weeknight meal

Mushroom and Veggie Fried Rice (vegetarian) / Pržena riža sa gljivama i povrćem (vegetarijanska)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Fried rice is one of my favorite dishes because it’s very quick and versatile. It’s a fabulous way to use up some odds and ends you have rolling around your fridge. Also, it’s sooo tasty. I could eat fried rice pretty much every day and never get tire of it.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 2 servings / 1.67 EUR per serving / 3.33 EUR for all)

For the sauce:

1 tsp Gochujang – Korean chili paste (0.07 EUR)

1 tbsp warm water (–)

1 tbsp honey (0.13 EUR)

2 tbsp soy sauce (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp toasted sesame oil (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp apple cider vinegar (0.01 EUR)

½ tsp corn starch (0.01 EUR)

For the stir-fry:

4 tbsp sunflower seed oil, divided (0.05 EUR)

1 small onion (0.07 EUR)

2 big oyster mushrooms (0.27 EUR)

4 Portobello mushrooms (0.53 EUR)

1 red bell pepper (0.53 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 large carrots (0.40 EUR)

2 eggs (0.40 EUR)

2 cups precooked cold rice (0.20 EUR)

2 tbsp sesame seeds (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

First make the sauce by whisking together all of the ingredients until it’s all well incorporated and dissolved. Set aside. Wash, peel and finely dice all the veggies and mushrooms. In a small bowl whisk the eggs.

Add two tablespoons of sunflower seed oil to a wok or a pan on high heat and saute onion for a few minutes, until slightly translucent. Add in oyster mushrooms, cook briefly and then add in the Portobello mushrooms. After a minute or two dump in bell pepper and minced garlic. Stir-fry for a couple of minutes before adding in carrots. Once it all cooks down, push everything to one side, scraping the bottom of the pan clean.

Pour the remaining two tablespoons of oil to the free pan bottom, then add in whisked eggs to the oil. Cook the eggs for a minute or two, gently folding them over with a spatula until they are done. Stir everything together and add in the rice. Allow to reheat and slightly crisp up for a few minutes before pouring the sauce over everything. Give a good stir and serve immediately, sprinkled with sesame seeds.

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Pržena riža mi je jedno od omiljenih jela jer je jako brza za spremiti i vrlo prilagodljiva. Ujedno je i super za iskoristiti sve ostatke koji vam se kotrljaju po frižideru. A da ne spominjem činjenicu koliko je samo fina. Što se mene tiče, prženu rižu mogu jesti svaki dan i nikada mi neće dosaditi.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 2 porcije / 12,48 kn po porciji / 24,95 kn za sve)

Za umak:

1 žličica Gochujanga – korejske čili paste (0,50 kn)

1 žlica tople vode (–)

1 žlica meda (1,00 kn)

2 žlice sojinog umaka (2,00 kn)

1 žličica tostiranog sezamovog ulja (1,00 kn)

1 žličica jabučnog octa (0,03 kn)

½ žličice kukuruznog škroba (0,02 kn)

Za wok:

4 žlice suncokretovog ulja (0,40 kn)

1 mali luk (0,50 kn)

2 velike bukovače (2,00 kn)

4 šampinjona (4,00 kn)

1 crvena paprika (4,00 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

2 velike mrkve (3,00 kn)

2 jaja (3,00 kn)

2 šalice kuhane hladne riže (1,50 kn)

2 žlice sezama (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Prvo spremite umak tako da u maloj posudi dobro izmiješate sve sastojke dok se sve ne rastopi i sjedini. Stavite na stranu. Operite, ogulite i fino nasjeckajte svo povrće i gljive. U maloj zdjelici razmutite jaja.

Dvije žlice suncokreovog ulja dodajte u wok ili tavu, pa na jakoj vatri kratko prodinstajte luk dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite bukovače, kratko kuhajte, te dodajte i šampinjone. Nakon minutu-dvije dodajte papriku i sjeckani češnjak. Kuhajte uz miješanje nekoliko minuta prije nego što ubacite i mrkvu. Kada se sve kratko prokuha, pogurajte svo povrće i gljive na jednu stranu tave i dobro postružite sve sa dna.

Preostale dvije žlice ulja dodajte na prazni dio tave pa direktno na ulje ulijte razmućena jaja. Minutu-dvije kuhajte jaja, s time da ih špatulom nježno preklapajte sve dok ne budu gotova. Sada sve promiješajte te dodajte rižu. Pustite koju minutu da se riža ugrije i da se blago zahrska prije nego što sve zalijete pripremljenim umakom. Još jednom dobro promiješajte i odmah poslužite, posipano sezamom.

Mushroom and Veggie Fried Rice (vegetarian) / Pržena riža sa gljivama i povrćem (vegetarijanska)

Vegan ”Meat” Sauce / Veganski ”mesni” umak

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This sauce is super tasty and very easy and convenient to make. Therefore, ideal for lazy people like me. 😀 It also fooled a bunch of omnivores into thinking they were having something meaty, so it might be a great option for someone who is transitioning into vegan lifestyle.

Everything in this sauce is finely diced, but don’t be fooled. I used a food processor to do all the work for me. Just keep all of the ingredients separated once you process them, as you’re going to keep adding them to the sauce gradually.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 0.91 EUR per serving / 5.44 EUR for all)

3 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.04 EUR)

1 large onion (0.10 EUR)

2 tbsp vegan butter (0.27 EUR)

500 grams Portobello mushrooms (2.00 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

1 bay leaf (0.01 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp dried basil (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

4 carrots (0.40 EUR)

½ cup white wine (0.67 EUR)

2 tbsp dried parsley (0.13 EUR)

2 cups tomato puree (0.53 EUR)

½ cup water (–)

2 cups frozen peas (0.80 EUR)

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METHOD:

Wash, peel and run all veggies and mushrooms in a food processor to shred.Keep all of the ingredients separated. Add oil to a big pot and saute onion on high heat for a few minutes until slightly translucent. Throw in vegan butter, then gradually add in the mushrooms and briefly cook until their bulk reduces. Add fresh garlic, garlic powder, bay leaf, Hungarian and smoked paprika, basil,black pepper and salt.Stir and cook for about a minute so the spices release their aromas, then stir in the carrots. Let those cook to slightly caramelize before pouring in white wine. Cook for about five minutes until the alcohol evaporates. Add parsley, pour in tomato puree and water, then bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer with a lid cracked open for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and if needed, add in a splash more of water. After 30 minutes add in frozen peas and cook for additional 5-10 minutes until peas are done. This sauce freezes and reheats great and will go awesome with pasta, rice, gnocchi or mashed potatoes.

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Ovaj je umak jako ukusan, a veoma jednostavan za skuhati. Stoga je idealan za lijene ljude kao što sam ja. 😀 Također je i uspješno zavarao nekoliko svejeda da misle da jedu nešto mesno, pa bi bio dobra opcija i za nekoga tko prelazi na vegansku hranu.

Sve u umaku je fino nasjeckalo, ali nedajte se zavarati. Za sav posao zaslužan je moj multipraktik. Samo držite sve sastojke razdvojene nakon što ih usnitnite, jer ćete ih u umak dodavati postepeno.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 6,78 kn po porciji / 40,66 kn za sve)

3 žlice suncokretovog ulja (0,30 kn)

1 veliki luk (0,75 kn)

2 žlice veganskog maslaca (2,00 kn)

500 g šampinjona (15,00 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

1 žličica češnjaka u prahu (0,50 kn)

1 lovorov list (0,10 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica sušenog bosiljka (0,50 kn)

1 žličica svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,50 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

4 mrkve (3,00 kn)

½ šalice bijelog vina (5,00 kn)

2 žlice sušenog peršina (1,00 kn)

2 šalice pasirane rajčice (4,00 kn)

½ šalice vode (–)

2 šalice smrznutog graška (6,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Operite, ogulite, te usnitnite svo povrće i gljive u multipraktiku. Sve sastojke držite odvojenima. Stavite ulje u veliki lunac, pa na jakoj vatri par minuta dinstajte luk dok ne postane staklast. Dodajte maslac, pa postepeno dodajte gljive i kratko ih prokuhajte da im se smanji volumen. Sada ubacite svježi češnjak i onaj u prahu, kao i lovor, slatku i dimljenu papriku, bosiljak, papar i sol. Promiješajte i kuhajte minutu da začini otpuste svoje arome, pa umiješajte mrkvu. Pustite da se sve blago karamelizira prije nego podlijete vinom. Kuhajte oko pet minuta da alkohol ispari, a onda dodajte peršin, pasiranu rajčicu i vodu te pustite da zavrije.

Kada sve zavrije smanjite vatru i krčkajte sa odškrinutim poklopcem oko 30 minuta. Povremeno promiješajte, a po potrebi dodajte mrvicu vode. Nakon 30 minuta dodajte smrznuti grašak, te kuhajte još 5-10 minuta dok grašak ne bude gotov. Ovaj se umak super podgrijava i smrzava, a odlično paše uz tjesteninu, rižu, njoke ili pire krumpir.

Vegan ”Meat” Sauce / Veganski ”mesni” umak

Spicy Lentil and Tomato Stew (Vegan) / Pikantno varivo od leće i rajčice (vegansko)

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This lentil stew is so simple and delicious that it became my go-to emergency comfort food. Sure, it takes a bit to simmer down to perfection, but the actual work you need to put in comes down to chopping garlic and onion. If you’re in a hurry you can definitely take it off the stove a bit earlier, but longer simmer means deeper and better flavor, so I’m not exactly sure one should make such sacrifices lightly.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 0.91 EUR per serving / 3.36 EUR for all)

4 tbsp olive oil (0.18 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

6 garlic cloves (0.20 EUR)

2 bay leaves (0.03 EUR)

1 tbsp dried basil (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp dried chili flakes (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 box tomato puree (0.47 EUR)

1 can diced tomatoes (0.67 EUR)

2 cups red lentils (1.33 EUR)

2 tbsp dried parsley (0.13 EUR)

2 cups water (–)

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METHOD:

Finely chop onion and garlic and rinse lentils in a colander under running water. Add oil to a big pot on high heat and saute onion for a few minutes, until slightly translucent. Dump in garlic, bay leaves, basil, Hungarian and smoked paprika, chili flakes, garlic powder and salt and stir for about a minute, just until the flavors from spices bloom. Now add tomato puree, diced tomatoes, lentils and parsley, cover with water, give a good stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook with a lid cracked open for about 45 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Serve warm or save for later, as this dish reheats wonderfully.

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Ovo varivo od leće je jako jednostavno i vrlo ukusno, tako da ga veoma često kuham kada sam u stisci s vremenom, a jede mi se nešto zasitno i fino. Istina, možda treba malo više vremena da se iskrčka u savršenstvo, ali jedini posao koji imate je nasjeckati luk i češnjak. Ako vam se žuri možete sve ubrzati i varivo skinuti sa štednjaka i prije, ali što se dulje krčka to će okus biti dublji i bolji, pa takve žrtve ne treba olako raditi.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 6,75 kn po porciji / 27,03 kn za sve)

4 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,32 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

6 češnjeva češnjaka (1,50 kn)

2 lovorova lista (0,20 kn)

1 žlica sušenog bosiljka (1,00 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,50 kn)

1 žličica češnjaka u prahu (0,50 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 tetrapak pasirane rajčice (3,50 kn)

1 konzerva sjeckane rajčice (5,00 kn)

2 šalice crvene leće (10,00 kn)

2 žlice sušenog peršina (1,00 kn)

2 šalice vode (–)

PRIPREMA:

Fino nasjeckajte luk i češnjak, a leću isperite u cjediljci pod tekućom vodom. Ulje stavite u veći lonac na jaku vatru, pa par minuta dinstajte luk dok ne postane staklast. Dodajte češnjak, lovor, bosiljak, slatku i dimljenu papriku, čili, češnjak u prahu i sol, pa sve promiješajte na minutu dok začini ne zamiriše. Sada dodajte pasiranu i sjeckanu rajčicu, leću, peršin i vodu, dobro promiješajte i pustite da zavrije. Smanjite vatru pa uz povremeno miješanje krčkajte sa odškrinutim poklopcem oko 45 minuta. Poslužite odmah ili spremite za kasnije, jer se ovo jelo super podgrijava.

Spicy Lentil and Tomato Stew (Vegan) / Pikantno varivo od leće i rajčice (vegansko)

Minced Turkey Stir-Fry / Mljevena puretina iz woka

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , 2 Comments

This recipe is super cheap, tasty and quick, which makes it ideal to prepare during work week. Or, you know, when you are too lazy for some elaborate cooking. Either way, you definitely won’t be disappointed with the results. I also scored some ground turkey and red peppers on sale, so this dish came out even cheaper.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 generous servings / 0.86 EUR per serving / 3.42 EUR for all)

For the meat:

2 cups ground turkey (1.33 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

1 tsp fish sauce (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp soy sauce (0.13 EUR)

4 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.05 EUR)

For the veggies:

1 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.01 EUR)

3 red bell peppers (1.00 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 large onions (0.20 EUR)

2 tbsp soy sauce (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp toasted sesame oil (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

Toss the turkey with salt, chili, fish sauce and soy sauce, then leave to rest for a few minutes. Meanwhile, thinly slice peppers and onions and mince garlic. Place wok on high heat for a few minutes to get thoroughly heated through. Add in two tablespoons of oil and half of the meat, then stir fry until crispy. Remove the finished turkey and repeat with a second batch, then remove all of the meat and set aside.

Add another tablespoon of oil to the same wok and sliced peppers. Cook for a few minutes before adding the garlic and onion. When the veggies are done, return the meat, season everything with soy sauce and sesame oil, stir and serve over cooked rice.

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Ovaj jelo je jako jeftino, fino i brzo, pa je idealno za pripremiti tijekom radnog tjedna. Ili jednostavno onda kada ste prelijeni za neko zahtjevno nakuhavanje. U svakom slučaju, sigurno nećete biti razočarani. Također, nabasala sam na mljevenu puretinu i crvene paprike na sniženju, pa je zato ovo jelo ispalo još i jeftinije.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 izdašne porcije / 6,44 kn po porciji / 25,76 kn za sve)

Za meso:

2 šalice mljevene puretine (10,00 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

1 žličica ribljeg umaka (1,00 kn)

1 žlica soja sosa (1,00 kn)

4 žlice suncokretovog ulja (0,40 kn)

Za povrće:

1 žlica suncokretovog ulja (0,10 kn)

3 crvene paprike (7,50 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00)

2 velika luka (1,50 kn)

2 žlice soja sosa (2,00 kn)

1 žličica tostiranog sezamovog ulja (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Pomiješajte puretinu sa soli, čilijem, ribljim umakom i soja sosom i ostavite da odmara koju minutu. U međuvremenu tanko narežite papriku i luk i sitno nasjeckajte češnjak. Stavite wok na jaku vatru na par minuta da se dobro ugrije. U zagrijani wok dodajte dvije žlice ulja i pola mesa, pa kuhajte dok se meso ne zahrska. Maknite puretinu iz woka i ponovite sa ostatkom. Svo meso izvadite iz woka i stavite na stranu.

U isti wok dodajte žlicu ulja i narezane paprike. Kuhajte par minuta prije nego dodate češnjak i luk. Kada je povrće gotovo, vratite meso u wok, začinite sve soja sosom i sezamovim uljem, dobro primiješajte i poslužite sa kuhanom rižom.

Minced Turkey Stir-Fry / Mljevena puretina iz woka

Corn and Potato Chowder (vegan) / Krem juha od kukuruza i krumpira (veganska)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , 4 Comments

This dish definitely isn’t the prettiest, but it’s super tasty, filling and cheap. Plus, it takes very little effort to make. I opted for roasting the potatoes, onions and garlic to give the chowder an extra layer of flavor. You can absolutely skip this and just cook everything on stovetop. But I think such extra little effort was well rewarded.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 0.37 EUR per serving / 2.24 EUR for all)

6 medium sized potatoes (0.40 EUR)

3 tbsp olive oil (0.13 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.03 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

6 garlic cloves (0.20 EUR)

3 cups frozen corn (0.80 EUR)

6 cups water (–)

2 tbsp coconut butter (0.27 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.03 EUR)

Pinch of dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

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METHOD:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Wash, peel and dice potatoes and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Quarter the onions with skins intact and tuck around the potatoes, together with unpeeled garlic cloves. Bake for about 45 minutes, until slightly crispy and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool a bit before peeling and discarding the skins from onions and garlic.

Meanwhile, cook the frozen corn in water for about 10 minutes, until softened through. You can also use canned corn and skip this step, but frozen was what I had on hand. Reserve one cup of cooked corn for later and add the rest together with cooking water, coconut butter, garlic powder, smoked and Hungarian paprika and chili flakes, together with roasted potatoes, garlic and onions to a food processor and pulse until creamy. If needed, dilute with a bit more water. Put to a pot, add the reserved whole corn and gently simmer on low for about ten minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then serve.

Ovo jelo definitivno nije najfotogeničnije, ali je jako fino, zastino i jeftino. Osim toga, treba uložiti sasvim malo truda da ga smutite. Ja sam se odlučila ispeći krumpire, luk i češnjak, kako bi sve dobilo još jedan sloj arome. Naravno, možete taj korak preskočiti i sve skuhati na štednjaku, ali ja mislim da se taj mali dodatni napor i više nego isplatio.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 2,79 kn po porciji / 16,75 kn za sve)

6 srednje velikih krumpira (3,00 kn)

3 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,99 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,25 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

6 češnjeva češnjaka (1,50 kn)

3 šalice smrznutog kukuruza (6,00 kn)

6 šalica vode (–)

2 žlice kokosovog maslaca (2,00 kn)

1 žličica češnjaka u prahu (0,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica slatke crvene paprike (0,25 kn)

Prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Zagrijte pećnicu na 200°C. Operite, ogulite i narežite krumpire na kocke, pa pomiješajte sa maslinovim ulje, solju i paprom. Raširite po protvanu u jednom sloju. Raščetvorite luk skupa sa ljuskom, pa zajedno sa neoguljenim češnjakom rasporedite među krumpirima. Pecite oko 45 minuta, dok se sve ne zahrska i ne zažuti. Maknite iz pećnice i pustite da se malo ohladi prije nego ogulite i bacite ljuske od luka i češnjaka.

U međuvremenu, desetak minuta kuhajte kukuruz u vodi, dok ne bude mekan. Možete također uzeti i kukuruz iz konzerve, pa ovaj korak preskočiti, ali ja sam doma imala smrznuti. Sačuvajte jednu šalicu kuhanog kukuruza, a ostatak skupa sa vodom, kokosovim maslacem, češnjakom u prahu, dimljenom i crvenom paprikom, čilijem, te pečenim krumpirima, lukom i češnjakom, ubacite u blender i pulsirajte dok ne bude kremasto. Po potrebi, razrijedite sa još malo vode. Sve ubacite u lonac, skupa sa cijelim kukuruzom kojeg ste sačuvali, te lagano krčkajte desetak minuta. Kušajte i prilagodite začine, pa poslužite.

Corn and Potato Chowder (vegan) / Krem juha od kukuruza i krumpira (veganska)

Pea and Broccoli One-Pot Pasta (vegetarian, including a vegan option) / Tjestenina sa graškom i brokulom iz jednog lonca (vegetarijanska, uključujući i vegansku opciju)

Crunch Crunch Away, , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Honestly, when life gets busy (or when I am plain lazy), there is very little I appreciate more than a one-pot pasta dish. If you still haven’t tried making one-pot pasta dishes, you haven’t lived. Seriously, drop everything you are just doing right now and try out this recipe! It will change your whole life! And the customization options with this are virtually endless, so you can have one-pot pasta dishes all the time and do less dishes in your life! Yay!!!

I opted for whole-wheat pasta, which was a bit more expensive than regular pasta, but definitely healthier. To make this dish vegan, replace the butter with coconut oil or vegan butter and cheese with nutritional yeast, vegan cheese or ground almonds.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings /1.21EUR per serving / 4.82EUR for all)

3 tbsp olive oil (0.13 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

2 tbsp butter (0.27 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

1 tsp garlic powder (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp smoked paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp dried basil (0.07 EUR)

1 bay leaf (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

300 grams frozen peas (0.80 EUR)

300 grams whole-wheat pasta (1.00 EUR)

3 cups vegetable broth (0.40 EUR)

300 grams frozen broccoli (0.80 EUR)

½ cup finely grated hard cheese (0.80 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly ground black pepper (0.03 EUR)

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METHOD:

Finely dice the onions and mince garlic. Add olive oil to a larger pot and sauté onion for about five minutes, until slightly translucent. Dump in butter, minced garlic, garlic powder, paprika, basil, bay leaf, chili and salt, then stir for a minute until spices release their flavors. Now throw in frozen peas and pasta, give a good stir and cover with broth.

Arrange broccoli florets on top and as soon as everything comes to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover tightly with a lid. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the pasta is al dente. Stir very gently once or twice during cooking, but don’t overdo it with the stirring because pasta will fall apart. Once the pasta is al dente, remove from heat and let it sit covered for another 3-5 minutes so the pasta finishes cooking. Sprinkle with grated cheese or its vegan alternative, crack some black pepper on top and serve.

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Iskreno, kada sam zatrpana obavezama (ili kada sam jednostavno lijena), jako je malo stvari koje su mi draže od jela sa tjesteninom koja se kuhaju u istom loncu. Ako do sada još niste isprobali takve recepte, niste živjeli. Ozbiljno, pustite iste sekunde sve što sada radite i isprobajte ovaj recept! Promijeniti će vam se cijeli život. S obzirom da su ovakvi recepti jako prilagodljivi, mogućnosti su gotovo beskrajne, pa jela sa tjesteninom iz jednog lonca možete stalno kuhati.I trošiti manje vremena na pranje suđa! Hura!!!

Ja sam se ovdje odlučila za integralnu tjesteninu, koja je mrvicu skuplja od one obične, ali dosta zdravija. Da ovo jelo napravite u veganskoj varijanti, maslac zamijenite sa kokosovim uljem ili veganskim maslacem, a sir sa prehrambenim kvascem, veganskim sirom ili mljevenim bademima.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 9,03 kn po porciji / 36,10 kn za sve)

3 žlice maslinovog ulja (0,99 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

2 žlice maslaca (2,00 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

1 žličica sušenog češnjaka u granulama (0,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica mljevenog bosiljka (0,50 kn)

1 lovorov list (0,10 kn)

Dobar prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

300 g smrznutog graška (6,00 kn)

300 g integralne tjestenine (7,50 kn)

3 šalice povrtnog temeljca (3,00 kn)

300 g smrznute brokule (6,00 kn)

½ šalice fino ribanog tvrdog sira (6,00 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,25 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Fino nasjeckajte luk i češnjak. Stavite maslinovo ulje u veliki lonac, dodajte luk i dinstajte oko pet minuta dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite maslac, sjeckani češnjak, češnjak u granulama, papriku, bosiljak, lovor, čili i sol, pa miješajte minutu da se arome iz začina otpuste. Sada dodajte smrznuti grašak i tjesteninu, dobro promiješajte i pokrijte temeljcem.

Poslažite cvjetiće brokule po svemu, a čim zavrije odmah smanjite vatru na skroz lagano i čvrsto poklopite. Kuhajte desetak minuta da tjestenina bude al dente. Nježno promiješajte jednom ili dva puta tokom kuhanja, ali nemojte pretjerivati sa miješanjem jer će vam se tjestenina poraspadati. Čim je tjestenina al dente maknite s vatre, ali ostavite poklopljeno još 3-5 minuta da se tjestenina skuha do kraja. Posipajte ribanim sirom ili nekom od veganskih alternativa, dodajte malo crnog papra i poslužite.

Pea and Broccoli One-Pot Pasta (vegetarian, including a vegan option) / Tjestenina sa graškom i brokulom iz jednog lonca (vegetarijanska, uključujući i vegansku opciju)

Enhanced Cream of Mushroom Soup / Nabrijana krem juha od gljiva

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Let’s be real. On some days you just wanna slouch in your pajamas and shovel down frozen pizza or instant ramen. I’ve been there. Most of my work week summons up such feelings. That’s why I do majority of serious cooking on the weekend.

Furthermore, I still try to eat something substantial even on those days of absolute sloth. And this soup is a middle ground. It packs a bunch of good things, but uses prepacked cream of mushroom soup (I used a Knorr sachet) to make life more simple. For some substance I also dumped in a bunch of precooked rye I had lying around. But really, simple rice or any other grain will work here, as will potatoes or lentils. Just throw in whatever you have on hand.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 0.74 EUR per serving / 4.41 EUR for all)

4 tbsp olive oil (0.18 EUR)

2 large onions (0.20 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 tbsp butter (0.27 EUR)

500 grams Portobello mushrooms (2.00 EUR)

Good pinch of salt (0.01 EUR)

Good pinch of freshly cracked black pepper (0.02 EUR)

2 cups precooked whole rye (0.40 EUR)

6 cups of water (–)

1 bag cream of mushroom soup of choice (1.07 EUR)

2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

Finely dice onions, mince garlic and thinly slice mushrooms. Saute onions on olive oil on high heat for a few minutes, until translucent. Throw in garlic and cook for a minute or two. Add in butter and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, then cook for a few minutes to reduce the bulk of mushrooms. Finally add in rye, water and soup powder. Give a good stir until everything is even and there are no lumps floating around. Bring to a boil and cook according to the instructions on the soup sachet – mine took about five minutes. Stir in chopped parsley and serve.

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Budimo skroz realistični. Ima dana kada samo želite ljenčariti u pidžami, a u usta lopatati pizzu ili instant tjesteninu. Takvo stanje nije mi ni malo strano. Zapravo, većina mojeg radnog tjedna priziva te osjećaje. Radi toga ono ozbiljnije kuhanje obavim uglavnom preko vikenda.

Također, trudim se pojesti nešto koliko-toliko zdravo čak i kada me obuzmu ti dani apsolutne lijenosti. Ova juha je nekakva zlatna sredina. U njoj je natrpano i dosta dobrih stvari, ali je, da si olakšam život, baza krem juha od gljiva iz vrećice (ja sam upotrijebila Knorr). Da obrok bude zasitniji, u juhu sam ubacila i kuhanu raž koju sam već ranije imala spremnu. Naravno, ovdje će poslužiti i najobičnija riža ili koja druga žitarica, kao i krumpiri ili leća. Samo dodajte ono što vam je pri ruci.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 5,50 kn po porciji / 32,98 kn za sve)

4 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,32 kn)

2 velika luka (1,50 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

2 žlice maslaca (2,00 kn)

500 grama šampinjona (15,00 kn)

Dobar prstohvat soli (0,01 kn)

Dobar prstohvat svježe mljevenog crnog papra (0,15 kn)

2 šalice kuhane raži (3,00 kn)

6 šalica vode (–)

1 vrećica krem juhe od gljiva po izboru (8,00 kn)

2 žlice sjeckanog svježeg peršina (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Fino nasjeckajte luk i češnjak, a gljive narežite na tanke listiće. Prodinstajte luk na maslinovom ulju na jakoj vatri dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite češnjak, pa kuhajte minutu-dvije. Dodajte maslac i gljive, začinite solju i paprom, te kuhajte nekoliko minuta da se volumen gljiva smanji. Konačno, ubacite i raž, vodu te juhu iz vrećice. Dobro promiješajte dok sve ne bude jednolično i bez grudica. Pustite da zavrije pa kuhajte prema uputama na pakiranju juhe. Moja je bila gotova za pet minuta. Umiješajte sjeckani peršin i poslužite.

Enhanced Cream of Mushroom Soup / Nabrijana krem juha od gljiva

Crispy Tofu Stir-Fry (vegan) / Povrće iz woka sa hrskavim tofuom (vegansko)

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This is another one of those recipes where I’ve been too lazy to cook an elaborate meal and just threw together a bunch of random things I had around the house. A bag of frozen mixed Asian veggies really came in handy here and saved me a bunch of peeling, slicing and dicing. Also, if you’re like me and recovering from a food coma which inevitably follows each and every holiday, this recipe is just for you as it’s loaded with veggies and healthy stuff. Plus, this dish is tasty and won’t feel like a punishment. 😀

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 4 servings / 0.93 EUR per serving / 3.37 EUR for all)

For the marinade:

3 tbsp soy sauce (0.20 EUR)

2 tbsp orange juice (0.07 EUR)

Good pinch of dried chili flakes (0.03 EUR)

For the stir-fry:

3 tbsp sunflower seed oil (0.04 EUR)

1 block of smoked extra firm tofu (1.00 EUR)

1 bag of frozen mixed Asian veggies (1.33 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

Big handful of fresh spinach (0.67 EUR)

1 tsp toasted sesame oil (0.13 EUR)

2 tbsp sesame seeds (0.13 EUR)

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METHOD:

Whisk together the marinade ingredients. Dice the tofu (or go fancy as I did and cut into triangles) and mix with marinade. Allow to sit for at least 10 minutes, while your frozen veggies thaw a bit in a colander. If you’re not using extra firm tofu, you’ll want to press out excessive water before you dice and marinate it. For that I suggest wrapping tofu block in clean kitchen towels and pressing it down with a heavy pot for at least an hour.

While your tofu is marinating, mince garlic and wash and pat dry spinach. Place wok on high heat for 2-3 minutes to thoroughly heat up. Drain the tofu of marinade, but reserve all liquids for later on. Add oil to your hot wok and stir-fry tofu for about 5 minutes, until crispy and golden brown on all sides. Remove tofu from wok and set aside.

Dump the thawed veggie mix with minced garlic into the remaining oil in your wok and cook for about 5-10 minutes, until slightly caramelized. Add in the spinach and reserved marinade, stir and cook for a minute or two until spinach slightly wilts down. If you think there’s too much liquid in your wok, you can sprinkle a bit of corn starch over everything and give a good stir to thicken the situation. Return tofu to wok, drizzle with sesame oil and give a final stir. Serve immediately over a bed of rice and sprinkled with sesame seeds.

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Ovo je još jedan od onih recepata gdje sam bila prelijena za nakuhavanje kompliciranog obroka i jednostavno sam smutila neke random stvari koje smo već imali doma. Vrećica miješanog smrznutog azijskog povrća me je spasila od beskrajnog guljenja i sjeckanja. Također, ako ste kao ja i oporavljate se od krkanja koje neizbježno prati svake blagdane, ovaj recept je baš za vas jer je nakrcan sa povrćem i zdravim stvarima. A pošto je i ukusan, nećete se osjećati kao da ste u kazni. 😀

SASTOJCI:

(Za 4 porcije / 7,01 kn po porciji / 28,05 kn za sve)

Za marinadu:

3 žlice soja sosa (1,50 kn)

2 žlice soka od naranče (0,50 kn)

Dobar prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

Za wok:

3 žlice suncokretovog ulja (0,30 kn)

1 kocka dimljenog ekstra čvrstog tofua (7,50 kn)

1 vrećica smrznutog azijskog povrća (10,00 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

Veliki pregršt svježeg špinata (5,00 kn)

1 žličica tostiranog sezamovog ulja (1,00 kn)

2 žlice sezama (1,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Pomiješajte sastojke za marinadu. Narežite tofu na kockice (ili budite fensi kao ja i narežite na trokutiće) i pomiješajte ga sa marinadom. Pustite da se paca desetak minuta, dok vam se smrznuto povrće malo odmrzne u cjediljci. Ako ne koristite ekstra čvrsti tofu, poželjno je da iz njega istisnete višak vode prije nego ga narežete i stavite marinirati. Moj je prijedlog da ga u tom slučaju umotate u papirnate ručnike i pritisnete teškim loncem na barem sat vremena.

Dok se tofu marinira usitnite češnjak i operite i krpom lagano posušite špinat. Stavite wok na jaku vatru na 2-3 minute da se dobro ugrije. Ocijedite tofu od marinade, ali svu tekućinu sačuvajte za kasnije. Dodajte ulje u vrući wok i popecite tofu dok ne bude hrskav i zlatno-smeđi, oko pet minuta. Maknite tofu iz woka i stavite na stranu.

Mix povrća i usitnjeni češnjak bacite na preostalo ulje u woku i kuhajte oko 5-10 minuta da se povrće lagano karamelizira. Dodajte špinat i marinadu koju ste sačuvali, promiješajte i kuhajte još koju minutu da špinat povene. Ako vam je u woku ostalo previše tekućine, možete po povrću posipati malo kukuruznog škroba i sve dobro promiješati da se zgusne. Vratite tofu u wok, pokapajte sezamovim uljem i za kraj još jednom izmiješajte. Poslužite odmah preko kuhane riže i posipano sa sezamom.

Crispy Tofu Stir-Fry (vegan) / Povrće iz woka sa hrskavim tofuom (vegansko)

Pea and Cauliflower Curry (vegan) / Curry od graška i cvjetače (veganski)

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I haven’t made any curry dishes for a loooong time, but since I scored some coconut cream and cauliflower on sale, I instantly felt inspired to make a nice pot of spicy, fragrant and creamy curry goodness.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 1.18 EUR per serving / 7.08 EUR for all)

4 tbsp olive oil (0.18 EUR)

2 onions (0.20 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

2 chili peppers (0.27 EUR)

1 tbsp curry powder (0.13 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

Pinch of dried red pepper flakes (0.02 EUR)

4 carrots (0.40 EUR)

1 can of tomatoes (0.67 EUR)

1 can of coconut cream (2.00 EUR)

1 cup red lentils (1.00 EUR)

2 cups of water (–)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

1 head of cauliflower (1.33 EUR)

2 cups of frozen peas (0.67 EUR)

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METHOD:

Peel, wash and chop up all the vegetables. Rinse lentils under running water in a colander. In a large pot, saute onion on olive oil on high heat for a few minutes until slightly translucent. Throw in garlic, chili peppers, curry powder, paprika and red pepper flakes, stir and cook for a minute so the aromas activate in the spices. Throw in diced carrots, stir and cook briefly to slightly caramelize. Add in canned tomatoes and crush them up with your spatula.

Dump in coconut cream, lentils, water and salt and give it all a good stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and then simmer with a lid cracked open for 15 minutes. Now add in cauliflower florets and frozen minutes and cook for additional 5-10 minutes, until peas are thoroughly cooked through and there is still some crunch left to the cauliflower. Serve warm over a bed of cooked rice.

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Jako dugo nisam kuhala nikakav curry, a kada sam naletila na kokosovo vrhnje i karfijol na sniženju, odma sam se osjetila nekako nadahnutom da skuham veliki lonac toplog, mirisnog i kremastog curryja.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 8,83 kn po porciji / 52,98 kn za sve)

4 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,32 kn)

2 luka (1,50 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

2 čili papričice (2,00 kn)

1 žlica curry praha (1,00 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

Prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,15 kn)

4 mrkve (3,00 kn)

1 konzerva pelata (5,00 kn)

1 konzerva kokosovog vrhnja (15,00 kn)

1 šalica crvene leće (7,50 kn)

2 šalice vode (–)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

1 glavica cvjetače (10,00 kn)

2 šalice smrznutog graška (5,00 kn)

PRIPREMA:

Ogulite, operite i nasjeckajte svo povrće. Isperite leću u cjediljci pod tekućom vodom. U velikom loncu dinstajte par minuta luk na maslinovom ulju na jakoj vatri dok ne postane staklast. Ubacite češnjak, čili papričice, curry, papriku i sušene čili pahuljice, promiješajte i kuhajte minutu, da se u začinima probude arome. Dodajte i mrkvu, promiješajte i kratko kuhajte da se lagano karamelizira. Ubacite pelate i izgnječite ih špatulom.

Sada nadodajte kokosovo vrhnje, leću, vodu i sol te sve dobro promiješajte. Pustite da zavrije, smanjite vatru i krčkajte 15 minuta sa odškrinutim poklopcem. Za kraj bacite u lonac cvjetaču i grašak, pa nastavite kuhati još 5-10 minuta dok se grašak ne skuha do kraja, a cvjetača ne ostane još malo hrskava. Poslužite toplo preko kuhane riže.

Pea and Cauliflower Curry (vegan) / Curry od graška i cvjetače (veganski)

Leek and Barley Pot / Lonac sa porilukom i ječmom

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If there was rice in this dish, there would be no problem calling it a risotto. However, since I decided to use barley, and wanted to avoid any potential confusions, I just had to stick with a generic name which is pot. This is something ideal for those lazy days (pretty much any day from Monday to Friday, in my book), as everything simmers in a single pot. Also, you can of course add any other vegetable or grain of your choice too. I just happened to be in a leek mood.

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INGREDIENTS:

(Yields 6 servings / 0.74 EUR per serving / 4.45 EUR for all)

4 tbsp olive oil (0.18 EUR)

2/3 cup of finely diced bacon (1.33 EUR)

4 large carrots (0.40 EUR)

4 garlic cloves (0.13 EUR)

1 bay leaf (0.03 EUR)

1 tbsp sweet Hungarian paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp smoky red paprika (0.07 EUR)

1 tsp ground coriander (0.07 EUR)

Good pinch of red pepper flakes (0.03 EUR)

3 large leeks (1.33 EUR)

2 cups barley (0.40 EUR)

1 tsp salt (0.01 EUR)

2 tbsp tomato paste (0.27 EUR)

2 tbsp dried parsley (0.13 EUR)

5 cups water (–)

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METHOD:

Wash and chop up carrots, leek and garlic. Rinse barley in a colander and set aside. In a big pot, saute bacon on olive oil until crispy and golden. Throw in carrots, then cook them for about 5 minutes to slightly caramelize. Stir in garlic, bay leaf, Hungarian and smoked paprika, coriander and red pepper flakes and cook for a minute so the flavors bloom and develop. Add in leek and allow it to cook for about 10 minutes until it wilts down.

Now add in barley, salt, tomato paste, parsley and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer with a lid cracked open for about 30-40 minutes, until barley is thoroughly cooked through. Remember to stir occasionally and as necessary add in a splash more of water. Serve warm.

This dish will hold in a fridge for up to five days and also reheats great, so you can pack your lunch to work for a whole week, hooray!

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Da u ovom jelu ima riže, uopće ne bi bilo nikakve dileme i zvalo bi se rižoto. Međutim, pošto sam odlučila upotrijebiti ječam, da izbjegnem konfuzije stavila sam generički naziv – lonac. Ovo je jelo idealno za lijene dane (po meni je to sve između ponedjeljka i petka), pošto se sve krčka u istom loncu. Osim toga, naravno da možete dodati bilo koje povrće ili žitaricu po vlastitoj želji. Ja sam jednostavno bila raspoložena za poriluk.

SASTOJCI:

(Za 6 porcija / 5,56 kn po porciji / 33,28 kn za sve)

4 žlice maslinovog ulja (1,32 kn)

2/3 šalice špeka narezanog na kockice (10,00 kn)

4 velike mrkve (3,00 kn)

4 češnja češnjaka (1,00 kn)

1 lovorov list (0,20 kn)

1 žlica slatke crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica dimljene crvene paprike (0,50 kn)

1 žličica mljevenog korijandera (0,50 kn)

Dobar prstohvat sušenog čilija u pahuljicama (0,25 kn)

3 velika poriluka (10,00 kn)

2 šalice ječma (3,00 kn)

1 žličica soli (0,01 kn)

2 žlice koncentrata od rajčice (2,00 kn)

2 žlice sušenog peršina (1,00 kn)

5 šalica vode (–)

PRIPREMA:

Operite i nasjeckajte mrkve, poriluk i češnjak. Isperite ječam u cjediljci pod tekućom vodom i stavite na stranu. U velikom loncu prodinstajte špek na maslinovom ulju dok se ne zahrska. Ubacite mrkve i kuhajte pet minuta da se malo karameliziraju. Umiješajte češnjak, lovor, slatku i dimljenu papriku, korijander i čili, pa ih pustite oko minutu da se arome razviju i zamiriše. Dodajte poriluk i kuhajte ga desetak minuta dok malo ne povene.

Sada umiješajte ječam, sol, rajčicu, peršin i vodu. Pustite da zavrije, smanjite vatru, te krčkajte sa odškrinutim poklopcem 30-40 minuta, dok se ječak skroz ne skuha. Pazite da tu i tamo promiješate, a po potrebi dodajte i mrvicu vode. Poslužite toplo.

Ovo će se jelo dobro držati u frižideru do pet dana, a također se i super podgrijava što znači da si možete spakirati ručak za posao za cijeli tjedan, hura!

Leek and Barley Pot / Lonac sa porilukom i ječmom