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For many people, a significant part of the last year and unsurprisingly this year was spent in the kitchen. With work from home being continued in most professional setups, for some, it meant blurred lines between work and home. For others, it meant discovering that cooking was not such a pain after all. A significant trend that emerged during the pandemic was resorting to and cultivating practices that make cooking at home easy and doable. We believe that cooking is not necessarily daunting and can be fun with just a little thinking and planning ahead. Co-founder of Kook (a meal kit service) Arpitta Jerath shares some uber-cool food items that you can prep on a free day and get the rest of your week sorted.
Salad Jars
Prep a few salad dressings over the weekend and put together make-ahead salad jars for a pre-dinner snack. Here’s a versatile salad dressing you can start with. Mix one portion of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and some minced garlic. Season with salt, pepper and oregano and chill it for a bit. To make your salad jar, start by layering the salad dressing at the bottom. Next, add veggies of your choice - cherry tomatoes, carrots, avocados - go with the flow. Next, add grains or beans of your choice - quinoa, chickpeas, couscous. Next, add some chopped leaves - lettuce, parsley, basil. Top with boiled egg or any protein of your choice. Finish with some nuts and shake well. Store in the fridge and consume over the next few days.
Smoothie Ice Cubes
Start your day with a fresh and hearty (big) glass of smoothie on the go. Skip the long prep and pre-freeze pureed fruit concentrate in an ice tray over the weekend. All you need to do is puree fresh fruit with half a cup of non-dairy milk and freeze it in an ice tray. Then, plop two cubes of smoothie cubes with your choice of milk or coconut water to make your smoothie. Next, add half a banana to make it creamier—Ready in less than 5 minutes.
Granola Parfait
Make a batch of rolled oats granola over the weekend. Mix some oats, nut butter, raw nuts, honey, choco chips or any other combination and bake it in the oven for 20-25 minutes. You can use granola as a snacking option any time throughout the day. Make a few jars of granola parfait and have it for dessert. Then, add some granola, yoghurt, fresh fruits, nuts and make ahead for the week—no right or wrong way. Just have fun with it!
