Weeknight Meals

Ingredients

  • 700 g / 1.4 lb chicken thigh fillets, skinless boneless (4-6 pieces) (or 2 large breasts, split in half and pounded to 1cm/0.8in thick)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Creamy Mustard Sauce

  • 1/2 cup thickened/heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp whole grain mustard
  • 1/4 tsp cooking/kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1-2 tbsp water, as needed

Optional Herbs

  • 2 tsp fresh tarragon, finely chopped
  • 2 tsp parsley, finely chopped

Directions

  • Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a pan that is NOT non-stick over medium high. Cook 4 min first side, 3 min second side, then remove onto a plate to rest. (Breast: 2 min each side on high.)
  • Scrape out and discard loose black bits, then return the pan to medium heat. Add cream, both mustards, salt and pepper. Stir until the mustard is dissolved; once the sauce is hot it is ready (it should be a bit thickened). Loosen with water if needed. Stir in the herbs if using. Serve the sauce over the chicken.

The tarragon elevates this to company-worthy, giving it a French restaurant-y flavour, but it is great without the fresh herbs too. Use a pan that is not non-stick so you get golden bits stuck to the pan ("fond") that dissolve into the sauce for free flavour. From RecipeTin Eats on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • 600g beef fillet, sliced thin (rump will also work well)
  • 1 brown onion, sliced thin lengthways
  • 200g button mushrooms, sliced
  • 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
  • 50g butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 400ml beef stock
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 3 tbsp sour cream
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Egg noodles, to serve

Directions

  • In a large frying pan, heat the oil and seal your beef in batches until they have good colour.
  • Once all the beef is sealed off, remove from the frypan and set aside.
  • Add the onions to the pan and saute until they have some colour and start to soften.
  • Add the mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes.
  • Next, add the flour and stir well. Once all the flour is stirred through, pour in the beef stock and mix until you don't have any lumps.
  • Cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce is nice and thick.
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce, mustard and sour cream and mix well.
  • Add the beef back to the pan and stir through.
  • Serve with buttered egg noodles and enjoy!

From Andy Cooks on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette, halved lengthways
  • 1 ball burrata (or stracciatella)
  • Cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Chili flakes (optional)

Directions

  • Slice the baguette in half lengthways and toast or grill until golden.
  • Blister the cherry tomatoes with the garlic in a little olive oil until softened and jammy; season with salt and pepper.
  • Spread the burrata generously over the toasted bread.
  • Spoon the warm tomatoes over the burrata, drizzle with olive oil, scatter with fresh basil and a pinch of chili flakes. Slice and serve.

Method reconstructed from the video (the reel has no spoken steps). From o delice on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • 2 packs enoki mushrooms
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp coarse gochugaru
  • 1 tbsp gochujang
  • 1/2 tbsp corn syrup (can substitute with honey)
  • 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/3 cup water
  • Green onions, chopped
  • Red chilies, chopped
  • Sesame seeds

Directions

  • Prepare the enoki mushrooms by trimming off the root section and gently rinsing them under cold water to remove any debris. Slice the mushrooms into thin sections, then set aside.
  • Prepare the spicy sauce by combining the gochugaru, gochujang, corn syrup, sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and water in a bowl. Mix until smooth.
  • Heat the 2 tbsp of oil in a pan over medium heat, and sear the enoki mushrooms on both sides until lightly golden.
  • Pour in the spicy sauce and let simmer for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
  • Top with green onions, chili, and sesame seeds. Enjoy!

Adjust the sauce to your spice tolerance. Great as a side alongside protein or noodles, or as a snack. From Ian Rivero on Instagram; full recipe at iankewks.com.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz penne pasta (or rigatoni)
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 1–2 tbsp chili crisp oil
  • 1 shallot or ½ onion, finely minced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 5–6 pieces sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tbsp hot pepper paste
  • ⅓ cup tomato paste
  • ⅔ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup milk
  • Handful of fresh basil, chopped
  • 1–2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ⅔ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated pecorino cheese
  • Salt, to taste

Directions

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook 7–8 minutes. Drain, reserving some pasta water.
  • Add the butter to a saucepan. Melt over low heat, then increase to medium. Stir until brown bits appear and the butter turns golden.
  • Add the chili crisp oil, shallot/onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and garlic. Cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
  • Add the hot pepper paste and tomato paste. Cook 2–3 minutes until darkened. Add a splash of vodka (optional) and cook 2–3 minutes more.
  • Add the heavy cream, milk, and basil. Stir well and cook 1 minute.
  • Season with salt and chili flakes. Stir in the grated cheeses and 1–2 tbsp pasta water for a smooth sauce. Add the cooked pasta, toss to combine, and serve.

From eatsbyramya on Instagram; recipe at eatsbyramya.com.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons softened butter, divided
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream, divided
  • 4 tablespoons goat cheese with herbs, divided
  • Flaky sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons chili oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, finely chopped
  • Toasted bread, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread softened butter all over the bottoms and sides of two ramekins. Crack two eggs into each ramekin. Split the cream and herbed goat cheese in half and add to each ramekin.
  • Place the ramekins into a high-sided baking dish. Pour about 4 cups of boiling water into the baking dish, until it reaches about halfway up the sides of the ramekins. If your ramekins have lids, put them on; if not, cover the entire baking dish with foil.
  • Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the eggs reach your desired doneness. For runny yolks, jiggle the ramekins to check – they should look slightly set but still jiggly.
  • Remove the lids and season with salt and pepper. Top with chili oil, chives, and sun-dried tomatoes. Dunk the toast into the eggs and serve.

Serves 2. From Alexa Santos on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • Small flour tortillas (street-taco size)
  • Ground beef
  • Salt and pepper
  • American cheese slices
  • Shredded lettuce
  • White onion, finely diced
  • Tomato, diced
  • Pickles, chopped
  • Pickled banana peppers (optional)

Burger Sauce

  • Mayonnaise
  • Ketchup
  • A little yellow mustard
  • Pickle relish (or finely chopped pickles)

Directions

  • Stir together the burger sauce ingredients and set aside.
  • Place a ball of ground beef on a flour tortilla and smash it out thin so the meat sticks to the tortilla.
  • Cook beef-side down in a hot pan, season with salt and pepper, until deeply browned and crisp, then flip.
  • Lay a slice of American cheese on the beef and let it melt while the tortilla side toasts.
  • Move to a plate, spread with burger sauce, and top with shredded lettuce, diced onion, tomato, pickles, and banana peppers.
  • Fold like a taco and serve.

Method reconstructed from the video (no narration). From Food Steez on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • 1 block feta
  • 1 cup garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1/2 lb orzo, cooked al dente in salted water
  • 1/4 cup pasta water
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • 2 tbsp white balsamic glaze
  • salt and pepper

Directions

  • Add the garlic cloves and a block of feta to a baking dish with the olive oil, a pinch of salt and the red pepper flakes. Bake at 400 F until the garlic is tender and golden.
  • Gently mash the softened garlic with the back of a fork, then stir it through the feta.
  • Add the cooked orzo, spinach, lemon juice and a splash of pasta water; stir until silky and smooth.
  • Finish with a drizzle of white balsamic glaze and fresh cracked pepper.

Ingredients from the caption; method transcribed from the video. From MacKenzie Smith / grilledcheesesocial on Instagram.

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 x 400 g (240 g drained) can chickpeas
  • 400 g baby potatoes, washed and halved
  • 400 g cauliflower florets
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 1 tsp sumac
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp pul biber
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1/2 tsp coarse black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Hummus

  • 1 x 660 g jar chickpeas
  • 1-2 garlic cloves, finely chopped (to taste)
  • 6 tbsp tahini
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 60-80 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (or to taste)
  • A little ice-cold water to loosen if needed (a tbsp at a time)

Directions

  • Preheat the oven to 200 C fan / 220 C. Brush a large non-stick baking tray with 1 tbsp olive oil and pop it in the oven for 10 minutes while you prep the vegetables.
  • Pat the chickpeas, potatoes and cauliflower completely dry. Add them to a large bowl, sprinkle over the cornflour and mix well with your hands until coated. Add 2 tbsp olive oil with the sumac, cumin, paprika, pul biber and garlic powder and mix again; add the remaining olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano and sesame seeds and stir well. Spread everything evenly onto the hot tray (the oil should sizzle), placing the potatoes cut side down. Roast near the top of the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning the potatoes and cauliflower halfway through, until crispy (remove any cauliflower florets that brown too fast).
  • While the vegetables roast, whizz all the hummus ingredients together in a blender and spread over a large platter. Top with the roasted vegetables and a sprinkling of sumac, cumin, paprika, pul biber and fresh parsley, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. Serve with crusty bread.

From Meliz Berg on Instagram.

For the Potatoes

  • 500 g baby potatoes
  • 2 tbsp cornflour
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • 1 tsp pul biber
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3/4 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

For the Köfte

  • 500 g lamb / beef / chicken / meatless mince
  • 100 g fine white breadcrumbs
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 50 g flat leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp pul biber
  • 2 tsp dried mint
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 egg (or a little extra olive oil)
  • 1 tsp olive oil

For the Dip

  • 150 g tahini
  • 75 ml cold water
  • 75 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes
  • 150 g thick natural yoghurt
  • 1/4 tsp finely grated garlic (optional)

For the Salad

  • 1/3 cucumber, halved lengthways and sliced
  • 3 ripe tomatoes, halved and sliced
  • 25 g fresh parsley / coriander, roughly chopped
  • 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tsp dried mint
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes

Directions

  • Preheat the oven and an oiled tray. Coat the potatoes in the cornflour, olive oil and spices, then roast on the hot tray.
  • Make the köfte: mix the mince with the onion, breadcrumbs, parsley, dried mint, cumin, smoked paprika, pul biber, salt, pepper and egg (or a little extra olive oil if you have no egg). Shape into about 20 golf-ball-sized balls.
  • Flip the potatoes (they should be cut side down first), add the köfte to the tray and brush with oil. Everything cooks in about 30 minutes until crispy.
  • Make the dip: whisk the tahini, cold water, salt and lemon juice, then fold in the yoghurt (and garlic, if using) to a smooth, spoonable consistency.
  • Spread the tahini yoghurt onto a platter, smooth it out and pile the crispy potatoes and köfte on top. Garnish with parsley and more spices, and drizzle over extra virgin olive oil mixed with pul biber and dried mint. Serve with the fresh salad.

Ingredients from the caption; method transcribed from the video. From Meliz Berg on Instagram.

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