Whether it’s after a long day of lectures, or a heavy night out in town, quick and easy meals are something that university student will need to rely on. Of course, there is always the option of an oven pizza or a three-minute microwave meal. But having some easy and tasty recipes to whack in the oven can be a lifesaver after those never-ending days.
Baked Feta and roasted Tomato Pasta
This easy and delicious dish swept TikTok as cheese lovers started cooking and roasting feta. This dish is not only all in one tray (which saves clean-up time), it also tastes like something you would pay good money for. If you’re a cheese lover, like me, hungover or not, this dish will quickly become one of your staple dishes. Put a block of feta in the middle of a baking tray, surround it with cherry tomatoes, drizzle with salt, pepper, mixed herbs, and any spices you wish. Then whack it in the oven on full for 20-30 minutes.
You will create the best pasta sauce in the quickest and easiest way. Mix this in with pasta of your choice from spaghetti to fusilli. You will either wow someone with your cooking skills, or can curl up and carb-load after a long day. You can also create variation within this dish by baking camembert or adding peppers or tender stem broccoli.
Stuffed Peppers
Another quick, healthy, yet delicious dish that can be personalised to an individuals taste includes stuffed peppers. Take the tops off the bell peppers to create a lid, remove the seeds, and then fill it with quinoa, cooked honey glazed chicken or salmon, rice and finally topped a sprinkle of cheese. Enjoy after baking on a medium heat until browned. This can be a quick and tasty treat, that hardly involves any clean up.
This 30-minute recipe can provide a warm filled parcel to enjoy on a cold evening, and only costs a few pounds depending on the ingredients you wish to include.
Chicken Teriyaki
One of my staple dishes includes a chicken teriyaki stir fry, either with noodles or rice. Chop up peppers, mushrooms, aubergines, tomatoes, kale and fry together with some teriyaki sauce. Then fry come cubed bacon to add to the kale, and then mix with pan-fried cubed chicken. Smother this in teriyaki and honey, and top with sesame seeds for a really tasty bite. Of course, chicken and bacon can be swapped out for salmon, tofu, or some vegan/vegetarian alternative.
Especially during winter, learning to cook some quick, easy and tasty dishes that won’t break the bank will ensure you have a healthy setup at university. Additionally, house sharing or buying a slow cooker can allow for you to whack on a dish throughout the day. Leave it to cook on low, and then come home to a warm stew to enjoy.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t splash out on a Chinese, pizza on two for Tuesday, or a greasy kebab a couple of times when you’re feeling drained and need cheering up, or walking home after a night out of cocktails or clubbing.
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