Trying to find new meal ideas in quarantine that require a small number of ingredients can be difficult. This is especially true when you have a limited ability to shop or even can’t find a wide variety of food options in stores. Whether it’s the need to find unique ways to use up veggies before they go bad or experiment with something new, there are options out there!
Here are 4 simple meals to make during quarantine:
1. Grilled Veggie Pierogi
Ingredients:
- Pierogi
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Tomatoes (optional)
- Vegetable oil
Chop up the vegetables until you have a small handful of each. Then, place on a frying pan with a little bit of vegetable oil. Leave the burner off at first. Boil your bagged pierogi in a pot of water for 6 minutes. Once boiled, turn the burner for the frying pan to medium and begin adding the pierogi to the pan. Check the pierogi periodically to see when they’ve started browning, then flip. Once veggies or thee pierogi are toasted, scoop them into a dish and wait for the rest to be complete. Then voila! You’re done!
2. Spinach Veggie Pasta
Ingredients:
- Pasta of your choosing
- Bell pepper
- Onion
- Olive oil
- Tomato (optional)
- Feta cheese
- Spinach
Boil pasta as instructed on the box or bag. Dice vegetables into small cubes, and cut a few handfuls of spinach into smaller pieces if the leaves are large. Put olive oil in a pan and begin to saute the vegetables with the spinach. Keep temperature relatively low to avoid browning the veggies too much. Once the pasta is completed, throw it in the frying pan and toss around for a few minutes. To finish, serve on a plate and add a little bit of feta cheese on top. This dish is super flavorful and a great way to use vegetables if they’re close to going bad.
3. Greek Pasta Salad
Ingredients:
- Pasta of your choosing
- Tomatoes
- Olives
- Cucumber
- Onion
- Bell pepper
- Feta cheese
- Greek salad dressing
Boil pasta as directed, but put in the fridge once done in a sealed container. Dice vegetables into small cubes. Once the pasta is cold, throw the vegetables in and mix together. Next, add Greek salad dressing (I always use Kraft brand) to taste, as well as a little bit of feta cheese. Seal the container and keep in the refrigerator until ready to eat. This is a really refreshing and summery type of salad that hits the spot when you need something easy. Plus, you can keep it for leftovers too.
4. Loaded Cheese Pierogi
Ingredients:
- Pierogi
- Sour cream
- Bacon bits (or real bacon)
- Shredded cheese
- Green onion
- Steak spice (optional)
Make your bagged pierogi whatever way you would normally make them (like boiling them in a pot of water or on a frying pan with oil). Once completed, toss your pierogi in steak spice (a.k.a. steak seasoning) if you’d like a punch of flavor. Plate them and top with sour cream, shredded cheese, green onions, and bacon.
It can be frustrating to change up your diet during quarantine when you have limited access to food, are getting sick of having the same meals on repeat, or are finding new recipes on Pinterest that have ingredients you can’t get. Hopefully, these few meal ideas will help give you your daily intake of veggies in a different kind of way and without breaking the bank.
Featured image via Pexels
