Being able to prepare and make your own meals is one of the fundamental things that you need to be able to do as an adult living on your own. But if you’ve just moved to a new city like Hyderabad, and are still in the process of finding some flats for rent in Hyderabad, it can be difficult to head to the grocery store, buy fresh produce and cook up a three course meal. But that doesn’t mean that you should starve or turn to greasy takeaways instead. You should have an arsenal of easy recipes that you can whip up with cupboard staples or basic ingredients at any time of the day or night. And to help you with that we’ve rounded up some of the easiest recipes that you can make in the tiniest kitchens so that you can ensure that you’re eating nutritious and healthy food as often as possible. Check out these basic customisable recipes that are going to make your life so much easier in Hyderabad.
Oatmeal
It’s a breakfast food, it’s a dessert, it’s a snack. It’s oatmeal. One of the most versatile superfoods around, oats are super healthy, tasty and easy to cook. Which is why we’re actually going to give you a whole world of recipes to try rather than just one. The basic principle of cooking oats is to add one-part oats to two parts water and boil for about five minutes. You can then add any flavourings of your choice. Top with syrup or brown sugar and some fresh fruits for a homely breakfast porridge, or chill in the fridge and top with yogurt and nuts for a muesli bowl. You can even make your oats savoury, in a poha style, by dry-roasting them first and adding the vegetables and spices of your choice. Our favourite way of eating oats has to be as a cake. Yes, you can make cake healthy with this recipe. Take 1 cup of oats and blend it in your mixer until it forms a fine powder. Add half a teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Stir well. In a separate bowl, mash one banana. Add half a cup of vegetable oil, 1 egg (you can replace this with half of another banana if you don’t eat eggs), ¼ cup of milk and ¼ cup of brown sugar. Mix the wet ingredients together and pour into the dry mix. Stir to combine, pour into a pre lined baking dish and bake at 180 degrees C for about 30 minutes. Now you finally have a reason to use that packet of oats in your cupboard.
Vegetable Grilled Cheese
Let’s face it. Nothing says comfort food like bread and cheese. And luckily, they’re rich in protein and healthy carbs too. Upgraded with some roasted summer veggies and toasted to perfection, and this is a dish that will become your go-to recipe for breakfast, lunch, snacks and everything in between. It’s super affordable and you can choose the type of bread, cheese, and vegetables that you want to use to best suit your tastes and preferences. To make this recipe, you’ll need two slices of bread, 50 grams of freshly grated cheese (or 1 slice), and some roasted tomatoes or roasted red bell-peppers. (If you’re using the jarred stuff, drain the liquid from it first.) You can also use fresh or sauteed veggies if that’s what you have on hand. Heat a non-stick pan on medium high heat and place your first slice of bread on, buttered side down. Top it with your cheese and vegetables and then add the second slice. Let the sandwich toast until one side is golden-brown before you flip it. Once both sides are golden and delicious, and the cheese has melted, your sandwich is ready. Enjoy it hot and see if you can avoid licking your fingers!
Sprouts Salad
Breaking news! Healthy food doesn’t have to be boring food. You can actually spice it up and make yourself a vibrant, colourful and healthy meal. Like this sprouts salad. Even if you don’t have a ton of time to put your kitchen in your fully furnished flat for rent in Hyderabad to good use, you’ll be able to whip up this recipe. Perfect for a light lunch in the summer, and great to take with you on the go to college or work as well, this salad involves almost no cooking and a whole lot of flavour. Take around 200 grams of freshly sprouted moong beans (you can buy these pre-packaged or sprout them yourself in the fridge) and rinse them in water. Dice one tomato, half an onion, and mix with the juice of a lemon, salt, and some chopped coriander. Mix with the diced tomato and herbs and taste test. You can add a pinch of cumin powder or red chilli powder for some added heat too. Feel free to customise by adding more veggies or skipping them altogether and you’ve got lunch sorted.
With these three simple, quick and affordable recipes, you’ll never have to worry about your diet and what to eat while you’re living alone in Hyderabad. So, what are you waiting for? Head to your kitchen and try one of these recipes out.