Best easiest meal

[TravelinTom]

So, easy is most important here. I do not like cooking and that is an understatement. I’ll eat like I’m high with a severe case of munchies to avoid cooking. So easy is important. But cost, time, healthful and tasteful need to get mixed in to varying degrees. And cooked with gas.

What’s one of your favorite meals that you think check enough of these boxes?

A simple one pot meal we often go to on the road consists of olive oil or Ghee or butter for sautéed onions, adding various spices (Spanish or Mexican to Indian) then browning any chosen protein (beef, chicken, pork). After 3-8 minutes add some garlic to taste then add equal amounts liquid (broth or water) to rice. Or for pasta; you can continue to add more liquid as needed for tender pasta. We also add a variety of frozen vegetables when nearly done cooking.
It even can be a soup dish. The spices really make this a variable daily meal.

 

[user 29855]

So, easy is most important here. I do not like cooking and that is an understatement. I’ll eat like I’m high with a severe case of munchies to avoid cooking. So easy is important. But cost, time, healthful and tasteful need to get mixed in to varying degrees. And cooked with gas.

What’s one of your favorite meals that you think check enough of these boxes?

A lot of these suggestions are very good, and I have to admit I eat them. However, many of us are middle (or even more than middle) age, and sodium can become a serious issue. At 80, I've already had one stroke, and because it wasn't fun, I'm trying to avoid another one. High BP is a real concern. Any thoughts on quick, easy, tasty, nutritious, low-sodium meals? Of course, low-sodium dishes don't have as much flavor as I'd like....

 

[eDJ_]

For me a can of tuna in oil, a dozen green olives with pimentos chopped, sweet pickle relish, a few packs of mayo like you would get at a Grocery Store Deli, and some season-all will make a tasty Tuna Salad that can be used on sandwiches or sliced tomatoes. (if you can get some packets of lemon juice, have some dill weed on hand it will season the salad up quite well) It store well enough without refrigeration to consume it.

There are specialty cook books on this subject. They are dated (1996) but still worth looking thru.

Eat Well for 99 cent a Meal

The 99 Cent a Meal Cook Book

 

[Zerpersande]

For me a can of tuna in oil, a dozen green olives with pimentos chopped, sweet pickle relish, a few packs of mayo like you would get at a Grocery Store Deli, and some season-all will make a tasty Tuna Salad that can be used on sandwiches or sliced tomatoes.

My version is a can of tuna in light oil, regular mayo, salt/pepper. So that’s on my menu. Quick with a bowl/spoon washup.

There are specialty cook books on this subject. They are dated (1996) but still worth looking thru.

Eat Well for 99 cent a Meal

The 99 Cent a Meal Cook Book

I’ll check these books out, thanks.

 

[jacqueg]

Never had hummus. Never seen hummus in any store here in Japan but I expect imported food stores will have it. For a price. But it’s worth investigating, if only to try it once.

Very easy to make if you are planted in one spot with a real kitchen.

2 cups cooked chickpeas
3 garlic cloves
1 lemon, juiced (1/3 cup)
1 tbsp. tahini
olive oil, as needed
salt or soy sauce, as needed

Optional - Top with za’atar when serving

1. Place all in food processor bowl fitted with metal blade, and run until smooth. Adjust seasonings, add a little water or oil if too thick.

2. Can also be done in blender, but food processor does a better job faster.

3. No electricity? Place the cooked chickpeas in a large ziplock bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible, and seal the bag. Smash the the chickpeas - rolling pin? Anything to pulverize them as much as possible. In a mixing bowl, whisk the other ingredients together until smooth. Add smashed chick peas. Use a potato masher if needed. Will taste OK, but the grainier texture takes getting used to.

I got this recipe from a friend whose lebanese granny made it this way. The tahini, lemon, and garlic are what make it hummus rather than bean dip, IMO. If you can't find chickpeas, you can use black beans.

Or you could just use your favorite bean dip. Not a thing wrong with that.

You COULD experiment with soy beans. Never done it myself, but I don't see why not.

You can also buy chickpea flour online. It's just dehydrated, pulverized chickpeas. I intend to experiment with that someday. Because while there are a couple of good brands of hummus, it absolutely tastes better when you make it from scratch. I think it's the fresh lemon juice.

 

[Zerpersande]

Very easy to make if you are planted in one spot with a real kitchen.

I’ll readily admit that it does ‘t seem overly complicated. But a food processor? Not something I do. I’m the sort that goes to make a grilled cheese sandwich and often has an internal conversation to justify the grilling aspect. Fry pan, putting butter on either side of the bread, applying some pressure to make good contact, flipping it, etc. Compared to just eating the cheese with mayo inside. Same nutritional value. Or spaghetti. I’ve always used canned sauce. And the internal conversation regarding the need to heat the sauce when I have hot noodles usually goes to heating it up. It’s just one pan and it’s easy enough to do while the noodles cook.

Really, I respect those that take the time in meal preparation. I enjoy eating such meals. I just don’t enjoy the cooking part.

 

[LargeMarge]

... cost, time, healthful and tasteful...
... one of your favorite meals...

.
Any time of the day or evening:
One dish, one stew-spoon, twelve minutes...
* a nice scoop of coconut oil in a cast-iron skillet,
* add bone broth to simmer,
* add left-over veggies,
* crack four eggs over the top to poach.
Cover, turn off the propane, jog with a dog for a while.
Lift the lid, sprinkle with APPLEWOOD SMOKED SEASALT (in the 'bulk' section at NaturalGrocers), splash in some living fermented fish, fork over some living sauerkraut.
Yum-O!
.
I occasionally add diced left-over steak, fish, or bird.
.
* We aim for twelve servings of vegetables daily.
* Bone broth adds essential cartilage and marrow components.
* Oils and fats furnish essential fuel and lubrication for joints.
* Vegetables add vitamins and minerals.
* Smoked salts connect me to our hunter-gatherer heritage.
* Fermented foods add essential bacteria and fungi.
.
Let us know your results!

 

[LargeMarge]

... had one stroke...High BP...

.
What raises blood pressure?
Narrow arteries.
.
What narrows arteries?
Cholesterol patches over injured vessels.
.
What injures vessel linings?
Sugars.
.
What are sources of sugars?
Grains, alcohol made from grains, root vegetables, fruits.
.
How can most folks lower their blood pressure?
a -- eliminate sources of sugars, eliminate seed oils
b -- quit reading the WorldWideWeb.

 

[Zerpersande]

One dish, one stew-spoon, twelve minutes...

Check, got these

nice scoop of coconut oil in a cast-iron skillet

I’m sure this can be had but it will be from a specialty shop, which drastically increases cost

add bone broth to simmer

Have never seen a broth bone, that I remember.

add leftover veggies

Fresh ones are available. I cook and eat. No leftovers.

crack four eggs over the top to poach

Good to go here

Cover, turn off the propane, jog with a dog for a while.

Well, walk. But at this point all I have is some fresh veggies boiling in water with 4 eggs

sprinkle with APPLEWOOD SMOKED SEASALT

In Japan searching for this would be, well…OH!!
Ever see Monty Python’s The Search for the Holy Grail

living fermented fish

Not a clue.

fork over living sauerkraut

Authentic German version from specialty store, can do this!

Although this sounds healthy, obtaining these items from locations I am likely to be in won’t work for me. Though it does sound like something I’d like to try.

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

There are dozens of heat and eat items in your average Fry’s grocery store.Arizona. Some are shelf stable, some need to be frozen or refrigerated. For the ramen eaters, try adding a tablespoon of peanut butter to the broth. Really good. For the hummus if you can’t find tahini you can substitute, ta da, peanut butter. Remember the stuffed baked potato craze ? Use instant mashed potatoes. Can also make a soup if using extra water.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned: sandwiches. I make sandwiches for lunch when traveling and any other time I'm too lazy to cook. Minimal prep, no cleanup; one can buy already prepared sandwiches at truck stops and gas stations/convenient stores = no prep, no cleanup.

 

[Malamute]

Some bachelor specials....

Adams creamy peanut butter and honey. Mix to taste, eat with table knife out of the bowl you mixed it in, or open faced on bread or toast, sometimes add some granola for crunch. It stores well in the fridge if needed for quick energy bursts or take the edge off being hungry. Absolutely none of the "normal" peanut butters taste anywhere near as good as the Adams to me. The common store stuff including the so-called natural versions are about a 2-3, the Adams about an 8 on a 10 scale. The only thing as good if not better was the old Deaf Smith peanut butter of ages long past. I almost give up eating peanut butter if the regular type is all thats available. Ill eat the nasty normal stuff on toast or PBJ sandwiches somewhat under protest, but I keep trying the honey and peanut butter with it and then end up tossing most of it since its so gross. Adams is available at walmarts in the west, I cant get it where Ive been off and on recently. Very sad.

Microwave burritos. Flour tortillas, Rosarita refried beans, slices of sharp cheddar cheese, some sour cream and hot sauce after heating up. Ranch Style Beans also make very good burritos. Ive had the Rosarita burritos cold on the side of the road when out adventuring and not wanting to actually cook. Passable, but not as nice as hot.

 

[Happy Camper]

Do they sell microwave burritos in Japan?

 

[Zerpersande]

Do they sell microwave burritos in Japan?

Never looked but they might have something in the frozen section. The wraps are available and I have made them at home though.

 

[Texas Gypsy]

Do you make your own hash browns from potatoes? But this is a good idea. Staying in one place/area for several days, well off the beaten path, precludes frequent trips for groceries. But I will have a fridge and frozen foods help keep the temp in the fridge down for a while, then eat them. Two birds with one stone.

You can get dehydrated hash browns! They are amazingly good. Just let soak to rehydrate, drain and cook as usual.
Almond butter, honey and cinnamon to dip apple slices in.
Get an instant pot! I love mine so much!!!
Butter noodles. Boil egg noodles, add butter and salt to taste.
Fried rice. Left over rice. Assorted frozen or fresh veggies, oil and an egg. Heat oil in wok, add scrambled egg and stir fry. Add veggies and stir fry a couple of minutes. Add cold rice and stir fry a couple of minutes. Add soy sauce or combination of sauces. Stir a couple of minutes. Done.
Look into once a month cooking. If you have a freezer you can do all your assembly at once. Freeze and have homemade meals very quickly.

 

[eDJ_]

Mmm.....

Just a heads up on rice. If you are on the road, especially in warm weather, it may be best when using rice to only cook enough for a meal and discard any of what's left over. Why ? Rice is vulnerable to a spore that can cause food poisoning. It's known as Bacillus cereus. People often get sick on warmed over rice or fried rice when the rice hasn't been kept properly for a number of hours.

Bacillus cereus is also known to act on other starchy foods too. (like potato flakes and powdered dairy items) Bacillus cereus can double in size in twenty minutes at 85 degrees F. It's even been known to lay dormant in dry rice if the rice has been left in storage for long periods of time. Those with weaker immune systems may want to avoid rice.

Rice is cheap enough so if you have to waste some of it it's not that much of a loss. Cooking a 1/2 Cup measure of dry white rice will yield 1 1/2 Cups of cooked rice. This will be enough for a meal. (some left over with sugar & butter to make a dessert)

 

[CoyoteG]

Do they sell microwave burritos in Japan?

 

[Happy Camper]

That's better than any microwave burrito I've ever seen lol

 

[dreamrunnerjt]

The best pinto beans I ever ate were some that were home canned by a friend. Just open jar, mash and wrap in a tortilla. So dang good.

 

[CoyoteG]

That's better than any microwave burrito I've ever seen lol

https://meatexpress.jp/best-burritos/
It’s a real thing.