meal for us as it is.
   
   
2. Dry fry cumin seeds in a frying pan. When they begin to smell good and pop add some chopped tomatoes - need to be fresh rather than tinned but if you can't be arsed to skin them, don't bother (I don't). Once these start to bubble down, add a lot of ripped (or chopped) spinach leaves. Cook until most of the liquid is gone and then add some decent sized prawns until they are cooked, season and serve with crusty bread or boiled rice.

[TinTinsSexySister]

One more:

Cook some linguini/spag. At the same time heat oil, garlic & chilli in frying pan. Cook on a low heat until oil looks all red and flavoursome. Add tin or two of crab meat and stir and a generous glug of wine and bubble down. When pasta is done combine the lot with a splash of the pasta water, S&P and some parsley if you have it.

[RoganJosh]

Thank you, those look great!

[Toowittoowoo]

tuna pasta

put nice tuna (I use the albacore tuna in olive oil that come in a jar from Sainsbury) in pan with 2 cloves of garlic (skin removed but not chopped) and 2 tins of tomatoes. Heat and simmer with the lid on for about 15 mins then I add a tin of haricot beans and a couple of cubes of finely chopped frozen spinach and cook for another 5 mins until sauce looks thickish and rich.

serve with pasta of your choice.

[Toowittoowoo]

fish korma:-

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2953679/creamy-fish-curry

I make it easier though by frying the onion in the curry pasta then adding the coconut milk and frozen fish at the same time. I also serve the green beans and baby corn separate (but that is because of my 3 yr old!).

[ShoeWhore]

Pasta pesto with green veg (broccoli, peas, courgette etc) and salmon.

Cook pasta. Add green veg to pasta a couple of mins before the pasta is done. If using courgettes I dice them and saute in a little olive oil.

Meanwhile microwave salmon for 2 mins (or until cooked - keep an eye though it doesn't take long)

Flake fish and mix it all together with some pesto.

[Hakluyt]

Forgot a favourite standby- chickpea gunge. Brown a chopped onion, some gqrlic and ginger and a bit of curry powder and flaked dried chilli if you like it. Cook together for a bit. Add a few good splibs of tomato ketchup and a bit of water. Cook for a few minutes. Add a tin of chickpea drained and rinsed, cook slowly for 20 minutes or so. Or much longer if you need it to.
Serve with naan bread and salad, or in a wrap, or (bizarre as it sounds) with pasta. Nice with mango chutney and sour cream. Or cold with salad. Or blitz and add stock to make a soup. Very delicious and children love it.

[Judez99]

Bumping as there are some great ideas here!