During the week, your time to cook may be limited. The following recipes are quick, easy and perfect for when you get home after a long day at work, but you still want to serve a nutritious meal to your family.
Spaghetti Bolognese
Serves 6 | Preparation time: 15 minutes | Time to cook: +/- 35 minutes
Ingredients:
– 400g – 500g spaghetti (usually one packet)
– 600g lean beef mince
– ½ onion, finely chopped
– 1 tin chopped tomatoes (410g)
– 2 tbsp tomato purée
– 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
– ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
– 1 tsp salt
– 3 tsp dried mixed herbs
– 60ml water
– 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
– Parmesan cheese, grated (optional)
– oil for frying
Method:
Prepare all the ingredients you need beforehand. Chop the onions and garlic, and keep the rest of the ingredients close by. Cook the spaghetti as per the packet instructions, then drain in a colander and rinse with cold water. Keep covered so it won’t dry out. Heat the oil in a pan, add the chopped onions and cook until translucent (+/- 2 mins). Add garlic and ginger and give it a quick stir — be careful not to brown it too much. Add the mince and fry until browned. Add the tinned tomatoes and tomato purée, water and salt, ground black pepper, dried mixed herbs and Worcestershire sauce. Stir through. Simmer on low heat for 5-10 minutes. To serve, spoon the mince over the cooked spaghetti and grate some Parmesan cheese on top.
Tip: Bring the water to the boil in advance. Add a generous amount of salt just before adding the pasta. Cook the spaghetti in the boiling water while your mince is simmering.
Recipe adapted from: http://www.zimbokitchen.com/spaghetti-bolognaise/
Tasty Chicken Curry
Serves: 4 | Preparation time: 15 minutes | Time to cook: +/- 40-45 minutes
Ingredients:
– 1 chicken stock cube
– 15ml oil
– 1 large onion, finely chopped
– 5ml paprika
– 10ml medium curry powder (can be substituted for hot if that is to your taste)
– 1 tomato, chopped
– 250ml water
– 500g chicken pieces (drums and thighs work well, alternatively, use cubed chicken breasts, which will shorten the cooking time)
Method:
Prepare all the ingredients you need beforehand. Chop the onion and tomato, and keep the rest of the ingredients close by. In a frying pan, heat the oil and fry the onions together with the paprika and curry powder until the onions are soft. Add the chicken and fry until well browned. Add the tomato, stock cube and water. Stir well. Cover with a lid and allow to simmer for 40 -45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Serve with basmati rice.
Recipe adapted from: https://www.robertsons.co.za/recipes/chicken-curry
Spinach Dovi (a vegetarian dish, side dish or main meal — just add chicken)
Serves 3-4 | Preparation time: 10 mins | Time to cook: +/- 10 minutes
Ingredients:
– ½ of a big bunch fresh spinach
– 1 small onion, chopped
– 2 medium tomatoes, cubed
– 3 tbsp peanut butter
– 3 tbsp oil for frying
– 50ml water
– salt to taste
Method:
Prepare all your ingredients beforehand: chop the onion, cube the tomatoes, cut the spinach into fine strips, and measure out the peanut butter. Heat oil in a pot and add the onions; fry until they are soft and translucent. Add the spinach and salt and stir — the spinach will wilt. Add the tomatoes, stir and cook for another 2 minutes. Add peanut butter and a little bit of water at a time, stirring constantly — the sauce shouldn’t be too thick initially, as it thickens with cooking. You can always add a little more water if needed. Put a lid on your pot, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 3 – 5 minutes.
Serve as a side dish with a beef stew and some sadza.
Recipe adapted from: http://www.zimbokitchen.com/traditional-spinach-nedovi-in-peanut-butter/
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