What is a student’s biggest weakness? FOOD! It can be time-consuming, especially if you are hangry, but there is a silver lining! When you learn these easy recipes, you will no longer be drowning in take-out boxes and you can decide your own menu. Whether your cooking skills are like Jamie Oliver’s or as simple as butter on toast, keep reading for 20 recipes every student should know for uni!
1. Tomato and basil soup (serves 2)
Ingredients
1 ¾ cups chopped tomatoes
5/8 cups chicken stock
1/3 tbsp. sugar
6 leaves fresh basil
2/3 tbsps. Butter
1/3 cups double cream
Method
Simmer the stock and tomatoes for 10 minutes.
Add the sugar and basil and cook for 5 more minutes.
Stir in cream and butter until the butter has melted, blend for smooth feel.
2. French toast (serves 2)
Ingredients
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsps. Butter
2 large eggs
1/8 cup whole milk
¼ tsp vanilla extract
4 slices of bread
¼ cup maple syrup
fruit to serve
Method
Mix the cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in a baking dish.
Dip the bread into the mixture; coat fully.
Melt the butter or oil on a pan, add the slices to the pan and brown on each side.
Serve with fruit or/and maple syrup.
3. Fruit toast (serves 2)
Ingredients
6 cherry tomatoes
1 avocado
lime juice
Pinch of chili flakes
2 slices of bread
Method
Cut the cherry tomatoes in halves and grill for a few minutes.
Mash the avocado with a fork, add lime juice and chili flakes into the mix.
Toast the bread, spread the avocado and place the cherry tomatoes on top. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Breakfast omelet (serves 2)
Ingredients
4 eggs
3/8 handful of parsley leaves
¾ tbsps. Olive oil
3/8 purple onion
1 ¼ tomatoes
3/8 handful black olives
¼ cup feta cheese
Method
Whisk the eggs in a bowl with chopped parsley, pepper and salt.
Heat the oil in a pan, fry the onions until brown.
Add the tomatoes and chopped olives to the pan, until soft.
Pour the egg mixture until its sets, then add the feta cheese.
When puffed and golden, serve and garnish with more cheese.
5. Pancakes (serves 2)
Ingredients
4 eggs
3 tbsps. flour
3 tbsps. milk
2 tbsps. oil
2 tsps. vanilla extract
Method
Mix the flour, eggs, milk and vanilla extract until smooth.
Heat the oil in a pan; use a uniform measure to pour in the pancake mix.
Cook each side for 2 to 3 minutes.
Garnish with fruit, icing sugar or maple syrup.
6. Bacon Pasta
Ingredients
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup double cream
4 oz. pasta
3 streaky bacon
3/8 cup of parmesan cheese
Method
Boil the chicken stock and cream in a saucepan over high heat, reduce to medium heat after 30 minutes.
In lightly salted water, boil the pasta of choice till al dente. Set aside.
Fry the bacon in a pan, and chop when ready.
Stir in the bacon and cheese to the stock and cream mixture, then pour over pasta to serve.
7. Stir fry Chili Beef (serves 2)
Ingredients
5 ¼ ozs steak
1 tsp chili powder
2 ground cumin
2 garlic cloves
2 tsps sunflower oil
1 yellow bell pepper
1 purple onion
2 tomatoes
2 ½ cups black beans
Handful of fresh coriander
Method
Place thin strips of the steak in a bowl with the spices and garlic; stir well to marinate.
Heat the oil in a wok or a pan, then add the beef to brown.
Chop the pepper, half the onion and add to the wok with a splash of water.
Add the tomatoes and beans, if desired seasoning as well.
Serve by sprinkling chopped coriander and the left over onion.
8. Sweet Potato Fries (serves 2)
Ingredients
1 sweet potato
¼ tsp sugar
½ tsp brown sugar
¼ ground cinnamon
Method
Preheat the oven to 220 Celsius.
Cut the sweet potato into fries and place on a baking tray.
Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until crisp.
Mix the sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle on top. Serve while hot.
9. Chicken Noodle Soup (serves 2)
Ingredients
900 ml chicken stock
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tsp ginger root
1 garlic clove
50 grams rice noodles
3 mushrooms
2 spring onions
2 tsp soy sauce
mint
Method
Boil the chicken stock, ginger and garlic in a pan. Add the chicken and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove the chicken and shred using forks.
Place the shredded pieces back into the stock with the noodles, mushrooms, half of the spring onions, and soy sauce.
Simmer until the noodles soften, then serve.
Sprinkle spring onions, herbs and seasoning.
10. Greek Salad (serves 2)
Ingredients
2/3 lettuce
1 3/8 tomatoes
1 spring onion
2/3 avocado
1 tbsp. lemon juice
66 grams feta cheese
1/8 tsp mint
1/8 parsley
1 2/3 tbsp. virgin olive oil
Method
Wash and dry the lettuce leaves, then roughly chop them
Cut the tomatoes into wedges, chop the spring onion.
Half the avocado, and slice then drizzle lemon juice.
Crumble the feta cheese, the mint and parsley and mix.
Mix the lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix.
Stephanie is a psychology first year at the University of Esses. She grew up on multiple countries and has developed a love for travelling and exploring diverse cultures.