Five Quick, Cheap and Easy Meals for One

You might find you don’t have the time or money to cook the delicious meals you’d love to eat, and it can be surprisingly difficult cooking for one. To make things a little easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of five recipes that are quick to make, provide you with a healthy, rounded meal and don’t cost the earth, requiring only a few cupboard essentials.

Ham & Pea Risotto

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
75g risotto rice
½ chopped onion
1 clove chopped garlic
½ litre of chicken or vegetable stock
50g frozen peas
50g chopped ham (or bacon)
Dried oregano
Juice of ½ lemon
(Optional) grated cheese

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan and add the chopped onion. Fry on a medium heat for a couple of minutes then add the garlic. Fry for another minute or so
Add the rice and toast for 2 minutes
Gradually add the stock, letting it be absorbed by the rice before adding more. Stir regularly
Once most of the liquid has been absorbed, add the oregano, frozen peas and ham, cooking until the rice is cooked but still slightly firm (al dente) and the peas are cooked
Finish with the squeeze of lemon and some grated cheese on top

Turkey & Bean Chilli

Ingredients:

1 tbsp olive oil
75g mince turkey
½ jar of your favourite chilli sauce
½ tin of kidney beans
½ chopped red onion
75g white rice
Spoonful of natural yogurt

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan, and add the turkey mince with the chopped onion. Cook on a medium heat until the mince has browned
Add the jar of chilli sauce and the kidney beans, simmering for 15-20 minutes on a medium heat
While the mince is cooking, bring a pot of salted water to the boil and cook the rice
Serve once the chilli has cooked, serving with a dollop of natural yogurt

Vegetable Stir Fry

Ingredients:

1 tbsp vegetable oil
100g egg pre-cooked noodles or noodles of your choice
½ chopped red pepper
1 clove chopped garlic
3 chopped spring onions
100g beansprouts
Handful of sliced mushrooms
50g cabbage, pak choi or other dark leafy greens
1 carrot, thinly sliced
Soy sauce or stir fry sauce of your choice
Handful of cashew nuts
Juice of ½ lime
Handful of chopped coriander

Heat up a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a frying pan or wok
Add the pepper and carrot, cooking for a couple of minutes before adding in the garlic
Add a splash of soy sauce, then add the rest of the chopped vegetables
Stir fry for a couple of minutes, before adding the rest of the sauce and noodles
Cook on a medium heat until the vegetables are cooked but still firm
Add the chopped coriander, cashews and juice of a lime before serving

Tuna Pasta Bake

Ingredients:

150g pasta
½can tuna
50g mayonnaise
50g-100g grated cheese
3 chopped spring onions

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil, and add the pasta, cooking as per instructions.
As the pasta is cooking, mix the tuna, mayonnaise and spring onions in a bowl.
Drain the pasta and add back to the pan, seasoning with olive oil, salt & pepper. Add the tuna mayonnaise and mix well.
Transfer to a baking dish and top with your grated cheese.
Pop under a hot grill until the cheese has melted and starts going bubbly. Top with some crushed ready salted crisps for a delicious crunch!

Curried Rice & Chicken

Ingredients:

1tbsp vegetable oil
1 diced chicken breast
1 chopped onion
100g long grain rice
2 tbsp curry powder
½ litre chicken stock
Handful of chopped coriander
Juice of ½ lime

Heat a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a frying pan and add the chicken. Cook until the skin has turned white and is beginning to brown.
Add the onions and saute for about 3 minutes, until they start to soften.
Add the curry powder and stir through the chicken and onions
Add the rice and chicken stock, covering the chicken. Cover and simmer for around 20 minutes or until all the stock has been absorbed and the rice is cooked through
Stir in the lime juice and coriander and serve!