Cooking a meal with just five ingredients is a fun challenge! Here’s a versatile recipe framework to create a delicious dish using minimal ingredients. The key is choosing ingredients that are flavorful and work well together.
Five-Ingredient Pasta
Ingredients:
- Pasta (spaghetti, penne, or your choice)
- Olive oil (or butter)
- Garlic (adds aroma and flavor)
- Parmesan cheese (grated, for richness)
- Cherry tomatoes (or another fresh vegetable/protein)
Instructions:
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve some pasta water.
- In a large pan, heat olive oil and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook until softened.
- Toss the drained pasta into the pan, mixing well. Add a splash of pasta water to make it saucy.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and mix. Serve warm!
Five-Ingredient Stir-Fry
Ingredients:
- Rice (or noodles)
- Chicken breast (or tofu, shrimp)
- Soy sauce (or tamari)
- Garlic (or ginger)
- Vegetables (broccoli, bell peppers, or a mix)
Instructions:
- Cook rice or noodles according to package instructions.
- Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add diced chicken and cook until golden.
- Toss in vegetables and stir-fry until tender.
- Add soy sauce for flavor. Serve over rice or noodles.
Five-Ingredient Soup
Ingredients:
- Vegetable or chicken broth (store-bought or homemade)
- Canned beans (or lentils)
- Spinach (or kale)
- Carrots (or any hearty vegetable)
- Onions (or leeks)
Instructions:
- In a pot, sauté chopped onions until softened.
- Add chopped carrots and cook for a few minutes.
- Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Simmer until carrots are tender.
- Stir in beans and spinach, cooking until wilted.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
