What to cook when you have almost nothing at home? These 7 simple recipes save any meal effortlessly
At some point in the month, everyone goes through this. You open the fridge hoping to find something to make dinner... and the feeling is always the same: there's nothing there.
Simple, accessible and quick recipes, designed for those days when time is short, patience is even shorter and hunger can't wait.
Because, at the end of the day, cooking well isn't about having everything at your disposal. It's about knowing how to make the most of what's already there.
The secret that changes everything
Before thinking about complicated recipes, change your outlook.
Even an "empty" fridge usually has them:
- eggs
- rice or pasta
- some vegetable
- cheese or butter
- canned goods or leftovers
The right combination of these items is what turns the basics into something amazing.
1. Complete omelette with whatever you have
If it's got eggs, you've already got half your dinner sorted.
Mix with:
- cheese
- tomato
- onions
- leftover vegetables or meat
It's ready in minutes, sustains and avoids waste.
Heat up your frying pan and make your best omelette in no time! Nothing is better or easier to make than an omelette for breakfast, brunch, or simply for lunch, served with a salad for a balanced meal ready in just a few minutes. For an even more...
2. Improvised pasta that always work
Pasta is the classic savior.
Even without a ready-made sauce, you can create something delicious with:
- garlic and olive oil
- butter
- chopped tomatoes
- canned tuna
Simple, quick and impossible to get wrong.
When you can't think of what to make for a meal, nothing beats a good plate of pasta! To make it even more flavorful, pair it with a sauce. Here we offer you an incredibly easy tuna sauce! Proof that the simplest things are often the best ;-)\r\nA meal...
3. Pan rice (Cantonese type)
Do you have rice ready? Even better.
Sauté with whatever you have:
- egg
- vegetables
- leftover chicken or meat
In just a few minutes, it becomes a complete dish.
An express Cantonese rice dish to save time in the kitchen. Quick and easy, this dish can soon become the ultimate way to avoid food waste! If you cooked too much rice for an earlier meal, this is the perfect opportunity to give it a second life. Just...
4. Grilled cheese but better
Don't underestimate the power of a good sandwich.
Use bread, cheese and whatever you can find:
- egg
- ham
- even leftovers from lunch
In a frying pan or air fryer, it becomes a real meal.
For brunch or a meal in front of the TV, we’ve found the perfect recipe: a sandwich made with an omelette! More original than a classic sandwich made with sliced bread, and just as easy and quick to make ;-) With ham and, of course, slices of cheese,...
5. Golden potato savior
If you have potatoes, you're safe.
- Slice, season and put in the frying pan or oven.
- You can add cheese, egg or whatever you have available.
Simple, cheap and extremely satisfying.
Today, we bring you an incredibly easy recipe that will please both kids and adults: stuffed potatoes! And with what? Ingredients you surely have in your fridge: bacon and grated cheese. Get ready to follow our detailed recipe with photos and a video!
6. Improvised shakshuka (eggs in savior sauce)
When it seems like there's nothing left, but there's still tomato, sauce or even some leftovers forgotten in the fridge, this becomes a complete dish.
How to make it:
- Sauté garlic and onion if you have them
- Add chopped tomatoes or tomato sauce
- Season with salt, pepper and whatever you have at home
- Crack eggs straight into the sauce
- Cover and cook until the eggs are just set
Finish with cheese or herbs, if you have them.
Load up on sun-ripened vegetables with this dish straight from the Maghreb: chakchouka! Tomatoes, peppers, and spices come together in a dish where you crack in eggs and let them cook covered. Enjoy a vegetarian dish full of flavor and color :-) It's...
7. Quick canned sauté (ready in minutes)
When it seems like there's nothing left, there's almost always a forgotten can in the cupboard.
Peas, chickpeas and lentils can become a complete dish in just a few minutes.
The secret is in the seasoning.
When it comes to comfort food , we're always happy to make room for chickpea curry ! Served with rice, this fragrant dish will take your taste buds on a journey and warm you up :-) Think we're exaggerating? Give it a try and you'll soon be won over...
Extra: Creamy mixture with few ingredients
Combine the basics:
- cream or curd cheese
- cheese
- some carbohydrate such as rice or pasta
The result is a creamy, quick and very comfortable dish.
When time and patience are short
These days, the goal isn't perfection. It's to solve.
Simple recipes, with few steps and common ingredients, are the ones that really make a difference to your routine.
The next time you think you have nothing at home, remember that the problem is almost never a lack of ingredients.
With a little creativity and simple combinations, you can effortlessly transform the basics into meals that save the day.
And once you get the hang of it, these "improvised dinners" turn out to be the most practical and even the tastiest.
Mirella Mendonça
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