Here’s something lighthearted from the hustle and bustle of investment and economics! Written By Stephanie Goh

I grew up spending a lot of time in the kitchen, helping my mother with whatever new recipe that caught her interest that week. From cooking pizzas and noodles to baking cakes and cookies, I was pretty familiar with my way around the kitchen early on. It’s something that I have always enjoyed and I love trying out new dishes and letting family and friends have a taste.

However, as an adult with a schedule that can get hectic, it gets hard to find time to cook nice meals. I’m not coming home from a long day at work with enough energy to whip up a three course dinner. I’m sure a lot of you with busy schedules also struggle with finding the time and energy to cook. In the end, we mostly fall back on eating out or ordering food delivery because of how easy and convenient it is. 

After trying out different recipes and seeing which ones give the most satisfaction with minimal effort, I have a few that I always fall back on. So here are my top three recipes that are quick and easy. With all the recipes, I will give you an estimate of how much it costs, how many meals it covers, and how much effort it takes.

Spanish Tomato Rice

I love this simple recipe that comes together easily in one big pot and has a lovely flavour profile! The recipe below will be how I usually cook it but feel free to swap out any of the ingredients for your own preferences.

Estimated cost: RM25

Meals covered: 5

Effort level: 3/5

Ingredients

• 200g Bacon chips 
• Half an onion (both white or red work)
• Three cloves of garlic
• One capsicum
• One carrot
• 250g mushroom of choice
• One cup of rice 
• One canned tomatoes in juice
• Two cups of stock

Directions

Dice onion and garlic and set aside. Slice capsicum, carrot, and mushrooms to bite sizes. Rinse one cup of rice until the water runs clear. Prepare your stock, if you are using a stock cube, follow the instructions on the packaging.

In a large pot, fry your bacon chips or protein of your choice. Once cooked, remove and put on a plate. Fry your onions and garlic until fragrant then add in the capsicum, carrot, and mushrooms. Once cooked to your liking, add in the cup of washed rice and cooked bacon and stir to mix with the vegetables.

Add in the whole can of tomatoes with juice and mix together. Once incorporated, add in enough stock to cover the rice mixture. Let it come to a boil then lower the fire to low heat. Cover the pot and let it cook. You will need to stir it every five minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn. Once the liquid is absorbed, add more stock or water until the rice is fluffy and cooked through. 

Creamy Spicy Pasta

If you’re a fan of creamy pasta but also love a good kick, then this recipe is perfect for you! Having a little spice helps to cut through the creaminess and make it less overwhelming by the end of your meal. It also comes together really quickly.

Estimated cost: RM30

Meals covered: 3 – 4

Effort level: 3/5

Ingredients

• One yellow onion
• Three cloves of garlic
• 400g of chicken fillet (or protein of your choice)
• 400 ml of whipping cream 
• A handful of curry leaves
• Sambal paste of your choice
• Chopped chillies (optional)
• Enough pasta for 3 servings
• Paprika (optional)
• Dried herbs

Directions

Dice onion and garlic and set aside. Toss your chicken fillets with a sprinkle of paprika and dried herbs like oregano, basil, and rosemary. Then lay your chicken on a baking sheet and put it in the oven at 220°C until cooked through. Once the chicken is baked, let it cool before slicing it up. Boil a pot of water and add in your pasta. Stir until cooked then drain and set aside.

In a large pan, fry your onions and garlic with olive oil until cooked. Add in the sambal, chopped chillies, and curry leaves and fry until fragrant. Then add in your whipping cream and stir until combined. Mix in your pasta and chicken and it’s ready to serve.

Roast Chicken Wrap

What I really love about this recipe is its versatility. You can roast the chicken with a combination of herbs, spices, or marinades that you are in the mood for. For this recipe, I will just be going through my most basic combination. However, if you really don’t have the time or energy to cook, you could just grab some already roasted chicken from the grocery store.

Estimated cost: RM15

Meals covered: 5

Effort level: 2/5

Ingredients

• 250g chicken fillets
• Paprika
• Dried mixed herbs
• Salad leaves
• Capsicum
• Cucumber
• Carrot
• Tortilla wraps

Directions

Toss together the chicken fillets with the paprika and dried mixed herbs. I usually eyeball this but you can measure out about a teaspoon each to start. Then pop the chicken in the oven at 220°C until cooked through. Once cooled, slice up the chicken. Prepare your vegetables however you like. In this case I will be slicing up the capsicum, cucumber, and carrot.

Lay your tortilla wrap out and add in your chicken, vegetables, and sauces of your choice. That’s it!

Get Creative

I would love for you to challenge yourself to create a meal out of what’s already in your fridge. This can be achieved if your weekly groceries always include a protein and vegetable of your choice. By covering your basics, you don’t always need to have your meals planned out and can go with whatever inspiration strikes you while peering into the fridge. 

Cooking at home instead of always going out or ordering food delivery is also healthy for your finances as it helps you save on money. I also look out for discounted items at the grocery store and make sure I can use it before it’s too late. All the best!