if you only have half an hour....

[ames]

if you only have half an hour ...and you are starving and dont want junk food or sandwiches (because thats what i had for lunch!) what would you cook?

[Miss Zippy]

If I�m in a particular rush in the evening, I�ll cook salmon fillets (take 7 mins in my George Foreman grill) with broccoli and baby sweetcorn (5 mins to boil) and sometimes a sweet potato on the side (8 mins in microwave). Everything can be cooked simultaneously so the dish only takes 15 mins max (allowing time for grill etc to warm up).  Oh and I'll usually make up a hollandaise sauce to go with it (packet mix).

[woofgang]

scrambled eggs, cheese omelette, prawn salad, stir fry, use big lumps so the prep is quicker,

[natty23]

how about cheesy mashed potato. cut the potatoes into small chunks, boil or steam for 10 minutes, crush em and add tonnes of cheese and pepper. Heaven with 15 minutes.

[Miss Zippy]

Fresh pasta (5 mins to boil) with fresh carbonara sauce (or sauce of your choice) - 5 mins in microwave.

[cassimer]

Cous cous cooks so fast and is totally yummy. I just add different vegetables etc (like frozen peas and sweetcorn) and have a nice healthy snack!

[purplefish]

jacket potato done in the microwave, medium sized one takes about 4-5 mins then chuck in whatever you fancy

[sunflower68]

Get a stir fry mix-up from the supermarket.  Add some prawns or chicken, noodles and/or stir fry sauce (if it's not already in the pack.) Yum and fast. 

Or COURGETTE FRITTATA FOR GOODNESS SAKE (it's an ad for eggs if you've not seen it and think I'm being a cow).x

[Bangkok]

Buy Nigel Slater's Real Fast Food - loads of ideas (similar to those above) that take no more than 30 minutes

[natalie_1982]

Or veggie egg pittas......

[butter1]

sausage pasta is always very good and takes no time at all.   Add onions, basil, tomatos, avocado, mozzerella etc... lovey.

[natalie_1982]

Cook pasta then add tin of tom's, chopped onion, chopped mushrooms and sliced ham (add oregano and garlic).

Boil rice (add stock cube in water when boiling), add peas, sweetcorn, chopped spring onion and chopped peppers.

[natalie_1982]

Spaghetti hoops on wholemeal toast

[Xollob]

If you haven't already got one, invest in a pressure cooker.

You can make a really good meaty stew in well under half an hour: 5 mins chopping; 5 minutes browning meat and veg; less than 5 mins for your pressure cooker to reach operating temperature; 10 - 15 minutes at full welly depending on the type/quality of your meat.

The depth of flavour you get with this method would normally take much longer. Try not to add too much water - the ingredients themselves (onions, other veg etc.) will contain plenty. And a generous dash of balsamic vinegar never did any harm.

[Hamish]

I try to keep all my cooking to less than half an hour. Sheapheard pie, spagetti bolanasie, pasta and a sause with meat, pizza, curry...... Probably not the most authentic recipies, but they tast good enough after a long day at work!

[Xollob]

1. Cut chicken or turkey breast into kebab-sized cubes.
2. Coat the meat in a mixture of yoghurt (preferably the full-fat Greek variety) and a dollop of Patak's lime pickle (extra hot).
3. Grill.

This is fast food at its best, but is even better if you can marinate the meat beforehand.

[Casey]

Either Red Leicester cheese melted on toast with beans poured on top, or jacket potato with cheese and beans!!

[kick3m0n]

Chop a couple of peppers into large pieces, spread on a baking tray, drizzle with olive oil and season to taste.  Pop them under the grill to roast for about 15 mins.  meanwhile, flatten out a chicken fillet with a mallet/rolling pin.  Into your food processor put a slice of wholemeal bread, some fresh parsley and some grated parmesan cheese.  Whiz together to form breadcrumbs.  Dip chicken into flour, then a beaten egg, then coat thickly in the breadcrumb mix.  Fry in hot oil or grill on George Forman.   Chicken takes ca 3 mins a side max, depending on how flat you made it.  I like to serve this with cold boiled new potatoes (great use fo left overs) or if in a rush, some salad leaves and my favourite dressing.

[dmsjps]

Toast thick bread on one side (or slice a baguette in half), spread the other side with tomato puree, sprinkle with basil or ready-prepared lasagne herbs from the jar, plus any leftovers in your fridge, top with grated cheese and stick it under the grill for a quick pizza-like snack/lunch.

 

Chop apple and cheese into bite-sized pieces, mix with salad cream or mayo, then enjoy on a bed of salad.

 

Natty23 is right about the cheesy mash, plus you can also add grilled/fried onion and peppers for an extra zing and if you zap it under the grill for a bit with grated cheese on, it gives it a crispy and tasty 'lid'

[mash]

Pasta tortellini. Get the fresh tortellini which are filled with various things. Make the sauce: In small amount of olive oil fry chopped onion, carrot, garlic and celery. After 5 mins add passata, herbs, salt and pepper then cook for 2 more minutes. Cook pasta in boiling water for 2-3 mins. While doing this blend your sauce briefly so it's still course and bring back to the pan, add little water if needed. Drain pasta and add to sauce. Job done 10mins! Top with parmisan cheese.