9 Quick Meals For The Busy Working Adult

When we’re caught up with the responsibilities at work, we tend to forget our hungry tummies. So consider taking some time off to prepare a quick meal that will surely leave you wanting for more. There’s no need to worry, you don’t have to be a master chef to whip these up. All you require is a simple kitchen and the willpower to try something new!
1. RedMart’s Thai Chicken Curry with Crunchy Vegetables and Fragrant Basmati
[caption id="attachment_5115" align="alignnone" width="700"]If you’re craving for something spicy, you’re in luck! You can easily create a hearty meal of Thai chicken curry mixed with French beans, baby corn and eggplants. All the ingredients you need can be conveniently ordered at local online grocery store RedMart as a set, so you’ll only need to put on your chef hat and start cooking!
[caption id="attachment_5116" align="alignnone" width="700"]Ingredients (provided by RedMart):
Red Curry Paste
Fish Sauce
Basmati Rice
Chicken Fillet
Coconut Cream
French Beans
Eggplant
Baby Corn
Coriander
Other Required Ingredients:
Salt
Cooking Oil
Directions:
- Bring the rice to a boil with double the amount of water (use a cup to measure) and a pinch of salt. Once boiling, stir a little, put a lid on, and turn the heat to low. Cook for 15 minutes and set aside when done.
- Wash and dry all veggies and get chopping. Cut the ends off the beans and halve them, halve the baby corns lengthwise and – after disposing of the cap – cut eggplant to large chunks.
- Rinse chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Cut them into chunks that are slightly larger than bite-sized.
- Put a big frying pan or a medium wok on the fire and add some cooking oil. Once hot, throw in the chicken and curry paste, and fry for 2 minutes on high heat.
- Pour in the coconut cream and all prepared veggies. Refill the entire coconut cream container with water, swish around and tip into the pan. Let the curry come to a gentle bubble, turn down the heat and keep it on a simmer for about 7 minutes, stirring it regularly.
- If the sauce gets too thick, add a little more water.
- While the curry is bubbling, wash and chop up the fresh coriander leaves (discard the stems).
- Towards the end, add the fish sauce to the pot and give it a final stir.
- The curry is done when the beans and eggplants are cooked but still have their crunchiness.
- Serve with hot basmati rice and sprinkle fresh coriander on top.
RedMart also offers other ready-to-cook recipes and ingredients for you to choose, so feel free to head down to their website and try out the different meals you can make!
2. Macaroni and Cheese
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTDkFpHZtrY[/embed]Maybe you were looking for something more western. Why not try your luck on a creamy bowl of macaroni and cheese? If you’re an avid fan of anything cheesy, this recipe is definitely a must try!
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 small yellow onion, diced small
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups 2% milk
3/4 pound elbow macaroni
3 cups grated sharp white cheddar
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper
Directions:
- Heat broiler. In a large straight-sided, oven-safe skillet, melt butter.
- Remove 1 tablespoon butter and combine with breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
- Add onion to skillet and cook until softened.
- Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
- Very gradually whisk in milk and bring to a simmer.
- Add macaroni and cook, stirring constantly and scraping bottom of pan, until tender, about 6 minutes.
- Remove from heat, stir in remaining cheese and the mustard, and season with salt and pepper.
- Top with breadcrumb mixture and broil until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
Remember, for the best experience, creamy pastas are best eaten straight after cooking! Savour your cooking accomplishments at its peak, rather than letting it cool and get mushy.
3. Stir-Fried Spicy Korean Noodles
[caption id="attachment_4675" align="alignnone" width="700"]Ingredients:
1 packet of instant Korean ramen noodles
1 packet of included seasoning
1 packed of included dehydrated toppings
1-2 tablespoon ketchup
1/3 cup kimchi and its juices, roughly chopped
1 chicken fillet, sliced into thin pieces
1 glove garlic
2 teaspoon cooking oil
1/4 cup noodle cooking water
Salt and pepper to taste
Topping:
1 fried egg
1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
1 teaspoon chopped spring onions
Directions:
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Bring a saucepan of water to boil and cook noodles together with dehydrated toppings just shy of al dente. (slightly undercooked)
- In your frying pan, heat oil on medium high heat.
- Add chicken and saute until no longer pink.
- Then add garlic, and kimchi. Stir-fry for 30 seconds.
- Drain noodles, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid.
- Add noodles to frying pan, season with seasoning pack and ketchup.
- Pour in some reserved cooking liquid if too dry.
- Toss and mix well, and remove from heat.
- Top with egg, sesame seeds, and spring onions.
- Serve immediately.
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDjDGOaFDUQ/?tagged=maggigoreng[/embed]
[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BC4BhCzQc3k/?tagged=maggigoreng[/embed]
The beauty of any instant noodle recipe is its versatility! You don’t have to be restricted to the recipe list above, let your creativity run wild! Feel free to add beef slices, tofu cubes, mushrooms or any other ingredients as you deem fit.
Credits: [caption id="attachment_4878" align="alignnone" width="700"] You can order the Black Pepper Chicken + Rice meal online on their website. [caption id="attachment_4879" align="alignnone" width="700"] Other Required Ingredients: Directions: FoodBox also boasts a few other ready-to-cook meals for the busy working adult, so do check them out if you’re looking for variety! It’s also good to note that FoodBox products can be stored at room temperature, and have a very long shelf life (more than a year!). [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEbQxWcDWqA[/embed] If the ever-increasing price of salmon in restaurants has put you off, this super easy to prepare dish might just be what you’re looking for. This simple yet elegant recipe fuses perfectly cooked salmon filets with crispy potatoes, marinated in lemon juice. All you need are the few ingredients, conveniently obtained at your nearest supermarket! Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDkIbGiMajY/?tagged=bakedsalmon[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhRMW1dpX_o[/embed] For newcomers, mussels are the perfect ingredient to begin with! They’re inexpensive, delicious and easy to prepare. They also cook fast, making it perfect for the busy adult looking for a quick meal at home. This one-pot recipe immerses the shellfish in a delicious tomato soup for extra taste, something we’re sure that will leave you very satisfied in the belly department. Ingredients: Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BChPpy7xTWl/?tagged=steamedmussels[/embed] The best thing about mussels is that you’re not restricted; it goes just as well with many other cooking recipes! Once you’re feeling confident, go right ahead and experiment with other combinations. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIK-GQ2uplg[/embed] This delicious one-pot recipe is perfect for those looking for a dish to bring to a pot luck event at the workplace! It’s fairly easy to prepare and takes a while to simmer, meaning that you’ll have free time to handle other tasks at home while waiting (don’t let it overcook though!). Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDm4OUypPJE/?tagged=beefstew[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDovnxgPwJy/?tagged=beefstew[/embed] If you find yourself with plenty of leftovers, don’t worry! Just pop it in the freezer and reheat it for tomorrow’s meal, it’ll be just as appetising as before. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_8SEO7bJPM[/embed] The next time you decide to make a simple omelette, why not kick it up a notch and fry up a frittata instead? Think of it as a bigger brother of the omelette, more filling and delectable! This recipe will show you how to take the next big step for egg dishes. Ingredients: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDofN6FI-m8/?tagged=frittata[/embed] Directions: [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BDk6jSunC_H/?tagged=frittata[/embed] Of course, you can adjust this recipe to your heart’s desires. You can swap out any of the vegetable toppings with any ingredients to your liking, there’s no need to follow word for word. Credits: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KvttBE2wrI[/embed] Known for their delicious instant laksa noodles, Prima Taste has included filling dishes with rice that are just as easily prepared. They include local cuisine favourites, such as Curry Chicken and Beef Rendang, complimented with a combination of white and wholegrain basmati rice mixed with other grains. [embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/BBfZ0SXh7v5/?tagged=primataste[/embed] https://www.instagram.com/p/BA_lAu3xyR_/?taken-by=catslavery They can easily be bought at local supermarket chains, or ordered online at their official Mastering these recipes may not put you on the same level as renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsey or Jamie Oliver, but you’ll definitely be able to cook a decent meal after work! No longer will you need to hopelessly sigh at the tiny portion of meat in your takeaway order of nasi padang, or have a hole burnt in your wallet after a week’s binge of fast food. [caption id="attachment_4693" align="alignnone" width="700"] Do you know of a one-pot recipe that every working adult should know about? Tell us about it! (Featured image credit: Also Read: 8 Delish Meals Under $10 In Orchard That Will Leave You Satisfied! – Part 2
4. FoodBox’s Black Pepper Chicken
Image Credit: If you really need a delicious meal, but you’re desperately short on time, FoodBox has you covered! Their products are quick and easy to prepare, and provide you with yummy meals to keep you going through the busy day. Their Black Pepper Chicken + Rice is a common favourite among the work crowd, with a spicy black pepper sauce that’s not too stinging but tasty enough, and fragrant rice which is made with a special blend of Asian herbs and spices.
Image Credit: Ingredients (provided by FoodBox):
2 unopened packs (1 Rice, 1 Black Pepper Chicken)
Hot Water
5. One-Pan Salmon and Veggie Dinner
Aluminum foil
Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
2 pounds of small red and yellow potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons lemon juice
4 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh thyme
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons chopped ginger
2 salmon fillets
1 bunch of asparagus, about 1 pound
6. Steamed Mussels
1 small leek, well-washed and chopped
1 small brown onion, chopped
1 long red chilli, chopped
1/4 bunch flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 kg mussels, scrubbed and debearded
100 ml extra virgin olive oil
300 ml white wine (can be substituted with chicken stock!)
2 bay leaves
7. Beef Stew With Carrots & Potatoes
4 lbs of pot roast beef, cut into bite size pieces
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 onions, cut into bite size pieces
1 lb potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of red wine (not required, just remember to add a little more salt for taste!)
5 carrots, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
3 stalks of celery, cut into bite size pieces
4 cloves of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup of tomato paste
3 1/2 cups of beef broth
1 bay leaf, dried or fresh
1 tablespoon of fresh thyme
1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary, minced
1 cup of frozen but thawed baby peas
Salt and pepper to taste
8. One-Skillet Asparagus, Cherry Tomato & Feta Cheese Frittata
olive oil
1 bunch (15 stalks) asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 small onion, diced small
1 cup cherry tomatoes (or normal tomatoes sliced to smaller bits), cut in half
1 cup whole milk
6 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup crumbled feta
9. Prima Taste Ready Meals
Image Credit: Giphy[/caption]