Some days it’s impossible to get through a full days’ hospitality studies and still have to come home and cook up a storm for your roommates. Life is busy and easy suppers are the answer to crazy days like these. With just a handful of ingredients and 20 minutes of cooking time, these 5 easy recipes will have you relaxing on the couch in no time at all.

 

Fried rice

Using any leftover plain rice from the night before, reheat the rice in a pan over a medium heat by adding a little sesame oil combined with 2 teaspoons of soy sauce. Add a handful of finely chopped red or orange pepper and stir through well over the heat. Add 2 eggs and scramble through the rice before topping with sliced green onions. Voila!

A healthy wrap

In a pan over a medium heat add a little oil, a finely chopped onion, a sliced red pepper and a dash of crushed garlic. Sauté till the onion turns opaque. Add a half a teaspoon of mild curry powder / mixed masala and cook for a further minute. Add in two sliced raw chicken breasts and cook through. Remove from the heat and spoon the mixture down the centre of your wraps. Add a large dollop of crème fraiche and a tablespoon of Mrs. Ball’s chutney to each filling, roll up your wraps and enjoy!

Peanut Noodle Chicken

Cook your pasta noodles / spaghetti according to the instructions and drain (use 2-minute noodles if you are really trying to save time and money). Return your pasta to the pot. In a blender, blend 1 cup of water, 125ml of peanut butter, 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and half a teaspoon of grated ginger. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Add the mixture to the pasta in the pot and add 2 cups of shredded roast chicken (from your local supermarket or last night’s leftovers). Slice up a bell pepper and add to the mixture. Toss well, sprinkle with peanuts and serve warm.

Quick and tasty Tomato Soup

In a large pot over a medium heat, melt 4 tablespoons of salted butter. To the pot add 3 cloves of garlic (minced) and sauté before adding 2 cans of chopped, diced tomatoes and 2 cups of chicken stock. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat so that the soup is left to simmer for 10 minutes.  Add a half a cup of cream (swirl it over the dished up soup portions) if you would like to add a bit of creaminess to your soup, and finish with some fresh basil leaves. Serve hot with warm ciabatta and lashings of butter.

Frittata

Frittatas are a great way to clean out your fridge in terms of leftover cooked meats, cheeses or cooked veggies. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C and butter your skillet pan well. Whisk together 5 to 6 eggs, add a half a cup of cream or milk, some grated cheese, your cooked meats or veggies (we think sliced up sausages from last night’s meal together with some leftover roasted veggies would work well) and add all these ingredients to your pan. Place in the oven and bake your frittata until the edges are starting to turn brown and the egg mixture is firm in the middle. This should take 20 minutes or so.

We hope these easy recipes have inspired you to ditch the takeaway meals when you’re too hectic to cook, and instead, give these healthy and tasty 20-minute meals a bash. Home-cooked is always a good option. #MadeWithLove

If you have any questions for our students or you would like to know more about any of our courses, give us a call on 0861 44 33 00 and speak to a consultant today. Alternatively, visit our website or Facebook page for inspiration, ideas and recipes.

(Sources and images: http://mom.me/food/6609-ten-minute-dinners/; http://www.zergnet.com/v/food’http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/gingery-peanut-noodles-with-chicken; http://www.cookingclassy.com/2016/02/5-ingredient-tomato-soup/; http://www.cookingclassy.com/2016/02/5-ingredient-tomato-soup/; www.thecomfortofcooking.com)