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Easy Meals Recipes H


 

Ham & Spinach Gnocchi with Lemon

1 x 500 gram packet of gnocchi

2 teaspoons of olive oil

Approximately 400 grams of shaved ham, chopped into bits

1 x 250 gram punnet of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

1 x 250 gram packet of frozen spinach, thawed

1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon rind

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 jar of bechamel sauce (approximately 530 grams)

Approximately 1/2 a cup of grated parmesan cheese

 

Cook the gnocchi in a large saucepan to packet directions then drain and remove to a bowl,

cover to keep warm

Heat the oil in the same saucepan

Add the ham and tomatoes

Cook, stirring, for a few minutes until tomatoes are soft

Make sure there is no excess moisture in the defrosted spinach

Add the spinach, lemon rind & juice, bechamel sauce and parmesan to the pan

Stir until combined

Return gnocchi to saucepan

Cook over a low heat, stirring until hot

Season with salt and pepper to taste

Ham Steaks in Creamy Garlic Sauce with Tagliatelle Pasta

 

Tagliatelle pasta comes in packs of "coils" - you don't need a whole pack for this dish
 

This meal is very easy to prepare and cook, with any leftovers good to freeze for later
 

3 thick ham steaks, diced roughly

2 medium brown onions, diced

1 small - medium red capsicum, seeded and sliced into bits about 2 - 3cm long

6 mushrooms, peeled and thickly sliced

2 heaped teaspoons of crushed garlic

1 heaped teaspoon of nutmeg

1 heaped teaspoon of cracked black pepper

Salt to taste

Approximately 450ml of full cream

1 small (ish) glass of white wine

2 tablespoons of olive oil

5 "coils" of tagliatelle pasta
 

In a largeish non-stick fry pan or skillet, cook the onion, garlic, nutmeg, cracked pepper and salt

in the olive oil until onion is softened
 

Add the diced ham steak, stir thoroughly and cook until the ham steak is browned on all sides
 

Add the mushrooms and capsicum, stir through and cook gently

for a couple of minutes until veges are softened
 

Stir through the cream and bring gently to the boil, then turn down to a simmer
 

Simmer for approximately 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
 

Add the wine, bring back to the boil then reduce to a simmer
 

Continue to simmer for approximately 20 - 25 minutes, stirring occasionally,

so the sauce reduces and thickens
 

Meanwhile, cook the tagliatelle pasta according to packet directions and drain
 

When the ham steak mixture is done, add the cooked and drained pasta and mix through
 

Serve with pieces of warmed Turkish bread or ciabatta if desired

Hearty Beef Crockpot Stew

 

This is easiest prepared the night before and turned on in the morning before you leave the house for the day. You'll return to a house that smells fabulous and a dinner that's almost ready.

Leftovers freeze well for later use, and you can put pretty much any vegetables in this that you like -

the following is what I use.

 

1 kg diced beef
1 jar Dolmios Extra Spice Peppers pasta sauce
1 x 220g can of baked beans in ham sauce
A few drops of tabasco sauce
2 teaspoons curry powder

 

**Please note - as a guide, I chop the veges into pieces roughly 2cm square/round, but you can make them any size you like - just don't make them too big otherwise they won't cook through. I also use frozen broccoli and cauliflower, simply because it's easiest for me**

 

2 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 a medium gold sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 a dozen chunks of peeled pumpkin (I use butternut)
2 x brown onions, peeled and chopped
1/2 a red capsicum, deseeded and sliced to desired thickness and length
1 x zucchini, chopped
About 1 cup each of broccoli and cauliflower

 

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl (easier than doing it in the crock pot)

then put the whole lot into the crock pot
Turn on low and leave for 12 hours - stir just before you leave in the morning,

and a couple of times when you return in the evening
When done, thicken if desired with a little plain flour mixed with water

 

Herb Crusted Salmon Steaks

 

2 x salmon steaks
2 x slices of slightly stale white bread, crusts cut off and crumbed (just rub between your hands until the bread crumbles naturally and keep rubbing until you get a fine crumb)
1 x tablespoon dried parsley
1 x tablespoon dried chives
1 x tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
Olive oil spray

Mix the breadcrumbs, parsley, chives and parmesan cheese together
Press the breadcrumb mixture onto each side of the salmon steaks

Spray the coated salmon steaks lightly on either side with olive oil
Place the coated salmon in a baking tray lined with baking paper and cook for

10 - 12 minutes at about 180 degrees in a fan forced oven

 

Serve with steamed veges of your choice

(I often cheat and use frozen veges to save time) and hollandaise sauce

 

If you want a good recipe for home made hollandaise sauce check out my recipe on this website, otherwise use one of those packet finishing sauces which work just as well

**The temperature you cook the salmon at depends on whether you have a "fast" or "slow" oven - please do check your salmon prior to eating and ensure it is cooked properly**

 

Hollandaise Sauce

 

I've tried a few recipes for hollandaise sauce and found this to be the easiest and tastiest :)

125gms unsalted butter, melted
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons lemon juice (I use the bottled stuff)
Extra lemon juice, to taste
Salt and pepper (either black or white) to taste

Put the egg yolk and lemon juice in a small jug and process with a stick blender -

or put them in a food processor and mix together thoroughly
Slowly add the melted butter, a little at a time, processing for about 30 seconds between each addition
Season the sauce with extra lemon juice if desired, and salt and pepper to taste

**Hollandaise Sauce can be kept for up to 2 weeks, refrigerated in a sealed jar. Rewarm in the microwave but be careful to not overheat as it will split. My microwave is a high wattage type so I only need to reheat the sauce for literally 3 seconds**

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