The secret to a light meal's success is its simplicity. Save time in the kitchen with these five mouth-watering recipes done in a dash.
Rice noodles with mushrooms, miso soup and fresh chilli
• Add stir-fried mushrooms and rice noodles to deep bowls of steaming miso soup. (Miso soup is easily made: buy a jar of Miso paste and mix a tablespoonful with hot water.) Top with chopped fresh chilli and chopped coriander and serve.
Sweet potato and carrot with coconut milk
• Gently pan-fry 1 sliced carrot with chopped onion, garlic, ginger and chilli in 1 T olive oil. When soft and fragrant, add sliced sweet potato and stock to cover.
Simmer until the potato is tender, then remove from the heat and blend with ½ can coconut milk. Serve scattered with chopped coriander and cashew nuts.
Pancakes with duck/chicken breast, red chilli and cucumber ribbons
• Pan-fry strips of duck or chicken breast in a sticky teriyaki and soya sauce, then envelope in store-bought or
home-made pancakes, or soft tortilla wraps (
available from Woolies), adding thin slices of spring onion, chopped red chilli and cucumber ribbons.
Baby marrow and egg with sour-cream dip
• Grate baby marrow and combine with 1 free-range egg, a little flour and seasoning, to taste. Mould into small flat cakes and shallow-fry in hot oil until crisp and golden.
Drain, then serve with a lemony sour-cream dip and a green salad.
Cabbage with garlic, salt and Parmesan shavings and bangers
• Toss slivers of warm cabbage (simply shred and steamed or stir-fried for a couple of minutes) in a dressing of red-wine vinegar, English mustard, crushed garlic and sea salt. Top with Parmesan shavings and serve with browned
bangers.
MORE QUICK MEALS TO TRY:
•Green bean and mushroom stir fry
•Roasted sweet-potato shavings with chicken and anchovies
•Chicken and avocado quesadilla
•Sweet potato, baby marrow and butternut fritters
•Crunchy fresh cabbage and asparagus with a spicy dressing
For inspiration for quick and easy starters, click here.