There are some evenings when you do not want to cook any grand elaborate meal, but still crave for taste. On days when energy is low, food that can be made quickly is a priority. Low-effort dinners are not about simply cooking anything and eating, but they are about cooking smartly.
The focus on such days here is to make dishes that can be cooked fast and take advantage of what you already have in the fridge. Such low-effort dinners can be prepared if you have a long, tiring day, when energy is low, but the cravings are real.
Creamy Garlic Mushroom Toast
By its name, creamy garlic mushroom toast may appear to be fancy, but it hardly takes 10 to 20 minutes to make. The mushrooms turn juicy and extremely savoury, absorbing into the crisp toast. All you need to do is wash thoroughly, slice mushrooms and sauté them in a little butter with crushed garlic until they shrink and appear shiny. Add a little splash of cream, salt as per taste, pepper, and a pinch of chilli flakes from the top. Let it bubble for about five minutes until it gets a thick consistency. Spoon this gravy generously over the toasted bread, and in the end, finish with grated cheese or herbs on top.
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One-Pan Lemon Butter Chicken
For this meal, everything happens in just one pan, no juggling between ten others, resulting in easy cleanup. The sauce turns silky and lightly tangy, covering every piece. Lemon butter chicken pairs best with rice or roti. It tastes bright in every bite and is easy to make without feeling too heavy. To make, season chicken thighs with some salt, pepper, and paprika. Roast them in a hot pan until they appear to be golden on the edges. In the same pan, add a little butter, garlic, a squeeze of lemon, and a splash of water or stock from the top. Let the chicken simmer until it gets cooked through and turns glossy.
Masala Egg Bhurji Wrap
Egg bhurji is the fastest option to make a filling and deeply satisfying meal when you are in no mood to cook anything else. The addition of bold spices gives it a street-style taste, while its easy-to-fill wrap makes it easy to sit back, relax, and eat on the couch. It is an ideal food option for busy evenings when you want to have something easy to make, but full of flavour in under just 15 minutes. Simply, scramble some boiled eggs with chopped onions, tomatoes, green chillies, turmeric, and a little sprinkle of pav bhaji masala for additional flavour from the top. Pair it with warm rotis, or if you want, add a drizzle of ketchup or mint chutney, and roll tightly in a roti to make a wrap.
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Cheesy Veg Quesadilla
This is the best kind of fridge-cleaning dinner that you can have. The outside remains golden and crisp, whereas the inside turns gooey and full of taste. Cheesy veg quesadilla is a fun and indulgent meal option, but requires little chopping or planning. Take out that leftover sabzi from the day before and spread it over roti. If you don't prefer this, spread some sautéed capsicum, onions, and corn. Add the grated cheese from the and fold. Cook in a pan until both sides turn crisp and the cheese begins to melt. Once cooked, slice into wedges and serve with mint chutney or salsa.
Spicy Peanut Noodles
In this, the sauce covers every noodle strand, making it creamy, a bit sweet, and spicy all at once. It can be prepared in just 15 minutes and feels like takeaway from a fancy cafe. It is great for days when you desire bold flavours but with almost no effort. Boil the noodles, then in a bowl, mix some peanut butter, soy sauce, chilli sauce, a little honey, garlic, and warm water to loosen it a bit. Toss the drained noodles in this sauce and add spring onions from the top or some roasted peanuts for extra crunch.
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