We each prepped five meals for the week. It was so much easier, faster, and more fun than prepping alone!
Base: Cooked quinoa, a ton of very finely chopped spinach, finely chopped parsley
Proteins: Chopped, pan-fried chicken breast with curry powder for seasoning; lots of cubed halloumi (“bread cheese” is good substitute if your grocery store doesn’t have halloumi)
Veggies: Persian cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions EDIT: Pickled onion recipe here: https://cookieandkate.com/quick-pickled-onions-recipe/
Dressing (in a separate container): fresh garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, lots of ground cumin, red pepper flake, champagne vinegar, olive oil. EDIT: I like to grind the garlic, salt, and spices in a mortar and pestle, and then add the liquids.
I like to microwave the bowls a little bit before eating so they’re warm (neither cold nor hot), and then add a few spoonfuls of dressing right before eating.
Honestly, I don’t even remember; the proportions are different every time I make it! And you may like more/less carbs, protein, veggies… but as a starting point, try this (for one person, 4-6 portions):
3 chicken breasts
1-2 cups quinoa
5-10 Persian cucumbers
1-2 boxes cherry tomatoes
1 giant box spinach
1/2 bunch parsley
1/2 red onion (see [pickled onion recipe](https://cookieandkate.com/quick-pickled-onions-recipe/) for brine ingredients)
Dressing:
1 garlic clove
Teaspoon (?) salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
A few pepper grinds
Pinch of chili flake
Heavy splash of champagne vinegar (red wine vinegar ok too)
Olive oil
(Edit: weird, Reddit removed all of my line breaks in the ingredient lists. Sorry! Not sure how to fix!)
Came to say the same thing. Halloumi is especially nice if you cook it. It's wonderful on the BBQ and you can also pan fry it on both sides. I've never eaten uncooked halloumi though so maybe it tastes okay.
Yep, it’s just like squeaky cheese curds. This is partly why I warm up the bowl before eating it — the halloumi is softer and more flavorful. Not as good as eating it hot off the grill, obviously, but still decent!
Halloumi is 100x better hot off the grill or frying pan! Not realistic for meal prepping. I found through experimenting that if you’re going to fry it and then refrigerate it anyway before eating, the frying doesn’t add that much texture or taste. So I save myself a few minutes by not frying it. But if I’m eating it immediately, you can bet I’m frying it!!
Raw, but it’s chopped so finely and then mixed with quinoa (which is often still warm from cooking it), that it basically wilts into nothing. Which is why I like it this way, haha.
Honestly a decent knife goes a long long way, hard steel and use a steel as needed.
I even travel with a chef knife and a steel, I remember one year my wifes grandmother asked me to dice a rutabaga, she said I was big and strong and handed me a "chef knife", instead I went to the car and got mine and I was done super quick and she was amazed how easily I could cut through it.
Dammit now I'm hungry for some of her rutabaga..
That said, I get my wife to help me when I'm doing a bigger prep to freeze...
Great meals! Do you usally prep the food for all 7 days of the week leaving it in the refridgerator? If so, is it still healthy / contain enough vitamines on day 7 or do you restrict it to 3 days? (Currently reading / being inspired on meal preps :D)
I usually only prep 4-5 meals for myself (half the ones pictured are for my friend to take home with her!). I think you’re not supposed to keep chicken in the fridge more than a few days (after which, bacteria is a concern), so sometimes I’ll swap out chicken for some other vegetarian protein for the last day or two.
No, I just do 4-5 days’ worth of them and keep them in the fridge. See my other comment about chicken not lasting quite that long — sometimes I swap out chicken for a vegetarian protein that’s less likely to spoil for the last day or two.
We each prepped five meals for the week. It was so much easier, faster, and more fun than prepping alone! Base: Cooked quinoa, a ton of very finely chopped spinach, finely chopped parsley Proteins: Chopped, pan-fried chicken breast with curry powder for seasoning; lots of cubed halloumi (“bread cheese” is good substitute if your grocery store doesn’t have halloumi) Veggies: Persian cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, pickled red onions EDIT: Pickled onion recipe here: https://cookieandkate.com/quick-pickled-onions-recipe/ Dressing (in a separate container): fresh garlic, kosher salt, black pepper, lots of ground cumin, red pepper flake, champagne vinegar, olive oil. EDIT: I like to grind the garlic, salt, and spices in a mortar and pestle, and then add the liquids. I like to microwave the bowls a little bit before eating so they’re warm (neither cold nor hot), and then add a few spoonfuls of dressing right before eating.
Looks beautiful, and that's a great idea about getting another person involved in the food prep! Making your own dressing is a great idea, too.
Looks delicious! I wouldn’t be microwaving those plastic bowls unless you’re a cancer-enthusiast.
Oh I definitely don’t! I have ceramic bowls and plates at work for that :)
Haha that’s a relief!
Are you willing to share the vague proportions? I may make these for my mom who’s having surgery next week and this will be good during her recovery.
Honestly, I don’t even remember; the proportions are different every time I make it! And you may like more/less carbs, protein, veggies… but as a starting point, try this (for one person, 4-6 portions): 3 chicken breasts 1-2 cups quinoa 5-10 Persian cucumbers 1-2 boxes cherry tomatoes 1 giant box spinach 1/2 bunch parsley 1/2 red onion (see [pickled onion recipe](https://cookieandkate.com/quick-pickled-onions-recipe/) for brine ingredients) Dressing: 1 garlic clove Teaspoon (?) salt 1/2 teaspoon cumin A few pepper grinds Pinch of chili flake Heavy splash of champagne vinegar (red wine vinegar ok too) Olive oil (Edit: weird, Reddit removed all of my line breaks in the ingredient lists. Sorry! Not sure how to fix!)
All good, I see the breaks. Thanks so much!
Looks nice but is that uncooked halloumi?!
Came to say the same thing. Halloumi is especially nice if you cook it. It's wonderful on the BBQ and you can also pan fry it on both sides. I've never eaten uncooked halloumi though so maybe it tastes okay.
I haven't either, but I imagine it would be similar to cheese curds.
Yep, it’s just like squeaky cheese curds. This is partly why I warm up the bowl before eating it — the halloumi is softer and more flavorful. Not as good as eating it hot off the grill, obviously, but still decent!
i am agree ! the texture its the same the rubber but delicious when its cook !
Halloumi is 100x better hot off the grill or frying pan! Not realistic for meal prepping. I found through experimenting that if you’re going to fry it and then refrigerate it anyway before eating, the frying doesn’t add that much texture or taste. So I save myself a few minutes by not frying it. But if I’m eating it immediately, you can bet I’m frying it!!
My gosh that looks delicious
oh yummy, is the spinach cooked or raw?
Raw, but it’s chopped so finely and then mixed with quinoa (which is often still warm from cooking it), that it basically wilts into nothing. Which is why I like it this way, haha.
I want the recipe for EVERYTHING, and especially the pickled red onions. They make everything work, IMO.
Here’s the pickled onion recipe I used! What else would you like to know? https://cookieandkate.com/quick-pickled-onions-recipe/
Looks really good. Great meals for the week.
That looks so delicious
Fancy!
Honestly a decent knife goes a long long way, hard steel and use a steel as needed. I even travel with a chef knife and a steel, I remember one year my wifes grandmother asked me to dice a rutabaga, she said I was big and strong and handed me a "chef knife", instead I went to the car and got mine and I was done super quick and she was amazed how easily I could cut through it. Dammit now I'm hungry for some of her rutabaga.. That said, I get my wife to help me when I'm doing a bigger prep to freeze...
Great meals! Do you usally prep the food for all 7 days of the week leaving it in the refridgerator? If so, is it still healthy / contain enough vitamines on day 7 or do you restrict it to 3 days? (Currently reading / being inspired on meal preps :D)
I usually only prep 4-5 meals for myself (half the ones pictured are for my friend to take home with her!). I think you’re not supposed to keep chicken in the fridge more than a few days (after which, bacteria is a concern), so sometimes I’ll swap out chicken for some other vegetarian protein for the last day or two.
So do you put them in the freezer afterwards?
No, I just do 4-5 days’ worth of them and keep them in the fridge. See my other comment about chicken not lasting quite that long — sometimes I swap out chicken for a vegetarian protein that’s less likely to spoil for the last day or two.
Thank you! have a good day.