It’s just as good to admit it: sometimes the week is so full of meetings and overtime that there simply isn’t time to cook as usual. But you do not have to sacrifice the taste or the quality of the food that you cook.
Our practical 10-minute tips make you more efficient in the kitchen – invaluable for those who have a packed work schedule but still want to eat right.
INVEST IN EQUIPMENT THAT SAVES TIME
A first important step in streamlining your kitchen routines is to invest in a few tools that help you prepare delicious and nutritious food faster. A vegetable shredder allows you to create delicious and vitamin-packed noodles and spirits of carrots, zucchini, and other vegetables. A good food processor and mixer that quickly shreds, cuts, rips and purees and a couple of high-quality easy-to-wash Teflon teapots are two other smart investments. Complement with a couple of real chef knives and a brownie and you are ready to cook like a pro.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS
You know how important it is to eat a lot of raw foods, both vegetables, and fruits. Some simple dishes that do not require cooking are super salads (mix as many vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds as you like and make a dressing with yogurt and herbs), gazpacho and other cold soups (now you will benefit from the mixer) and tapas with vegetables, hummus, and grilled chicken breast. Or why not make a Greek salad with tomato, cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, and fresh oregano?
10-MINUTE RECIPE FOR THE OVEN OR STOVE
There are plenty of dishes you can cook on the stove or in the oven in 10 minutes. The best part is that when you cooki in the oven, you can simply throw it in and wait without having to be active in the kitchen all the time. For example, you can make a foil package with salmon, asparagus and some sesame oil and bake in the oven. Try a quick wok with broccoli, whole sugar peas, coarse shredded red cabbage and tofu and season with soy sauce. A simple omelette with mushrooms, grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley is another delicious and quick-cooked option. Serve it with a small salad.
PREPARE FOOD IN ADVANCE
When you have time, put a few hours on a large cooker. Make as much freezer-free food as you can – lasagna, lentil soup, salmon burgers and lamb stew – and freeze portions. Perfect for picking up and warming up when life is extra stressful. Keep in mind that even frozen foods age. Your dishes taste best if you eat them within a few weeks.
USE YOUR EXPERIENCE OF TIMING
You set goals and plan your time at work, so why not use the same skills when cooking? If you have the stated goal to spend less time in the kitchen and get more time over to the family or other evening activities, you will be extra motivated to optimize your kitchen and fine-tune your cooking routines.
SEE COOKING AS MEDITATION
Although it only takes 10 minutes to cook, it can be a great time to find balance and recharge your batteries after a long day. See each step as a meditation and focus on your movements as you cut vegetables and stir in the pot. Afterwards, you not only feel harmonious and ready for new challenges – the food is ready! Will it be your way to a more balanced life?
Share your best 10-minute recipe and other tricks. What is your best beneficial 10-minute recipe?