It’s come to that time of year when dissertation titles are due, essays are looming and seminars are to be prepared for! To make your life a lot easier during this terrible time I have suggested some one pot recipes, to save you time on cooking and washing up, to make time for the more important things in life like READING and STUDYING!
These one pot meals are hearty and comforting which is just what you need to keep you going through this up and down weather.
1) Risotto
This is a really flexible dish and you can be creative with the flavours (pea and ham, three cheese, vegetable). I am going with my personal favourite – chicken and mushroom. Firstly, put a shot of olive oil in a pan. Once heated add garlic, mushrooms, and your cooked chicken and stir until the garlicky goodness has coated everything. Then prepare some chicken stock in a mug or measuring jug by adding boiling water to a chicken stock cube and mixing until it has dissolved. Slowly add the stock to the pan, until all the risotto is covered. Bring to the boil, then cover the pot and leave it on a low heat for 20-25 mins, and voila! At the end, you could add a tablespoon of pesto for added flavour or some butter for extra creaminess.
2) Hearty chicken stew
This is great if you are feeling under the weather or just have lots of veg to use up! Begin by washing and chopping up all your veg (potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, leek, and any other veg you have lying around). Add a shot of oil to your pan and gently fry off some garlic. Add the veg and your boneless chicken thighs (cheaper than breast meat). Then prepare some chicken stock in the same way as before and add to the pan so that all the contents are covered. You may need to prepare more stock if everything isn’t covered. Next add a few tablespoons of gravy powder (Bisto) for extra flavour – you could add any other spices or spice mix packets you have. Bring the pan to a boil, and then cover and turn down to a low heat. Leave the ingredients to stew for about 50 mins. When checking if the stew is ready cut up the chicken to check it is fully cooked.
3) Mexican style rice (vegetarian)
Gently fry a finely chopped onion, chopped garlic and diced pepper and stir until the onions start to brown. Stir in sweet corn (can be from frozen), and any other veg that needs using up! Then stir in a can of chopped tomatoes, your rice, chilli powder and enough water to cover everything up. Bring the water to the boil, then cover and put it on a low heat to simmer through. This should take 15-20 mins. Half way through cooking time sprinkle in some grated cheese and leave to melt, and voila it is ready!
I hope these meals will keep you going through the tough semester, and I guarantee they will save you loads of time on washing up.
Happy eating!
Images used:
http://www.knorr.com/recipes/detail/11602/1/chicken-mushroom-risotto
http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/705/hearty+chicken+and+vegetable+soup
http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/12/mexican-rice/
Edited by Jayde Richards