5 Random Things I Prep to Survive the Week

Summary

In this video, the creator shares five home cooking hacks that make meal prep easy and efficient. These include having pre-cooked beans or legumes, creating a versatile aromatic paste, parboiling potatoes, steaming vegetables, and pre-soaking rice noodles. These techniques allow for quicker meals without sacrificing flavor or texture, helping you create a wide variety of dishes with minimal effort. From salads to curries, stir-fries, and snacks, these hacks are designed to save time and enhance your cooking experience, especially when juggling a busy schedule or feeding kids.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pre-cooked beans and legumes can be stored in the fridge for quick, flavorful, and versatile meals. Home-cooked beans have better texture and flavor compared to canned ones.
• 😀 Soaking beans for at least 6 hours (or overnight) ensures they cook more evenly and retain their shape and texture.
• 😀 An aromatic paste, made from ingredients like ginger, garlic, turmeric, and chili paste, can be used as a base for curries, fried rice, and marinades, enhancing the flavor of meals.
• 😀 Using pre-cooked potatoes or parboiling them makes them easier and more versatile to use in various dishes like fries, stews, and curries.
• 😀 Steaming vegetables like broccoli and storing them in the fridge helps in quick meal prep. It’s great for adding to soups, curries, or making veggie dips.
• 😀 Pre-soaking rice noodles ahead of time and storing them in the fridge prevents them from becoming mushy when cooked and allows for easy noodle stir-fries or soups.
• 😀 Having a variety of pre-prepped ingredients like beans, potatoes, and vegetables ready to go in the fridge significantly reduces meal prep time and increases meal versatility.
• 😀 Using an aromatic paste with a simple coconut curry, or a stir-fried rice dish adds a burst of flavor without a lot of effort.
• 😀 Pre-cooked beans or legumes are perfect for quickly enhancing salads, soups, and baby meals with minimal effort, offering protein and flavor.
• 😀 A few well-prepared ingredients like pre-cooked potatoes and aromatic pastes can inspire a variety of creative meal ideas throughout the week.

Q & A

What is the benefit of pre-cooking beans or legumes instead of using canned beans?

Pre-cooking beans or legumes gives you better flavor and texture control. Freshly cooked beans retain their shape and texture better than canned beans, which tend to be more mushy and less flavorful.

How do you store pre-cooked beans to keep them fresh?

Once cooked, beans can be stored in the fridge for 4-5 days, just like canned beans. Make sure to keep them in an airtight container to maintain their freshness.

What are some creative ways to use pre-cooked beans?

Pre-cooked beans can be added to salads, soups, stews, and curries. You can also roast or air fry chickpeas for a crispy snack or even mash them for quick meals, especially for kids.

How do you make an aromatic paste, and what is its purpose?

An aromatic paste is made by blending ingredients like ginger, garlic, turmeric, green onions, and chili paste. This paste is used to flavor dishes like curries, fried rice, and marinades, enhancing their depth and complexity quickly.

What dishes can you use the aromatic paste in?

You can use the aromatic paste in coconut curries, fried rice, as a marinade for meats, or add it to soups and stews to intensify flavor without extra cooking time.

What is the advantage of pre-cooking potatoes?

Pre-cooking potatoes saves time and increases versatility. Pre-cooked potatoes can be used for various dishes like fries, mashed potatoes, soups, and curries, reducing the need for extensive cooking during meal prep.

How do you prepare pre-cooked potatoes for storage?

Peel and slice potatoes, then parboil them for 10-12 minutes until they're tender but not mushy. Once cooled, store them in the fridge for several days, ready to be used in different dishes.

How can you incorporate pre-cooked potatoes into meals?

Pre-cooked potatoes can be used to make crispy French fries, added to soups and curries for extra heartiness, or mashed and turned into potato pancakes.

What is the best way to steam vegetables like broccoli for storage?

To steam broccoli, cut it into florets and steam for about 3 minutes until it is tender but still firm. This allows it to be versatile for use in curries, pasta sauces, or as a base for dips or baby food.

How can steamed vegetables like broccoli be used in other dishes?

Steamed broccoli can be added to curries, pasta sauces, or even pureed with soft cheese to make a nutritious spread or dip. It's a quick and healthy addition to various meals.

What is the advantage of pre-soaking rice noodles?

Pre-soaking rice noodles ensures they don't become mushy or clump together when cooked. Once soaked, they can be used immediately in stir-fries, soups, or noodle dishes, maintaining the perfect texture.

How do you prepare rice noodles for storage?

To prepare rice noodles for storage, soak them in water for at least an hour until they become pliable. Once hydrated, drain and store them in a Ziploc bag or container in the fridge for several days.

How can you use pre-soaked rice noodles in a dish?

Pre-soaked rice noodles can be used in stir-fries, soups like pho, or noodle bowls. They can be added directly to hot broth or stir-fried with vegetables and proteins to create a quick and flavorful meal.