5 Minute Cooking

We all know that good health is the base for any goal in life. Exercising and eating healthy are the two essential factors for maintaining good health.

For me home cooked or cooking from scratch is a foolproof method for well-being. Having an overall restaurant experience is good once in awhile. But going for take outs for the sole reason of not having enough time to cook at home is something that can be avoided.

Growing up in India has taught me to cook from fresh ingredients and use little or no processed food. The spices and the flavor are not only palatable but also restorative in many ways. But as circumstances changed I was time bound too forcing me to go for quick fix for food. Then with few recipes online especially from Jamie Oliver a huge promoter of home cooking has helped me to experiment and come up with my own method of cooking that are quicker, healthier and flavorful.

So here are some top favorites for me and for my family:-

1. Chicken tacos:-

Take a baking dish and add 1 lb of boneless chicken thigh chunks, roughly chopped red onions (1), Roma tomatoes (2), De-seeded green or any other pepper available (1), 1 tbsp of cumin, fennel, coriander powder, 1 tsp of black pepper, 1 tsp of cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp of chopped ginger and garlic, salt to taste, drizzle 1 tbsp of olive oil. Bake it at 400f for 45 minutes. Sprinkle chopped cilantro when done.

Bake shredded cabbage ( either from  coleslaw packet or chop fresh cabbage) with spices you like in another dish at the same time along with the above chicken.

Both of them will be ready in 45 minutes and then all you need is whole grain tortilla from the store. Fill the chicken and cabbage in, if you like you can also drizzle little bit of ketchup or mayo or relish.

2. Pasta with chicken or eggs:-

Cook high fiber pasta and keep a side. Add chopped spinach and kale to it, add a tbsp of Mayo, salt and pepper or spices you like. Heat all of them for 2 minutes. Eat with hard boiled eggs or baked chicken if you want it to be very filling.

Easiest baked chicken recipe would be putting marinated boneless chicken breast or slightly sliced chicken drumsticks rubbed with Cajun spice for 45 minutes in the oven.

Boneless chicken can also be added in slow cooker with a whole bottle full of salsa and cook overnight or all day. Chicken will shred on its own giving a burst of flavor.

3.Veggie rice:-

Cook brown rice with 1:2 water in a pressure cooker or stove stop and keep aside. Or just cook white rice in your rice cooker if you like.

Bake your favorite veggies or veggies left in your refrigerator. Say like, chunks of sweet potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini or squash with spices like 1tsp of cumin powder, 1sp of turmeric, 1tsp of cayenne pepper or paprika, 1tsp of chopped garlic, salt to taste or if in hurry just add 1 tbsp of Cajun or other favorite spice from your cabinet, drizzle 1 tbsp of olive oil and bake at 400f for 45 minutes.

Make your own veggie rice bowl, add a cup of cooked rice, top it with your baked veggies, add any kind of left over boiled bean ( it could be chickpeas or black bean or any other that you have). Top it with salsa, guacamole and sour cream too.

Best thing about the above recipes are it does not take more than 5 minutes to prepare as everything is roughly chopped or into 1-2 inches of chunks. And they are baked or slow cooked so you literally need not be near them. Also you can make it how much ever spicy or flavorful you like.

So next time before ordering a pizza or getting a take out , just think about the above options. You might very well choose to be healthy and happy.