Favourite meals you can make in the time it takes to cook pasta

[Etherealhedgehog]

I'm talking actual recipes (and doesn't have to involve actual pasta, though that is welcome). I love cooking but DD is nearly a year, we're both back at work - already or soon - and we really don't have the energy to cook at the end of the day. But after spending the first four months living off pasta pesto/oven pizza/fish finger butties on rotation, I feel in need of more varied fare, and something to make me feel like I haven't completely abandoned my love for making a tasty meal.

I feel like there should be a great food blog out there covering just this, but yet to find it.

So, what's your favourite super quick recipe? I'll start, mine is: jillianleiboff.blogspot.com/2013/07/wholewheat-spaghetti-with-green-olives.html?m=1

@Ozanj

Try upgrading your pasta game first. Good pasta takes 45-90 minutes to cook (at least) if you use good quality natural ingredients.

Eh? That's so not what op is asking.

How can eg carbonara take 45 minutes?

Highly recommend buying a slow cooker. Initially thought it was all stew/curry's etc. Now I'm a total covert, the weather has cooled. It'll be back to being my go to, I prep everything the night before, pop it in the slow cooker inner pot, stick it in the fridge them chuck it on in the morning.
Current favourite hassleback potatoes with bacon and lashings of cheese (although you can add anything!)
I have a 4 year old and we are both working, tasty dinners, very little effort and the house smells amazing when we walk in!

@ Ozanj

“Try upgrading your pasta game first. Good pasta takes 45-90 minutes to cook (at least) if you use good quality natural ingredients.”

You mean to knead and roll out? What a wonderful idea!

@TheBraveLittleTailor

@ Ozanj

“Try upgrading your pasta game first. Good pasta takes 45-90 minutes to cook (at least) if you use good quality natural ingredients.”

You mean to knead and roll out? What a wonderful idea!

Yep. Just use a rough egg pasta recipe and hand roll them. Even if you can’t get them really flat they’ll still taste better than most restaurant dishes.

* How can eg carbonara take 45 minutes?*

If you make the pasta yourself.

Following for ideas.

My favourite is penne pasta (shop bought - not spending 45-90 minutes making pasta) with fried bacon, leeks and peas. Stir in a big dollop of cream cheese and some of the pasta water to make a sauce. Add chills if you like. Stir through the pasta.

Is this pasta-shaming!? Is this now a thing?

I've never made home made pasta in my life and have zero intention of starting, no matter how much better it may be. And I certainly would never do it when looking for quick and easy options.

[quote EnglishGirlApproximately]This is my go to busy night staple- generally if we have after school clubs etc. Use whatever veg you have and mix it up with adding feta or Chorizo. I tend to have the dry ingredients grated and mixed on the fridge in the morning then mix a quick batter and on the table in twenty mins. Great for getting veg in kids too.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sweetcorn-courgette-fritters?utm_source=app[/quote]
That looks gorgeous and is going on my list.

Question: How can I get dinner on the table quickly when we both work and have a baby?

Answer: Spend an hour making your own pasta. It will taste better than a restaurant.

Only on Mn do people think cream cheese and water is a sauce

@Pallisers

Question: How can I get dinner on the table quickly when we both work and have a baby?

Answer: Spend an hour making your own pasta. It will taste better than a restaurant.

I have always made my own pasta (and my own three course Indian meals which are harder as you’re making bread too) and having a baby didn’t stop that. Pasta is easy at least 30mins of a rough pasta receipe is proofing so only 15-20mins requires any real effort.

Omelette, salad glass of red.

steak, sticky rice, stir fried broccoli and then lashing of a fancy spicy sauce. This is my current favourite.

www.whitemausu.com/products/give-me-the-chilli

@Ozanj

Only on Mn do people think cream cheese and water is a sauce

Oh get lost with your 90 minute pasta and your little sad face

Spaghetti carbonara, chicken fried rice, omelette or burgers are my quick and easy meals when I'm pushed for time.

I buy ready made noodles and stir fry and chicken breast and peppers etc. add sweet chilli or peri peri

Gammon in the slow cooker with baby potatoes and peas (put the gammon on a timer as it cooks on low for 4 to 5 hours) this is easy to do as no waiting around and your dinner is cooked as soon as you get home

Spiced lamb on pitta bread

Get some fairly lean lamb (either slice some leg steaks or use pre-diced) and mix in a bowl with a little olive oil and spices of choice - I like ras el hanout.

Chop red onion, red pepper, carrot and fry for a few mins on quite high heat. Add the lamb and cook to taste (pink/medium/well done).

Warm up pittas (I prefer wholemeal) and spread a bit of houmous, tahini or natural yogurt on. Top with the lamb and veg. Serve with mixed leaves/rocket or Tenderstem broccoli.

One-pot fajitas. Especially quick if you use frozen chopped onions and peppers.

Chicken breast per person, chopped
Onion per person
Pepper per person
Tin taco beans (Tesco) between 2
Small tin sweet corn
Pack fajita spiced or paprika and chilli powder

Chop chicken breasts and fry with the spices
Add onions and peppers and stir fry until cooked. You can put spring onions in now if you want.
Add tin of beans and corn and cook till warm.

This takes about the same length of time as cooking rice to go with, or serve with wraps. I make my own guacamole but have been known to buy if needed. Salsa and yoghurt and Refried beans from a tin of sachet also good.

We eat this at least once a fortnight!

Open jar of red pesto and grate a heap of Parmesan

Last night I made prawn spaghetti with red pesto and chargrilled veg.

In reality that was a tray of ready made mediterranean. veg in the oven. Cook spaghetti. Fry prawns in garlic butter (sometimes I buy that lurpack garlic butter, sometimes I peel actual garlic, last night I tossed in some garlic salt as I had no energy for anything else) toss in cooked veg and spagetti, add jar of red pesto and top with parmesan. Garlic bread optional.

It’s not that different to your pesto pasta but might be a nice change!

I’d also suggest the meal delivery service for a couple nights a week.

Some great suggestions here, mine - whilst not quite what you're after OP but more way to make less mess - is rather than cooking fajitas on the hob and if you're like me ending up with a manky stove to clean, is to mix fajhita ingredients up with seasoning then tip in oven proof dish and cook there instead. I use chicken thighs so give it all half an hour taking tin out to stir halfway through. Get on with something else sit with glass of wine and MN else while it cooks. Bonus is it all caramelises too. Yum.

The lamb biryani linked to by a PP is absolutely delicious and my kids' favourite meal. So easy as well.

They also like crispy chicken and rice. Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise so they are thin then dip first in beaten egg then in breadcrumbs.

I make lots then freeze them raw.

To cook just fry in oil. Serve with rice and veg sticks. One of the kids likes some (shop bought) curry sauce drizzled over the chicken and one likes it with soy sauce.

@tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

Some great suggestions here, mine - whilst not quite what you're after OP but more way to make less mess - is rather than cooking fajitas on the hob and if you're like me ending up with a manky stove to clean, is to mix fajhita ingredients up with seasoning then tip in oven proof dish and cook there instead. I use chicken thighs so give it all half an hour taking tin out to stir halfway through. Get on with something else sit with glass of wine and MN else while it cooks. Bonus is it all caramelises too. Yum.

I do this, but with Quorn pieces. Works really well and you don't get that hot fried chilli fug in the kitchen.

Get an instant pot!
Then you can slow cook, pressure cook. Deliciousness nice and quick or cook all day then ready in the evening

Make a sauce of sweated chopped onions, with chopped up sundried tomatoes, a little red wine vinegar, some pitted black olives and some chopped fresh thyme. I add extra flavour by using the oil from the sun dried tomatoes jar.
Then drop some potato gnocchi into fast boiling water for three minutes.
Drain the gnocchi, add to the sauce and stir. Good for a light supper or a lunch to take to work. Delicious.