One pot dishes that are easy to make after work – and tasty, too

Haters of washing up already know the joys of one-pot meals. You pop all the ingredients into a single saucepan or frying pan – and cook them all together. — Photos: Pixelbay

Haters of washing up already know the joys of one-pot meals. You pop all the ingredients into a single saucepan or frying pan – and cook them all together.

Not only is this straightforward, but it’s often surprisingly tasty too. Simmering all your the ingredients together allows the flavours to blend particularly intensely, says Germany's Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE).

So here is the basic formula for a one-pot dish. It is simple and can easily be adapted to suit your preferences and what’s in your cupboard.

The ingredients are:

• a filling ingredient such as pasta, rice, potatoes, bulgur or couscous
• a liquid, such as water, stock, coconut milk, cooking cream or passata
• vegetables of your choice, such as spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, fennel or peppers, spices and/or fresh herbs.
• Add an extra portion of protein to your lunch or dinner by including pulses such as lentils or beans, or even fish or prawns.

Photo: Pixelbay

Whatever needs to cook longest goes in the pot first

Good timing is crucial to success - after all, you don’t want the pasta to still be hard whilst the courgette has already fallen to pieces.

Put ingredients with a longer cooking time, such as pasta, rice or potatoes, into the pot first.

Pour over the liquid, ensuring they are just about covered. They should then simmer over a medium heat.

Add the other ingredients - which require slightly less time on the hob, such as spinach, more gradually.

By the end, the liquid should have reduced and the contents of the pot should be cooked through.

Pasta with cherry tomatoes and basil

It is really simple when you try it. Take this easy recipe from the Federal Centre for a Mediterranean One-Pot Pasta:

1. Place wholemeal spaghetti in a deep pan with finely diced onions, halved cherry tomatoes and a little garlic, then pour in water.
2. Leave to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the pasta is still a bit too firm for your liking, leave it on the hob for a few extra minutes.
3. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and top with fresh basil and grated Parmesan. – dpa