Just like any other thing, cooking has its moments. There are days when being in the kitchen is almost therapeutic, some days we don’t have time make a full-on meal and some days our allegiance stands firmly on take-out.
Over time, however, the yummy sandwiches, stir-fried rice, fried chicken and Caesar salad becomes bland. Either that or you do the math and realize that you are spending way more than you should on food which is a repetitive need.
The only way out is to stick to home-cooked meals strictly for lunch and dinner. That leaves you with two options, meal prepping or meal planning. The first options entail making meals for the whole week at a go. The latter however entails having the plan laid out, like a menu where you are left to prepare the meals every day.
Here are some simple 15 minutes meals you can whip up quick and easy for dinner.
1. Githeri
This is a yummy meal combination that consists of beans and maize boiled together. It’s sold in local Vibandas for as little as Ksh 50. The best thing about githeri is that it’s already cooked; all you have to do is do a simple fry. Onions, tomatoes, some chili, bell peppers, and coriander is more than enough. You can enjoy this as is, or add a banana or an avocado. The budget for this is roughly Ksh 100 if you are a household with a maximum number of two.
2. Cucumber and Sweet corn salad
If you are looking for something light that involves minimum cooking then this salad is perfect for you. All you need is a cucumber and sweet corn. The preparation however needs to be done right because the two can be an acquired taste for many. For the cucumber, make sure you dice small and thin slices to make it a little more bearable. As for the sweet corn, pan fry them with no oil till they are well charred. For seasoning, use the long island, some salt, and drizzle some lemon and you are good to go!
3. Beef Tacos
Another easy scrumptious option is these easy-to-make tacos. You don’t necessarily have to buy beef, please feel free to choose whatever meat you fancy. Fry that with seasoning e.g. cayenne pepper and beef cubes. Have these rolled on a tortilla and toast that with some butter or margarine on a pan and voila! Tortillas are available in supermarkets countrywide and go for as little as 250.
4. Coconut Chicken and mushroom Stew
To get this dish spot on, you will need to dust some baking flour on the chicken before you pan fry it. This helps thicken the sauce. After frying the chicken strips or cubes, set aside and pan fry the mushrooms for five minutes. Get the chicken back and add your coconut sauce of choice. This is a little more involving but scrumptious for days you need comfort food with minimum hassle.
Next time you’ve had a long day at work or school or are just not in the cooking vibe and need something made fast, reach out for any of these recepies. They are fun, delicious, and will take you max of 15 minutes to prepare. Go forth and be great.!
