Two for One Healthy Dinner Special

 This post is going to be a two-in-one special. I will be sharing two healthy dinner recipe ideas and determining if they are student-friendly. 

 

The first recipe is a comforting pasta dish with ingredients that I'm sure every university student will have; this recipe is tomato vodka rigatoni. I find that after a long day at school, the thing I want the most is a nice warm, comforting meal. This recipe is perfect for those exhausting school days. It is comforting and super easy to make.

Ingredients/Ingredient Quantities

 

• ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil 

• 1 finely chopped onion

• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced  

• ¾ cup tomato paste 

• ½ cup of vodka 

• ¼ of heavy cream (since I'm lactose intolerant, I used lactose-free heavy cream)

• ½ cup finely grated parmesan cheese 

• 400 grams of rigatoni, cooked to packet instructions 

• Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water

 

How to make 

• Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. 

• Cook for 5–6 minutes, or until the onions and garlic are soft. Stir in tomato paste for 2 minutes, or until caramelized.

• Cook for 4-5 minutes, then add the vodka, cream, parmesan, and 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water, and bring to a simmer.

• Remove the pan from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

• Stir through the rigatoni to coat them in the sauce, then serve immediately 

 

Student Friendly-Ranking

• Under 30 minutes to make✔

• Ingredients must be inexpensive and easy to find ✔

• Was the recipe easy to follow ✔

• Does the recipe allow for substitutions 

• Does the final product taste good ✔

 

This recipe got a 4/5 rating. This recipe is super easy to make, with ingredients that are common and not hard to get. The only issue with this recipe is that there are not a ton of options for substitutions. The only substitutions that could be made are the use of non-dairy or lactose-free alternatives. 

This recipe came from https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/tomato-vodka-rigatoni-recipe/04apcxde?r=recipes/collections/1vo4q819

The second recipe we are going to be looking at is a chicken stir-fry. I personally am a huge fan of stir-fry and I find it super easy to make and is a great alternative for a fast and healthy dinner.

 

Ingredients/Ingredient Quantities

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1-inch cubes

• salt and pepper to taste

• 2 tbsp olive oil divided

• 2 cups broccoli florets

• 1/2 yellow bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/2 red bell pepper cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/2 cup baby carrots sliced

• 2 tsp minced ginger

• 2 garlic cloves minced

 

Stir-fry sauce

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 2 tablespoons cold water

• 1/4 cup of low-sodium chicken broth

• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame oil

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

 

How to make 

• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water. Add the remaining ingredients (chicken broth, soy sauce, honey, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes) and whisk to combine. Set aside.

• Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.

• Add the chicken (in batches if necessary) and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until cooked through. Take out of the skillet.

• Reduce the heat to medium and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet.

• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli, bell pepper, and carrots are crisp and tender. Add ginger and garlic and cook for an additional minute.

• Add the chicken back into the skillet and stir to combine.

• Pour stir-fry sauce over chicken and vegetables and gently stir to combine.

• Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, and continue to cook for 1 minute.

• Serve with rice and/or chow mein if desired.

 

Ranking for Student-Friendliness

 

• Under 30 minutes to make✔

• Ingredients must be inexpensive and easy to find ✔

• Was the recipe easy to follow ✔

• Does the recipe allow for substitutions ✔

• Does the final product taste good ✔

 

This recipe got a 5/5 rating as it is a fast and easy recipe to follow. The recipe also allows for flexibility as you can change out the protein, the vegetables, and some of the other ingredients you add to the sauce.

This recipe came from https://www.momontimeout.com/easy-chicken-stir-fry-recipe/