Tag: cooking for one

Easy Singapore Noodles with Chicken for One Person

Nobody knows exactly where Singapore noodles came from.  They’re not really native to Singapore, and the curry is more South Asian than North Asian.  I suspect they are no more “Singaporean” than fortune cookies are Cantonese.  In any case, easy Singapore noodles with chicken is a quick, weeknight dinner that’s a great way to “clean out your fridge.”

They don’t work too well as leftovers (especially if you use rice noodles, which tend to clump when they sit), so a recipe for a single serving is essential.  Since it makes just enough for one person, you won’t have leftovers to fill up the fridge again!

I used regular pasta here, because that’s what I had and rice noodles may not be readily available everywhere.  If you do use the rice noodles, get the vermicelli kind.  Soak them in hot water for thirty seconds to soften them and then add them to the vegetables and chicken once they’re cooked.

The recipe is flexible, so you can use chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp if you have that handy, or if you prefer it.

The vegetables are just suggestions too.  I used broccoli, onions, mushrooms, and two kinds of bell peppers (red and green). More suggestions (and variations) at the bottom of the post.




Easy Singapore Noodles with Chicken Substitutions and Variations

  • Use leftover roast pork or raw shrimp (or both) instead of chicken
  • Use a mixture of frozen Chinese veggies, such as Trader Joe’s stir fry, or harvest hodgepodge. Seapoint Farms Oriental Blend is also good; this will also speed up the cooking time
  • Mix and match the vegetables in the dish. Add snow peas, water chestnuts, or sprouts. Use different kinds of peppers.
  • Throw in a hot pepper or two (depending on your tolerance for heat)
  • Add an egg and scramble it

More Asian Noodle Recipes

spicy beef noodle soupSpicy Beef Noodle Soup for One

A quick, and healthy soup, packed with noodles, cabbage, and chili garlic sauce. All right from your fridge and pantry.

 

spicy sesame noodlesSpicy Sesame Noodles Recipe for One Person

Slightly sweet, a little spicy, and refreshing too. This takeout standard is easy to make at home. Add cucumbers for crunchy cool.

 

szechuan chili noodlesSzechuan Chili Noodles Recipe

A streamlined home version of Dan Dan noodles. Add meat (or not).  All you need is noodles, make your own chili oil for heat, sesame seeds for crunch, and bok choy (or cabbage) for color and a little crunch.

chinese chicken noodle cabbage soupChinese Chicken Noodle Cabbage Soup for One Person

The aroma alone is enough to make you hungry. Breathe in the garlic, spicy chili, and honey, and then slurp it all down.

 




One Person Slow Roasted Lamb Breast Provencal Recipe

Lamb is one of my favorite foods and this lamb breast recipe for one is a great meal for a lazy, cold winter weekend.  It cooks slowly and heats up the house nicely. It’s mostly set it and forget it, so you can do other things while dinner cooks (and your home fills with the fragrance of lamb).There’s very little fussing.

I’ve updated and changed the recipe since I first posted this.  The original version called for boiling the lamb first, and then roasting it.  Great for tenderizing, but it meant an extra pot to clean. And boy, that pot sure got greasy.  However, you can then add the bones back, some barley, and veggies and make Scotch broth if you want.

If not, do it the easier way! Yeah easy!

Lamb breast is generally a cheaper cut of meat than lamb chops or a roast.  I spotted it on sale at the local supermarket for a mere $3.99 a pound, so I pounced!

This dish was inspired by a Jacques Pepin recipe, but naturally, even with a master chef as a guide, I felt compelled to change it a bit.  The original recipe called for vegetable oil, parsley, and bread crumbs.

I’m not a big fan of vegetable oil (olive oil has more flavor, and it fits the dish better, I think).  I never have parsley around, but I do have a pot of fresh rosemary, so I used that instead.  I didn’t want to bother with fresh bread crumbs, so I used panko.

And, of course, I reduced the original amounts to make it for one person (although, the recipe is so good, you may want to make extra and save it for dinner another day).




Tools and Ingredients for This Recipe

Oxo kitchen tongs

OXO Good Grips 9-Inch Locking Tongs with Nylon Heads

It’s much easier to lift the lamb out of the roasting pan with these tongs. They lock in place for storage, clean easily, and grip tightly.

The ends are covered in nylon so they won’t scratch your pans if they’re nonstick.

cuisinart roasting pan with cover

Cuisinart 12 inch pan with cover

I just bought this pan to replace one that gave up the ghost. It’s nonstick, not too heavy, and fairly wide and shallow. It’s the perfect size for the lamb breast or several pieces of chicken.  I also like that it comes with a clear glass lid. I haven’t used it for the pan yet, but it’s great for covering my large frying pan.

More Lamb Recipes

greek lamb breastGreek Lamb Breast Recipe

Marinated overnight in lemon, garlic, and olive oil, then slow-cooked. The result is tender, flavorful, and delicious.

 

spicy lamb and lentils

Spicy Lamb and Lentils

Meaty ground lamb, earthy lentils, and a touch of heat all in a remarkably easy meal.  Serve with cool cucumber to complement the spice, and add crunch.

 

spinach lamb meatballsSpinach Lamb Meatballs

Red wine vinegar stands up to the lamb’s assertive flavor, while cumin adds a hint of warm spice. The spinach lends color and those all important vitamins and iron too.

 

turkish lamb burgerTurkish Lamb Burgers

A marvelous blend of salty feta, robust lamb, and cool  mint. Make the patties, let them sit, and broil.  Then serve with a creamy, cucumber and dill-enriched yogurt sauce.

 




Chicken Florentine for One

Sometimes, there are nights when you’ve been working hard all day, and you open the fridge and wonder, “Where’s the magic instant food fairy?” You’re hungry, you want food, and you want it now. But you also want something you’ll enjoy eating. Chicken Florentine sounds fancy, but it’s really easy to put together. It also cooks quickly.  It only takes about 25 minutes to prepare, from start to finish. Just the thing for one you’re tired, hungry, or it’s hot and you do not want to stand over the stove for ages waiting for dinner to hurry up and cook.

All you have to do is do a little bit of chopping, a quick sauté, and toss a few ingredients in a frying pan.  Ta dah! Dinner is ready.

I served this with a simple side dish of spaghetti tossed with olive oil and butter, and topped with grated parmesan cheese (not shown).




Chicken Florentine for One Substitutions and Variations

• Sauté some mushrooms in the sauce
• Replace the onions with shallots
• Use white wine instead of chicken broth
• Add a squeeze of lemon juice (instead of the wine or the broth); this will add a bit of acidity and brighten the flavor

More Chicken Recipes

 

feta brined roast chicken

Feta Brined Roast Chicken Recipe for One

You’ve likely heard of brining turkey. Turns out feta cheese works just as well (and it’s more flavorful too). Marinate, roast, and serve on a bed of fresh spinach.


Vietnamese baked chicken with lime Vietnamese Chicken with Lime and Ginger

Warm and spicy with a ginger kick, mellowed by sweet, citrusy lime.  Just marinate and bake.

 

peruvian roast chicken with green saucePeruvian Roast Chicken in Green Sauce Recipe

Crispy roast chicken topped with a killer green sauce. Flavored with spinach, hot pepper, and just enough creamy mayo to hold it together. Great as a dip too.

 

Shoemaker’s Chicken

Skillet chicken enlivened with a tangy sauce that cooks right in the pan with the chicken.  One pot, minimal cleanup.

 

Single Serving Chicken Recipe with Tarragon and Mushrooms

This single serving chicken recipe flavored with tarragon and mushrooms will make you think you’ve gone to a fine French restaurant (without the big bill at the end of the meal).

I adapted the recipe from Pierre Franey’s 60 Minute Gourmet cookbook. Its official name translates to Fricassé of Chicken with Tarragon.  My friends and family used to call it “cholesterol chicken.”

The original recipe called for three tablespoons of butter and an entire cup of cream!  Much as I love butter and cream, that’s a bit…much.

So, I decided to make it a bit lighter, while also adapting the recipe to make it a single serving chicken recipe instead of the original four.  I reduced the amount of butter and used canola oil instead.  Then, I replaced the cream with a mixture of Greek yogurt and milk.

It’s still a quick and easy chicken recipe and it still tastes great (though it’s certainly not low fat) and I haven’t sacrificed one bit of flavor.

Let’s call it Tarragon Chicken with Mushrooms for One Person instead.

It’s also pretty forgiving. I made a larger recipe for my parents, with a few variations, since mom had different ingredients and onions bothered dad’s stomach.  I used “better than bullion” concentrate, garlic powder instead of fresh garlic, and dried shiitake mushrooms.  My dad was not a big fan of chicken, but he certainly liked this recipe. He licked his plate clean! Mom insisted that I write down exactly what I did so I could repeat it.




Tarragon Chicken with Mushrooms Recipe Substitutions and Variations

  • If you don’t have the yogurt/milk use the cream, or mix butter and milk together and melt it before adding it to the sauce (since butter is essentially solidified cream)
  • The original recipe called for fresh tarragon.  I bought some and found it tasted like licorice.  Since I don’t particularly like licorice, I wasn’t too happy about that! On the other hand, if you do like licorice, or fresh tarragon, use one small sprig.
  • Try using wild mushrooms, like shiitake or chanterelle instead of white button mushrooms; this also works well with dried mushrooms (reconstitute them with hot water to cover and let them sit for five or ten minutes)

More Chicken Recipes

stovetop coq au vinStovetop Coq au Vin Chicken with Red Wine Sauce

Standard coq au vin is complicated and time-consuming. This version speeds that all up and makes it accessible for a home cook.

 

crispy lemon chicken thigh

Crispy Lemon Chicken Thigh Recipe for One

Great hot or cold, with a crispy, slightly sweet flavor, and three kinds of lemon. Think fried chicken with less mess.

 

Chicken Mushroom Skillet Recipe chicken mushroom skillet recipe

Pan fry the chicken, cut the mushrooms and veggies, and simmer. It makes its own sauce right in the pan.

 

shoemaker's chicken for oneShoemaker’s Chicken for One

A classic Italian meal, that’s really not Italian at all.  Minimal cleanup, one pan and a tangy sauce you don’t have to cook separately.




Homemade Tortilla Crust Pizza

I wanted homemade pizza one day and was feeling too lazy (and too hungry) to take the time to make dough and wait for yeast to rise.  Usually, I’d use pita bread for this, but I didn’t have any.  I didn’t have any of the usual substitutes either, (not even an English muffin). Necessity being the mother of invention, I decided to create another “base” for my pizza. The answer was homemade tortilla crust pizza.

It turned out that a tortilla made a perfect crust for my pizza.  I didn’t roll it out that much, but left it fairly thick (so it would be more like pita bread).

And, while I was low on pizza base substitutes, I did have sausage, fresh eggplant, and plenty of tomato sauce.

I made a quick tortilla crust, chopped  up the veggies, put it all together, and baked it.  It made a great, fairly easy lunch.

Of course, if you’re really in a hurry, feeling extra tired, you can always skip making the tortilla and use some from the store instead!




More Tortilla Recipes

fried egg burritoFried Egg Burrito

Super-quick (ready in about 10 minutes) and perfect for any meal. Great for a light snack or when you’ve got a bad case of the hungries.

 

egg chili cheese burritoEgg Chili Cheese Wrap Recipe

Chili, cheese, and eggs, all wrapped up in an easy sandwich. No fuss, one pot, and super-fast.

 

cranberry chipotle turkey burrito

Cranberry Chipotle Turkey Burrito

Use up leftover holiday turkey and relish, add some chipotle and you’ve got a whole new set of flavors.  Spicy, sweet, and tangy too.

 

pear dessert crepeEasy Pear Crepe Dessert Recipe for One Person

I know what you’re thinking. This is a tortilla page, where did the crepe come from? Look closely. It’s a tortilla. A super-sneaky easy way to get a crepe.