Holiday cooking has its charm. Everything from prepping for the meal to cooking it to serving it holds a special place in your heart. But all said and done, holiday cooking is exhausting and perhaps that is why it is limited to a handful of days in a year! However, if your family is bored of the same food each night and you want to add some holiday magic to the dinner table, you can easily do so. How, you ask? Well, all you have to do is get some great holiday recipes and customise them to fit your busy weeknights and cook them in smart ways. Trust us, the job isn’t difficult.
Easy holiday recipes you can make on a weeknight
The key to a successful meal cooked quickly is planning and prepping. Here we have some great recipes for you and also tell you how you can work smartly and get them done in just a very short period.
- Chicken biryani:
It is normal for you to feel light-headed when someone asks you to make chicken biryani at home! But relax – you can now make this holiday delicacy at home on a weeknight in less than an hour. All you have to do is marinate the chicken the previous night with some yoghurt and readymade biryani masala. When cooking, simply blitz some onions, tomatoes, garlic and ginger in the mixie. Add it to the pressure cooked and sauteed with some ghee. Then, add the chicken with the marinade and fry it for about five minutes. Wash, add some rice to the chicken, mix it all up well, add the required amount of water, adjust the salt and close the pressure cooker. Three whistles later, your biryani is ready!
- Red sauce pasta:
Boil your favourite type of pasta and keep it aside. Chop some mushrooms, capsicum and carrots. Make a paste of some onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes in the mixie. Add this paste to hot oil in a wok and saute. Add the veggies, some oregano seasoning and some salt. Throw in some chilli flakes if you like it hot. Add some grated cheese and some fresh cream and let it all come together. Once the veggies are cooked, add the boiled pasta, mix and serve. Would you still say a major holiday favourite like red sauce pasta is difficult to make?
- Grilled fish with steamed veggies and mash:
Marinate a stake of boneless fish with some store-bought pesto sauce for half an hour and then grill it for 15 minutes. While it’s grilling, add some carrots, broccoli and french beans to a steamer. Boil some potatoes in the pressure cooker. Do it all simultaneously. By the time the fish gets done, your veggies will be steamed and your mashed potato will be ready too. Another superhit holiday meal that you can put together in under an hour!
Give these awesome recipes a try and light up a boring weeknight dinner in no time. Your kids will lick their plates and your whole family will enjoy a happy meal together.
