Foods you forget are easy

[anotherneutralname]

Due to a chronic lack of time and organisation, we’ve been having some “creative” meals this week reaching the bottom of the freezer and the store cupboards. Several times I’ve ended up with meals that have been incredibly quick, simple and tasty but that we’ve not had for ages because I forgot all about them as options.

Winners this week have been couscous (why don’t I do this more often? Speedy, and very forgiving of having all sorts of oddments chucked in?) and tinned mackerel to liven up a plain pasta.

So I wondered, what are your meals or ingredients that are cupboard superheroes, but you sometimes forget about?

Pasta carbonara always feels posh because I would order it in a restaurant, but in reality I can have it on the table in 15 minutes including boiling the water.

I make an even faster, and veggie, 'carbonara' by leaving out the pancetta and chucking some frozen peas into the pasta water for the last couple of minutes instead.

I know that there was a thread on this recently but omelettes. Great for getting rid of leftovers and on the table fast.- especially if you're eating alone or are a small family

Croque Monsieur/Madame with peas!
Red peppers stuffed with Ben’s tomato and basil microwave rice and topped with mozzarella. Bake in the oven for about 30mins.
Cheese toastie with tomato soup
Egg fried rice (with microwave rice, soy sauce, chopped spring onions and peas)

Oo these are all great! I’m clearly a beginner when it comes to making the most of mw rice

Frittata, perfect for using up leftover bits and bobs.
Cod fillets with a dusting of Cajun spice mix cooked in the oven then removed just before cooked, spread on mango chutney and pop under grill for a couple of minutes to caramelise. Serve with rice and salad.

Egg fried rice and vegetable chow mein are both ready in about 15 minutes. If you like Chinese food a lot of the meals in Kwoklynn Wan's Chinese takeaway book are 10-30 minutes (I have the veggie one). I often change up the veg in the stir fry to suit whatever I have in.

Jamie Oliver has a creamy pasta in his veg book that sadly isn't online. It's 2-3 grated courgettes fried in olive oil with some chopped chilli (I use 1 tsp chilli flakes) and half a teaspoon of fennel seeds. After a couple of minutes add some rose wine. Then after courgettes are cooked, take off the heat and add cream and Parmesan/pecorino then stir in cooked pasta (300g dry). I changed the recipe to use a full small pot of cream (think he uses 75ml) and the amount of rose wine varies depending on mood/clumsinesses . I've also swapped the courgettes for other veg lurking in the fridge freezer- chopped frozen leeks, grated carrot, sliced pepper have all worked well. Takes about 15 minutes total. I get the veg on then start cooking the pasta immediately.

Quesadillas are another good option. I usually do two or more fillings:
Thinly sliced onions and peppers (cooked down in spices)
Microwaved sweet potato (mashed and sprinkled with spices when filling quesadilla)
Drained can of black beans (no need to reheat separately),
Sweetcorn (same as beans)
lots of cheese (cheddar, feta or goats cheese all work well)

A squeeze of lime on top or sour cream, or salsa or guacamole depending on how knackered I am.

My 2 are Dahl and. Egg fried rice.

Dahl, fry off ginger/chillies/garlic/onion/spices, then chuck in lentils and stock abs leave 30-40mins until done. So quick, and hearty, healthy and healthy and warming.

Egg fried rice: either precooked leftover rice (we use brown rice) or a supermarket pouch. Heat fry pan with a little oil, chuck in some frozen veggies and rice to reheat, stir well for a couple of mins until piping hot. Can add leftover cooked chicken/fish/meat/tofu at this stage too. Then crack a couple of eggs in, add any seasoning/flavours you like (eg soy/sesame/chilli), stir gently until eggs are cooked, serve. Takes 5 mins (genuinely!), everyone loves it, and it's hearty and wholesome. My kids have it at least once a. Week in various guises, especially on sports evenings.

@Fivemoreminutes1 awesome idea on the stuffed peppers with microwave rice! How quick and easy is that?? I love stuffed veggies. But can never be bothered cooking the rice (even though I use pouches all the time for other things lol). Totally going on the menu this week, thanks!

Filled pasta (ravioli or tortelloni) with pesto and salad. From walking through the front door to sitting down to eat the total time is 5 mins and yet it feels like real food.

Poached eggs on toast - 5 mins

Chicken tray bake. Takes 45 mins to cook but 5 mins to prep: chuck chicken thighs into a roasting tray with baby new potatoes, a head of garlic cut in half, a pack of cherry tomatoes, olives, some fresh herbs and a splash of wine, salt and pepper.

Go and watch TV. In 45 mins you have a dinner that looks like you made a massive effort.

Same with curried chicken tray bake. Put boned, skinned chicken thighs in a roasting tin with chopped carrots, a quartered peeled onion and some cauli florets. Mix a tin of tomatoes with a table spoon of mango chutney, two tablespoons of madras curry paste (or dry madras curry powder, with a tablespoon of oil) and two tablespoons of water. Pour this mix over the meat and veg. Cover with foil. Bake for 45 mins. Serve with naan or microwave rice. Take 10 mins max to prep. You can also do this version in a slow cooker and prep it in the morning. Ready for when you get back from work.

Scrambled eggs done in a jug in the microwave. Takes about 2 minutes. Fluffy and delicious. Also a big fan of baked potatoes done in the microwave on the combi setting so the skins are crisp and brown. 25 mins. My other go to is to make a double portion of something; chilli, curry etc and reheat a day or two later with a packet of micro rice

Brilliant idea to use rice pouches for stuffed peppers. I had never thought of doing that.

I do a rice thing: boil / steam the rice. Whilst it's cooking, fry some chopped onions and a few bits of streaky bacon cut into small pieces. Add some frozen peas / any other veg that's looking sad in the fridge. When the rice is done, chuck it in the frying pan with some beaten eggs and stir everything well until the egg is cooked. Season and add some soy sauce. Takes 10-15 mins from scratch to table.
You can leave out the bacon or swap for prawns / cooked chicken. Whatever needs using your really.

Will def be doing egg fried rice this week thanks to this. And possibly quesadillas!