10 Ideas for One Pot Dinners

I love to create a 'table'. A spread of delicious morsels, maybe 5 or 6 different but related dishes, to delight my family at dinner. I love to zen out to the chop, slice and saute of different things on the go at once. But sometimes, I am shagged after a long and busy day and I just want something simple that creates minimal washing up. Something that requires no brain power, something that I can do without putting my glass of wine down, something that can be eaten with one utensil. Something very, very easy.

So, let's talk about One Pot Dinners. Generally this involves zapping something in the microwave while something else cooks on the stove or in the oven. Sometimes it might include a bit extra from a fry pan. I love it if it includes leftovers, because the work is already done - but; and this is important; it still needs to feel like dinner.


One Pot Dinners I have made recently;

• The makings of a roast chicken dinner in one large pot, simmer for one hour. (a whole chicken, potatoes, kumera, carrots, lemon thyme, rosemary, a quartered lemon, and a tin of crushed tomatoes to make it gravy-like. When it's almost cooked, throw a big handful of green beans on the top)
• Pretend Irish Coddle (chopped bacon, onion, potatoes and sausages in a pot, simmer for 30 minutes with half a cup of water. Sprinkle with chopped parsley to feel authentic)
• Tuna Pasta  not to be confused with tuna pasta bake, which is more of a cheesy pasta bake with tuna. (microwave some precooked pasta, or cook some if you need to, drain and toss with a tin of nice tuna, grated cheese, chopped iceberg lettuce, a tin of corn kernels, chopped capsicum.)
• Chicken Potato Bake (literally chicken pieces and chopped potato drizzled with olive oil in a baking dish in the oven for an hour, served with a green salad that you have emptied out of a bag)
• Italian Chops and Veggies (Send the husband off to BBQ some lamb chops. Saute in a large pan some capsicum, olives, artichokes, mushrooms, possibly even eggplant if you can be bothered to salt it; sprinkle with feta cheese and serve with a loaf of nice bread.) One pot gourmet, right there!
• Home-style Asian (Buy some pre-marinated ribs or wings from the supermarket, chuck in the oven. Saute a chopped onion in a little oil, stir in 2 cups of rice, then 6 cups of water, or stock made with stock powder. Put the lid on and simmer on low for maybe 20 minutes. When the rice is almost cooked, throw a handful of bokchoy or some other green thing on the top, so it is steamed by the time the rice is cooked)
• Greek Style Pork (in a large pot, saute some onions, then add in some diced pork and brown. Add in 2 tins of diced tomatoes and a cinnamon stick. Add in a packet of risoni pasta, put the lid on, set it to simmer and wait for the pasta to be cooked. Check it and add some water if you need to)
• 'Oven Wings' I've been making this for so long it has it's own name. (Plain chicken wings, drizzle with oil, a little honey and soy; chuck in the oven for an hour. Small new potatoes, straight out of the bag onto a tray then into the oven for an hour. Serve on the table with salad - get fancy and pour it out of the bag - and a packet of sour cream for the potatoes.)
• Steak Salad (send the hubs to the BBQ with some cheap round steak, tell him not to over cook it. Make a noodle salad with defrosted pasta, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and whatever else you like. Slice the steak thinly and place on top of the salad. Sprinkle with some salad dressing, or make your own if you are not too exhausted. Done!)
• Order Chinese Takeaway and send the hubs to pick it up. Tell him to get some nice ice cream on the way home. Pour a wine and put your feet up because you deserve a night off.