Five or Less

Taking the family out to dinner just isn’t a choice anymore these days, and planning multiple trips to the supermarket just to get ingredients for that one amazing meal might not be wise either. Until everything is back to normal, the best thing to do is stay safe at home as much as possible. And while not everyone may have the skill of a master chef, it is never too late to learn a simple recipe or two to keep the entire brood fed and happy.

Get your pots and pans ready for a culinary adventure (and if you need any, we've got you covered at the end of this article)! Discover delectable dishes that require only five ingredients or less, all sourced from the comfort of your own fridge and pantry.

Apple Juice Chicken

Reminiscent of something you might order in a Chinese restaurant, this three-ingredient dish is the easiest recipe you’ll have in your arsenal. Not only rich and flavorful, this is also enjoyable for grown-ups and kids alike.

Ingredients

1 ½ cup unfiltered apple juice, preferably organic

1 kg chicken thigh or breast fillets, skinless

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine chicken and apple juice in a saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook covered over medium heat for 30 minutes, then uncovered for another 30-40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and sauce is thickened and syrupy. Serve over rice.

Ginger Soy Salmon

Fish is the fastest weeknight dinner option when pressed for time, and it packs great flavors, too. Here’s a simple recipe for salmon with mouthwatering sauce. Pro tip: Grate the ginger fresh as it imparts an amazing nuance to the salmon and rids it of any potential fishy odor.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive or sesame oil

2 pieces 4oz salmon fillets

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Chopped scallions or sesame seeds for garnish

Directions

Heat oil in a pan, then sear salmon fillets seasoned with salt and pepper for four minutes, skin-side down. Flip, add a soy-ginger mixture, and cook for another three to five minutes until flaky. Garnish with scallions or sesame seeds.

Homemade Potato Gnocchi

Transform ordinary kitchen staples like potatoes, eggs, and flour into light and fluffy gnocchi. Sauté them with that jar of pasta sauce in your kitchen cupboard and you’ve got a delicious Italian meal just asking to be devoured.

Ingredients

½ kg potatoes, cleaned not skinned

1 cup flour

½ teaspoon salt and pepper mix

1 egg

1 jar of pasta sauce

Directions

To make gnocchi, boil potatoes, mash them, then combine with flour, egg, salt, and pepper to form a dough. Shape the dough into small pasta pieces, and boil them until they float. Meanwhile, heat up your pasta sauce. Toss cooked gnocchi in the sauce and serve immediately with grated cheese.

Chicken and Mushroom

Using only chicken and mushrooms, plus some basic ingredients like salt, pepper, and butter, this is a flavorful dish that will surely impress everyone at home—future houseguests included.

Ingredients

2 chicken breast halves

2 ½ cups of fresh mushrooms, sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon butter

Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Season chicken with salt and pepper. Sear chicken in hot olive oil until browned on both sides. Add mushrooms and cook until softened. Transfer skillet to oven and bake chicken until cooked through. Let chicken rest. Deglaze skillet with water, scraping browned bits. Reduce liquid, then stir in butter for a rich sauce.

Honey Mustard Pork Chops

A quick and tasty way to prepare pork chops, expect this to be a permanent crowd pleaser. Head out to the backyard and fire up the grill, summer at home is the perfect time to have a barbecue party with the family.

Ingredients

1kg porkchops, ½ inch thick

¼ cup honey

2 tablespoons mustard

1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Fire up your grill. Combine honey and mustard; melt butter. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Grill chops for 3-5 minutes per side. Brush with honey mustard, grill another 5 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

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Five or Less

Apple Juice Chicken

Ingredients

Directions

Ginger Soy Salmon

Ingredients

Directions

Homemade Potato Gnocchi

Ingredients

Directions

Chicken and Mushroom

Ingredients

Directions

Honey Mustard Pork Chops

Ingredients

Directions

Ready to unleash your inner chef? Stock your kitchen with these must-have essentials.

TRAMONTINA

BREVILLE

DE'LONGHI

TEFAL

SPODE

TRAMONTINA

CORELLE

ROYAL DOULTON

Read more

Ready to unleash your inner chef?
Stock your kitchen with these must-have essentials.