Easy meals

A whole new culinary world awaits you to set the timer on your microwave.

We all have those days when we are just too lazy to get out of bed, forget puttering around the kitchen to make gourmet meals. Keeping that in mind, The Week has compiled a list of delicious and easy microwave dishes that you can whip up in a matter of minutes during those ultra lazy days.

Microwave pizza bun

Who doesn’t love pizza? And when it is pizza for one, that’s even better – all the goodness of pizza without as many calories.

Ingredients

4 tablespoon all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon baking powder (a pinch)

1/16 teaspoon baking soda (a tiny pinch)

1/8 teaspoon salt (a pinch)

3 tablespoon milk

1 tablespoon olive oil (or any vegetable oil)

1 tablespoon pizza sauce

1 heaped tablespoon shredded mozzarella cheese

5 mini pepperonis or any topping of your choice

1/2 teaspoon dried basil or oregano

Instructions

Mix the flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt together in a microwave friendly mug. When the ingredients are mixed through, add the milk and oil and stir well. Remember that it doesn’t have to be a smooth batter, lumps are okay. Gently spoon the pizza sauce on the surface of the batter. All there is left now is to sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni or the topping of your choice and the dried herbs. Microwave the mug until the pizza dough rises and the surface starts to bubble – that way you will know it’s ready! Enjoy straight out of the microwave.

Avocado omelet in a mug

Want to have a healthy breakfast but don’t have much time on your hands? This could be the way to go. It really couldn’t get any easier.

Ingredients

2 eggs

Salt and black pepper

2 tablespoon cheese of your preference, shredded

1 tablespoon salsa of your choice

1/2 avocado, sliced

Instructions

Whisk together two eggs in a mug, add salt and pepper and stir in the cheese. Microwave the mixture on high for one to two minutes till the eggs are set. Top with sliced avocado and salsa and serve immediately. It tastes best when it is piping hot.

Pudding

This creamy, yummy pudding that doesn’t take too much time is the easiest thing you can make when you are hard pressed for time or, in other words, lazy.

Ingredients

3 tablespoon of cornstarch

1 cup of hot chocolate mix

2 cups milk

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

First whisk the cornstarch and chocolate powder together in a microwave safe bowl. Slowly whisk in the milk and microwave for three minutes. Take the bowl out and stir and then microwave for one more minute, and stir. Continue microwaving and stirring at one minute intervals until it stops looking like chocolate milk and starts looking and feeling like pudding (usually happens after two to three minutes.) Stir in vanilla extract and refrigerate it covered in a plastic wrap (cling film). Enjoy the dessert that is so effortless yet so yummy.

Mug cake for two

Everybody loves cakes. But you won’t always get good cakes when you crave it. But now with this easy recipe, you can have good, delicious dessert anytime you want.

Ingredients

Cake

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of your favorite pancake mix

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoon melted butter

2 tablespoon maple syrup

Topping

3 tablespoon roughly chopped almonds

2 teaspoon brown sugar

Instructions

In a bowl, combine the pancake mix, cinnamon, milk, butter and maple syrup. Divide batter between two greased mug and garnish with topping evenly among both mugs. Microwave for 30 to 60 seconds or till you see the cake rise a bit. Pull out the mug when your desired level of gooeyness is reached and enjoy while it’s hot.

Macaroni and cheese

Now you can enjoy a healthy and wholesome meal with minimal preparation effort. Follow this recipe to get the original goodness and gooeyness of creamy mac and cheese.

Ingredients

1/2 cup macaroni

1/2 cup water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded cheese (as preferred)

Extra add-ons: diced vegetables, shredded or cubed cooked meat, cubed tofu, salsa, dried mustard, chili powder (as preferred).

Instructions

Combine the pasta, water, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave the pasta for two minutes then stir. Watch to see if the water is foaming over the side of the bowl and stir sooner if needed. Use oven mitts or a kitchen towel if you need to take the bowl out of the microwave to do this.

Continue microwaving in two-minute intervals until the pasta is cooked. Stir between each interval and continue microwaving until the pasta is soft and cooked. This should take four to eight minutes in total, depending on the strength of your microwave. If the pasta absorbs all the water before the pasta is cooked, add another two tablespoons of water.

Stir the milk and cheese and any extra add-ons into the pasta.

Microwave in 30-second intervals to melt the cheese and stir. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until the cheese has melted and forms a creamy sauce. This should take one to one and half minutes in total. For a creamier sauce, add an extra tablespoon or two of milk and cheese.

This mac and cheese is best when piping hot from the microwave but if you need to reheat it, make sure you add an extra splash of milk.

French toast

You don’t have to slave away in the kitchen for a long time to enjoy this delicious breakfast item, not anymore. With this recipe, you can enjoy hot French toast whenever you feel like it.

Ingredients

2 slices of bread, cubed

1 egg

1 tablespoon butter, melted

1/2 tsp of sugar (optional)

2 tablespoon milk

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Place butter in a microwaveable mug for about 30 seconds to let it melt, and use it to coat the sides of the mug to prevent sticking. Whisk in the egg and then add milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract and mix well.

Add the cubed bread to the mix and allow it to soak for about a minute. You may need to gently stir the pieces of bread around half way through to make sure all the pieces are evenly coated. Microwave the mug on high for about a minute and a half, checking every 30 seconds until the egg is completely cooked. Take out and enjoy hot.