Do you have a list of dinners you can throw together when you’re out of time, you haven’t planned anything and there’s no meat in the fridge? Here is a list of my emergency dinners for when it’s just one of those days. These 5 meals are a mix of store cupboard, fridge raiding and freezer digging options.
1. Pasta and sauce
Simply boil some pasta shapes and heat up half a jar of passata or a tin of tomatoes with some garlic, dried oregano and a pinch each of salt and sugar. I like to use fusilli, penne, or a filled fresh pasta like ravioli or tortellini that I’ve stashed in the freezer. I’ll put out some parmesan or other cheese for grating over the top if I have it.
If I’m just cooking for my husband and I, then I might make it a spaghetti puttanesca by adding anchovies, capers, olives and chilli flakes.
Another, slightly more soupy, version of this (courtesy of Nigella Lawson) is to use rice instead of pasta and add it raw straight into the tomato sauce with some chicken or vegetable stock. Simmer for 15 minutes and done. Only 1 pan to wash up!
2. Eggs on toast
Scrambled, boiled, poached, whatever you like. Super quick and nutritious! Add spinach, avocado, mushrooms or tomatoes on the side if you have them.
3. Fish finger sandwiches and baked beans
I often make this for the kids after my son’s been at football practice. I cook the fish fingers while I heat up a tin of beans and butter some bread. I’ll sometimes add broccoli on the side if I have some in and the energy to cook it.
4. Store cupboard Thai Red Curry
This is probably a grown-ups and older kids option, since younger children may find this too spicy. I use frozen prawns that can be cooked straight in the sauce without defrosting first, Thai red curry paste (Mae Ploy is my favourite brand and I’ve seen it used in a professional kitchen), frozen vegetables (no chopping and they cook quickly), and coconut milk and fish sauce (always in my cupboard). Sugar and lime juice are handy for balancing the flavours.
If I just can’t wait for rice to cook, I serve this with noodles.
5. Lunch board
This is for when your fridge is quite well stocked, you just don’t have much time (or energy) to get dinner ready. This was a frequent weekend lunch at my Mum’s house.
Get a large chopping board out, and fill it with whatever cold meats, cheese, crackers, bread, pickles, relishes you have, and put any salad vegetables you have hanging around into a bowl. Soup is a good addition if you have some in the fridge, freezer or cupboard.
What are your emergency dinners that you make at home? Let me know in the comments!