Let’s be honest, after a long day of work (or in between your work-from-home day), nobody wants to spend hours rustling up dishes in the kitchen. At best, we’d scrounge up some leftovers and curl up in front of the television to catch up on our favourite shows. But that works fine when you’re single and live alone. But what do you do when you have a few hungry mouths waiting around your living room?
Sometimes, having an arsenal of great ingredients, a recipe book, and a microwave is all you need. Here are five quick, easy, and healthy recipes you can make in your microwave:
WILD RICE SALAD
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 4 to 6
This healthy vegetarian side goes perfect with spicy veggie stews.
You Need:
• 250g microwavable wild rice
• 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 small handful of raisins
• 3 carrots, grated
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 tbsp honey
Method
Step 1: Heat rice as instructed on the back of the packet.
Step 2: In a bowl, add the chopped onion and sultanas, and pour over some boiling water to cover. Leave to stand for one min.
Step 3: Drain the onion and sultanas, and stir in the microwaved rice and grated carrot.
Step 4: Finally, mix in the zest and juice of the lemon, drizzle the home, and season to taste. Serve hot.
VEGETABLE BIRYANI
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 7 to 10 minutes | Serves: 2
This quick and easy one-pot recipe is perfect when you want to use up all those veggies you have stocked in your fridge.
You Need:
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• 1 larger clove of garlic, crushed
• 1 knob of butter
• 1 cardamom pod seeds
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• 140g rice
• 400ml vegetable stock
• ¼ tsp turmeric
• ¼ tsp ground cumin
• A pinch of cinnamon
• 1 tbsp raisins or sultanas
• 200g assorted vegetables, finely chopped or grated
• Salt, to taste
Method
Step 1: In a large microwavable bowl, add the onions, garlic, butter, cardamom seeds and the chilli flakes and cook in the microwave on high for 30 seconds.
Step 2: Stir the mixture before adding in the rice and stock. Step 3: Add in the turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, and raisins, and mix till well combined. Cover with cling film.
Step 4: Place a few sheets of kitchen paper on your microwave turning plate to absorb any liquid that may spill and proceed to place the bowl on top.
Step 5: Cook the rice on high for two minutes. Remove the cling film and stir, then leave to stand for one minute. Do not skip this step.
Step 6: Repeat the previous step for two to three times, or until the rice is just cooked.
Step 7: Add finely chopped vegetables to the rice, and stir through.
Step 8: Garnish with fresh coriander or mint, to serve.
RISOTTO PRIMAVERA
Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4
Who doesn’t love a risotto? This classic recipe now comes with a cheat sheet—microwave the dish for the same, but quicker results.
You Need:
• 350g Arborio rice
• 175ml white wine
• 850ml hot vegetable stock
• 500g frozen peas
• 100g asparagus tips
• 100g soft cheese
• A handful of mint leaves, roughly torn
• Salt, to taste
Method
Step 1: In a large microwaveable bowl, add the rice and wine, and a third of the vegetable stock.
Step 2: Cover with cling film, then microwave on high for 10 minutes.
Step 3: Stir the rice gently, add another third of the stock, cover it with cling film and microwave the mixture for three minutes.
Step 4: After three minutes, stir the rice and add the frozen peas, asparagus, and the remaining stock. Cover the bowl again with cling film and microwave the risotto for seven minutes.
Step 5: Stir in the cheese and mint, then leave the risotto to stand for two minutes before plating up.
Step 6: Garnish with shaved parmesan and mint leaves.