The Bondi Beauty Team has a great list of Quick And Delicious Lunches and Dinners that Won’t Cost a Fortune.

There’s nothing worse than a 3 hour cooking time when you’re so hungry you could eat a horse. Therefore, it is essential to have an armory of quick and easy meals you can rapid-fire when the moment is right.

Whether you’ve got a short lunch break or you’re too tired to cook – this list has you sorted for fast and delicious meals that take under 30 minutes.

BB Writer Rebecca Wilkinson

Heart Warming Roasted Chicken with Leek

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

This meal is perfect for those nights where I’ve been busy with work and don’t feel like spending too much time preparing and cooking a meal. Alternatively, I quickly whip up this dish and relax in front of a Rom-Com.

How did you discover this meal?

Jamie Oliver 30-minute meals cookbook – for the full recipe click here

List of Ingredients

• 6 x Chicken thigh fillets
• 1 x leek
• 6 slices of Prosciutto
• Handful of thyme
• Olive Oil
• Olive butter
• Baking tray
• Foil

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees (fan forced) 
2. Lightly oil baking tray with olive oil (or line with foil)
3. Thinly slice the entire leek and place into a bowl
4. Chop the Thyme up so it’s very tiny and place in bowl with leek
5. Add a decent tablespoon of olive butter and a dollop of olive oil into the bowl with leek and thyme and mix using hands so all is coated in oil and butter
6. Place into the baking tray
7. Trim and clean the chicken thigh fillets
8. Wrap the chicken fillets with the Prosciutto
9. Place chicken onto the leek in the tray
10. Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 10 minutes
11. After 10 minutes, remove the foil, stir the leek a little and then bake until chicken is cooked through for around 10 minutes (depending on your oven)
12. When ready, serve with a scoop of the leek on a plate and place the chicken fillet on top.

BB Writer Phoebe Tran

SPAM Toastie

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

I make this meal when the fridge has been cleared out and I don’t have the time to go grocery shopping. Due to the fact that SPAM is a long-life food, there are always a few containers hiding in the kitchen pantry. 

How did you discover this meal?

I recently discovered that we have a sandwich press at home that can make toasted sandwiches in around 5 minutes – it is so convenient and easy to whip up a quick and tasty sandwich. I also drew inspiration from the fast-food chain ‘Toastie Smith’ which create fully loaded toasties with SPAM inside.

List of Ingredients

• Two slices of bread 
• 2 slices of SPAM
• 2 slices of KRAFT cheese (or tasty shredded cheese depending on what I have)
• Tomato / Lettuce (optional)

Method

1. Warm up the sandwich toaster 
2. Assemble the sandwich – add the SPAM and cheese between the two slices of bread 
3. Press the sandwich down 
4. (If I am feeling fancy, after pressing the sandwich I will open it back up and add in lettuce and tomatoes)
5. Cut in half and eat 

BB Writer Monique Bova

Caprese Salad on Toast

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

If I don’t make a quick meal I eat while I am cooking and by the time my meal is ready I am no longer hungry. This has been my favourite recipe lately because it is so easy, yummy, and fresh.

How did you discover this meal?

I am not sure. My family is Italian and we own an Italian restaurant so I guess I have grown up with it.

List of Ingredients

• Use as much as you like of everything. I don’t measure anything, so this is roughly what I would use:
• 2 – 3 handfuls of Cherry Tomatoes. 
• 2 pieces of bocconcini 
• 1 tablespoon of pesto.
• 2 slices of toast.
• Balsamic glaze. 

Method

1. Slice all your cherry tomatoes. I chop them up into quarters but you can do it however you like. 
2. Chop up the bocconcini into small pieces.
3. Mix the bocconcini, cherry tomatoes and pesto in a bowl.
4. Once the toast is ready, spread your mixture evenly onto the toast. 
5. Finish by drizzling the balsamic glaze over the toast. Use as much as you would like.

BB Editor Renae Leith-Manos

Cheats Summer Salad

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

This is a life-saving dish when you’re hosting a big group since it can feed as many people as you like with minimum labour and maximum delciousness. Moreover, it doesn’t heat up the kitchen on those hot summer nights and has absolutely no carbs.

How did you discover this meal?

I discovered it in France with some locals I stayed with.

List of Ingredients

• A packet of lettuce
• Half a cooked chicken
• Mini roma tomatoes cut in half
• Avocado
• A handful of almonds, cashews or pumpkin seeds
• Olive oil
• Dash of sweet soy.

Method

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and put on plastic gloves before touching the cooked chicken.
2. Pull the chicken meat off the bone and rip it into small pieces.
3. The letttuce goes into a bowl with the chicken, I shred it a bit if necessary, depending if I buy cos or rocket.
4. Bake the seeds or nuts to bring out the flavour
5. Mix it up with the olive oil and soy and tip onto a plate.
6. Bon appetit!

BB Writer Claudia Remedios

Sweet Potato Salad

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

My trademark Sweet Potato Salad is what I make when I have limited time for lunch between work hours. Additionally, it’s extremely healthy and insanely delicious! Win-win.

How did you discover this meal?

I felt like a salad and threw together whatever ingredients I could get my hands on. Thus, this salad was a happy accident of my own concoction.

List of Ingredients

• Lettuce (any kind)
• Sweet potato
• Cashews
• Tomatoes
• Avocado
• Feta
• Red Onion or Shallots
• Dressing: olive oil, honey, dijon, salt & pepper

Method

1. Cube the sweet potato and put it into a tupperware container with a dash of water, place the lid on and blast it in the microwave for 4-5 minutes until the sweet potato is soft.
2. Chop up all other ingredients to your liking and add them to a bowl.
3. Mix olive oil, dijon, honey and S&P to a bowl and stir until well combined.
4. Pour over the top of your salad and enjoy!

BB Writer Madeleine Remedios

Pimped Out 2-Minute Noodles

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

When I get home late from work at the pub, the last thing I feel like doing is slow roasting a lamb for 3 hours. Instead, I scavenge through pantry and fridge to see what I can use to pimp out my 2 minute noodles. It’s no Tik Tok pasta, but it’s certainly worth experimenting.

How did you discover this meal?

There was a Masterchef Immunity challenge in the 2020 season in which the contestants had to make pimped-up 2-minute noodles in 15 minutes. Immediantely after watching, I had to experiment with it and found it elevated the noodles completely.

List of Ingredients

• 2 minute noodles
• Half a cup of frozen peas
• Pressed garlic
• 1 diced carrot
• Tin of baby corn
• Peanuts or cashews
• Sesame seeds
• Quarter cup of soy sauce
• 1 tsp of sesame oil
• Coriander
• Oil

Method

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil
2. Add carrots and baby corn
3. After 2 minutes add the noodles and frozen peas
4. After the noodles are ready, strain the veges and noodles
5. Add a dash of oil and mince the garlic into the pot
6. Put the veges and noodles back in
7. Stir the sesame oil and soy sauce into the pot 
8. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and nuts
9. Add coriander to serve

BB Writer Ruby Derrick

Vegetarian Rice Paper Rolls

Related post: https://bondibeauty.com.au/food/recipes/three-simple-easy-quick-vegetarian-recipes/

Why do you need to make this quick meal?

I’m in love with this meal since they’re healthy, super light and unbelievably delicious. The majority of the rolls contain vegetables, which leaves you feeling completely nourished and satisfied and your plate licked clean. The perfect combo!

How did you discover this meal?

I discovered this meal whilst living out of home for the first time. The minimal ingredients and quick preparation time is optimal for uni students cooking for one.

List of Ingredients

• Rice paper rolls
• Ingredients 
• Cucumber 
• Carrot 
• Capsicum 
• Rice paper 
• Satay tofu
• Sauce
• 2 tables Mayver’s Peanut butter
• 1 tbs Tamari 
• 1 tsp Vinegar 

Method

1. Chop all raw vegetables in little sticks and set aside 
2. Add tofu to a pan and fry for 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Prepare the sauce by combining all ingredients and mix well until a smooth paste forms
4. Boil the kettle and pour water onto a large plate. This is what you’’ll utilise to ‘cook’ the rice paper
5. Assemble all components together 
6. Place a single sheet of rice paper into the water and soak until it becomes thin and soft
7. Spread the peanut sauce over the rice paper 
8. Add vegetables and tofu
9. Fold the side and wrap tightly until it resembles a Vietnamese rice paper roll 
10. Enjoy!