Looking for new ‘go to’ meals that are delicious, time savers and make doing the dishes a pleasure? These one pot wonders deliver on all fronts - a win for families of all sizes.
Tuna pilau
This recipe is a quick no mess, no fuss summer meal. Pilau, is an Indian rice dish. This light healthy meal is done in no time at all, allowing you to make the most of the summer sun.
You’ll need:
- Tsp oil
- One onion
- 2 garlic cloves (crushed)
- 1 tbsp mild curry paste (eg Korma)
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 red capsicum, finely chopped
- 1 ½ cups Basmati rice
- 3 cups vegetable stock
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cans of tuna
- 60g snow peas/snap peas thinly sliced
Bringing it all together
- Heat the oil, add the onions and garlic stirring for 2-3 minute
- Add curry paste, turmeric, chopped capsicum, curry leaves and basmati rice, combine well.
- Add stock and lemon juice and bring to a simmer.
- Once simmering cover your pot and reduce the heat to low for 10 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed.
- Finally add your tuna and snow peas and combine.
To add a sweet and savoury contrast, serve this flavourful dish with mango chutney.
Creamy chicken, spinach and sundried tomatoes
Needing minimal dishes but still want to indulge in something rich and creamy? This delicious dish hits all the high notes.
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You’ll need
- 2 tbsp oil
- 4 boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 2 tbsp chopped sundried tomatoes
- 2 tbsp of cream cheese
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil (optional garnish)
- French loaf
Bringing it all together
- Heat the oil in a large pan, add chicken breasts and garnish with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until they are no longer pink on the inside. Remove the chicken from the pan and place on a plate.
- Add butter, onions, garlic and cayenne pepper to the pan. Once the onions have browned return the chicken to the pan.
- Add the cream, chicken stock, sundried tomatoes, cream cheese and simmer over a medium heat for a few minutes while stirring.
- Stir in the parmesan and spinach and simmer until the spinach has wilted. The longer you cook the sauce the thicker it will become.
Pair this creamy dish with a French loaf to saver the sauce and top with some fresh basil.
Vegetarian gnocchi in a tomato and pumpkin sauce
Comfort food at it’s best, this delicious meal is bound to be a family favourite all year round.
You’ll need:
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme, plus extra to garnish
- 800g pumpkin, cut into bite chunks 1cm
- 2 tbsp vegetable stock powder
- 2 x 400g cans baby tomatoes
- 500g gnocchi (store bought)
- 60g baby spinach
- 60g feta, crumbled
Bringing it all together:
- Heat your oil in a large pot and add your onions. When the onions have softened add garlic and thyme. Stir.
- Add to your pot the cubed pumpkin, stock powder, 1 ½ cups of water and the 2 cans of tomatoes. Bring to a boil then cover and allow to simmer for 10 minutes or until the pumpkin has softened.
- Add the gnocchi and stir thereby coating the gnocchi in sauce, cook uncovered for 5 minutes or until the gnocchi is tender.
- Serve topped with spinach and crumbled feta.
Summer Pasta
Cook your pasta in a creamy chicken stock with bacon, pumpkin and broccoli, ready to serve in 30 minutes.
You’ll need:
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 250g diced bacon
- 500g pumpkin, 2cm cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 cup liquid chicken stock
- 250g spaghetti
- 1 head broccoli, cut into small florets.
- 1/4 cup thickened cream
- Toasted pine nuts, to serve (optional)
- Fresh basil leaves, to serve (optional)
- Finely grated parmesan, to serve (optional)
Bringing it all together
- Heat oil in a large pot, add onions, bacon and pumpkin. Cook on a medium/high heat for 5 minutes or until the onions have softened.
- Add garlic, thyme, 1 cup chicken stock and 2 cups of water. Cover and bring to the boil.
- Add the spaghetti and reduce heat to simmer with the pot uncovered for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Add broccoli and simmer for 5 minutes or until pasta and broccoli are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from heat and discard the thyme sprigs.
- Stir in the cream and season with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with pine nuts, fresh basil leaves and parmesan.
Reducing dishes doesn’t mean compromising on flavour or creativity. The wonderful thing about ‘one pot wonders’ is that they come with the added assurance that all the dinner dishes will fit in the dishwasher.
Date Published: 13 January 2023
