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Friday 22 January 2016

Quick & Easy Weeknight Meal Ideas

One of the most common things that I get asked when people find out I'm vegan, is "what do you eat?" or "Isn't it difficult?"

I'm sure that most of you reading this already know that it's not difficult!

I don't always have the time, or inclination to make a complicated fancy meal (although I love doing that too!), especially on a weeknight. So I thought I'd write a post about some of my favourite, easy weeknight dinners!

Firstly ~ and this should come as no shock to regular readers ~ Curry!

Curry is one of my favourite weeknight meals. It's SO easy; I can make a big pot and have leftovers for lunch, I can have it with rice, or as in this little vid that I put together for ya.... over a baked potato!

I vary what I put in curries, depending on what I have in the fridge/pantry that needs using up. More often than not I add chickpeas, spinach and coconut milk. I like spending the time toasting and grinding my own spices too, but when I'm in a rush (or just lazy) I like the Pataks' curry pastes, as used in this vid.



Tacos 

No longer only for Taco Tuesday! In fact, there's a whole book dedicated to vegan tacos now (must buy that!)

Tacos are also a great way to use up whatever is in the fridge. I normally use some vegan quorn / frys pieces and some sliced onions, peppers and mushrooms in mine. But these ones that I made during MoFo a couple of years ago were also great!





Pasta

The ultimate fast weeknight (or lunchtime, or weekend, or breakfast...) meal. Pasta is so damn quick and there's a billion and one things you can add to it.

My fave quick way to get something reasonably healthy (and Slimming World) friendly into me, is to chuck a few pieces of frozen cauliflower into the water with the pasta, along with some frozen broccoli and peas (a bit nearer the end). Then transfer the cauliflower to the blender, with some nooch, a veg stock cube and some soymilk and whizz for a really easy, low fat creamy sauce.

Or a quick cashew based tomato sauce: chuck a handful of cashews into the blender with some tomato puree, nooch if you like and stock or non dairy milk and blend (you'll need a decent blender). Sometimes I throw some actual tomatoes in too! :)



Of course, there's always Stirfry!

I used to think stirfry was the most boring of boring foods! But now I love it for being fast and healthy and easy, especially if you have the foresight to buy a bag of stir fry veg hehe.


This one was a bunch of veggies from the fridge that needed using, a tin of mock duck and there's noodles under there too! The sauce is what makes a stir fry - I concocted a quick sauce out of PB2 (powdered peanut butter), soy sauce, Chinese 5 spice powder, maple syrup, rice vinegar and sriracha! It was good.


For more quick meal ideas, check out my veganising Jamie posts from MoFo 2014 HERE: all the recipes I modified were from 15 minute meals!

Of course, if all else fails, there's always hummus! (I usually eat WAY less fancy hummus than this though!)

What's your favourite fast weeknight (or whenever) meal?

Sal xXx

8 comments:

  1. The curry looks awesome! I just subscribed to your YouTube channel!

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  2. Loved the curry video - Dim Sim came over to check it out as well! But please tell me, what is that thing you spiked the potatoes on? Is there a kitchen gadget that I am not aware of? I suddenly feel like I need it.

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    1. I think it was just a cheap spike thing that my parents bought for cooking baked potatoes. The metal helps the insides cook more easily! Metal skewers work the same :0)

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  3. You know I'm all about the pasta but that 5 spice PB stir fry sounds delish' too.

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  4. I love the idea of serving the curry over a baked potato. I am cold hiding under my blankets right now and a nice big serving of that yummy nom nom sounds heavenly. Feed me!

    I love this video too! Moar! Moar!!

    Forgot to say - the new header is so cute! Becks has some mad talent.

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  5. I don't know why I've stopped making stir-fries! They are so easy to make. I think it is because I am always too lazy to make a rice or boil noodles in another pot... which is a horrible reason to some making them!

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