Fancy a quickie? Dinner in 10 minutes or less.

I love to cook.

But when I get home late after a stressful day at work, the last thing I want to do is cook a meal that takes an hour. Slaving over a stove can be as painful as listening to nails on a chalkboard. On nights like this, my aim is simple. Dinner must be ready from pan to plate in 10 minutes. 

Now, there is nothing wrong with a good old cheese toastie, or extra cheesy omelette (my friends all know how much I love cheese), however there are nights that I feel like something more substantial. For this reason, I have created three dinner options that will get you out of the kitchen in no time.

The best part is that they are all delicious, nutritious and will leave you feeling ridiculously satisfied and happy.

CHILLI PRAWN SPAGHETTI

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

What you need:

• 12-16 peeled prawns (frozen prawns are fine just make sure they are thawed)
• 1 packet egg spaghetti (found in the fridge of your local supermarket, cooks in 2-3 minutes)
• 1 large garlic clove, crushed
• 2 spring onions, finely sliced
• ½ cup of fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 80g of butter
• 1 medium chilli
• 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh chives, to serve

Let’s create:

1. Cook the pasta following the packet instructions in a large saucepan of salted boiling water. Once cooked reserve 4 tablespoons of the pasta water and then drain.

2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallots and chilli, then cook for a minute. Increase heat to medium, add the prawns and cook for a further 3-4 minutes or until the prawns turn a pale pink.

3. Turn off the heat and add the parsley, chives and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the drained pasta plus the reserved water and mix through the prawn sauce. Serve immediately with a wedge of lemon.

THE HUMBLE STEAK SANDWICH

 Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

What you need:

• 1 medium sirloin steak
• ½ an onion, sliced into rings
• 4 pieces of bread (my family prefer thick bread)
• 2 tsp of dijon mustard
• 1 tomato, thinly sliced
• 4 pieces of sliced tinned beetroot
• ½ an avocado, sliced
• 2 slices of tasty cheese
• A handful of rocket or your favourite leafy greens
• Salt and pepper

Let’s create:

1. Rub a tablespoon of olive oil and salt and pepper onto your steak. Heat a large frying pan on medium to high add your onions and cook steak for 3-4 minutes without flipping it. Flip the steak once it has cooked just over half way and cook for a further 2-3 minutes then set aside and cut into thin strips.

2. While the steak is frying, thinly slice your tomato, avocado and cheese.

3. Make 4 slices of toast. Spread a generous serving of dijon mustard over 2. Top each with a handful of rocket leaves, steak, sliced tomato, avocado, beetroot, cheese and onion. Top with remaining toast slices.

5-MINUTE EGG FRIED RICE (YOU READ CORRECTLY, 5 MINUTES)

Vegetarian and gluten free

 Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2

What you need:

• 1 packet of 90 second jasmine rice
• 1 tbs peanut oil (vegetable oil is fine)
• 2 eggs
• 2 spring onions
• ¼ cup frozen soy beans (frozen peas are fine)
• 1 carrot, roughly cubed
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbs ketchup manis

Let’s create:

1. Heat large a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat.

2. Following the packet instructions, cook the rice in the microwave for 90 seconds.

3. While rice cooks, use a whisk to lightly beat eggs in a small bowl. Add eggs to the hot pan and spin over the base to form an omelette. Cook for 1 minute then flip. Cook for another minute (or until set) then using your spatula, chop the egg into rustic size pieces. Set aside.

4. Add soy beans, carrots and spring onion to the pan and cook for 2 minutes then return the egg and rice to the pan. Turn off the heat and stir through the soy sauce and ketchup manis. Serve immediately with extra soy (if desired).

Additional tips when thinking of a quick meal:

• Don’t forget eggs! They are quick and full of protein.
• If you feel like your omelettes aren’t that exciting, add store bought pesto to your eggs, it’s the best thing since sliced bread.
• Tinned tuna and Salmon are great! You can add them to a quick salad or pasta.
• Use your leftovers! Add left over meat and vegetables to an omelette, salad, curry, rice or toasted sandwich.

I’d love to hear your creations. What meals do you like to make in 10 minutes?

Elly is a twenty-something Sydneysider, and a lover and creator of all things food. She has a cooking, eating and travelling bug. Monday-Friday she works in the marketing world and as soon as 6pm on Friday hits, she immerses herself into the world of food. She loves bringing people together and creating food filled environments that produce memories that people can savour for a lifetime. Follow Elly on Twitter @threewhisks, on her website, on Facebook and on Instagram at three_whisks.