+34
Discover two simple traybake meal ideas, including a North African spiced chicken with couscous and a Mediterranean pork and chorizo dish, designed for minimal preparation and easy cleanup.
Two simple tray bakes: Ras el hanout chicken traybake with couscous, lime and coriander; and pork and chorizo traybake with cannellini beans and marinated vegetables.
Photograph: Harry Weirthat can be thrown together quickly, and easily baked in the oven. While this style of cooking might not meet restaurant standards in terms of design, aesthetics and quality, what does it matter? This is about feeding the family in minimal time with maximum flavour and the added bonus of very little wash-up. Both of this week’s recipes are designed to be developed, cooked and served from start to finish in the tray.
To start, we have a north African spiced spread with chicken breasts and a zesty couscous salad that can soak up all the juices from the tray. Couscous is the lifesaver of a busy kitchen – or restaurant, for that matter – when you have a large team to feed every day. It’s ready in five minutes, can absorb all manner of seasonings and is great for capturing the magic resting juices and oils from roasted meats.
With both these recipes, feel free to swap different veg in and out, depending on what you have. While the first recipe is geared towards the stressed midweek cook looking at a half-empty fridge on a Tuesday, the second recipe requires a little more time and planning. Pork belly gets precooked in tinfoil until soft, before being portioned and cooked a second time with a host of Mediterranean vegetables, beans and chorizo.
While the system for the dish remains the same, this feels a little more indulgent and special than the first one. Using marinated vegetables is a great trick for saving time without compromising on flavour, and the beans are handy for bulking up the protein on the nutritional scale. As an added bonus, any leftovers can be chopped up to make a serious sandwich filler for kids heading back to school soon.
This is cooking that works for you, so it could come in handy in the weeks ahead. Tip of the week: Spend a little extra on some vegetables marinated in oil. They are a handy store cupboard ingredient for bulking up meals without compromising on flavour.
John Wilson’s eight best rules for pairing wine with cheeseA light white and a tasty sparkling wine from Aldi to mark the close of summer Restaurant review: It’s all looking very suburban strip mall until we come to the entrance of this north Dublin spotMean Girls show cancelled mid-performance after power cut at Bord Gáis Energy TheatreGalway Races Ladies’ Day: ‘Colour and style just adds to everything that’s happening on the track’‘Your father’s playing golf in Doonbeg,’ Hennessy goes. ‘While the cat’s away, the mice will fornicate’
Traybakes Family Meals Quick Recipes Chicken Pork
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Shop all the back to school essentials you and your family need under one roofAs Sophie Power prepares for her children’s return to school, she shares all the items required for the kids
Read more »
HSE chief to meet family of dementia patient filmed by worker calling her 'crazy'The CEO of the Health Service Executive (HSE) is set to meet with the family of an 83-year-old dementia patient who was filmed, unbeknownst to her or her family, being called 'crazy' by a healthcare worker. The footage, taken in July 2023, shows a distressing exchange where the worker denies the patient a cup of tea. The family only learned of the incident after the video was leaked on social media.
Read more »
Norway's King Harald V Dies; Crown Prince Haakon Ascends to the Throne Amid Family ControversiesThe oldest reigning monarch in Europe has passed away at 89, ushering Prince Haakon into power. The transition arrives after a period of personal controversies that have weighed on the Norwegian royal family, including a former wife's links to Jeffrey Epstein and a stepson's criminal allegations.
Read more »
Octomum arrivesSix months after the first Octomum was acquired, a second one is brought into the family. The initial unboxing reveals a large, humanoid robot with significant physical features, leading to a hasty covering. The new Octomum is outfitted with a dressing gown and belts, then taken to a local store for clothing, where the family experiences public scrutiny and a chaotic incident. The narrative includes themes of family adjustment, coping with loss, and the integration of advanced robotics into domestic life.
Read more »