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3 unique and easy-to-make recipes for students

Hungry? Try some of these three beginner-friendly recipes below

By: Candice Zhang

How many of you constantly skip breakfast just to make it to your lecture on time? And how many of you skip lunch because of back-to-back lectures? 

If you answered yes to both of these questions, many other fellow students can sympathize with you. With the constant bombardment of school, extracurriculars and other part-time activities, finding some time to prepare meals can be challenging. The process becomes even more difficult when you don’t particularly enjoy cooking. 

However, with all of that said, you may be surprised to hear that there are a few quick meal recipes you can prepare beforehand. Most of these meals will only take a few minutes to put together. Without further ado, here are three meals which are my personal go-to’s: 

Tasty Lunch Sandwich 

Instead of purchasing sandwiches from fancy grocery stores, you can make your own sandwich with a few clever tricks. These recipes are easy to make, prepare and are super tasty. You can adjust them to your own preferences and needs. Here is a recipe which I use to make my sandwiches: 

Time required: 5-10 minutes. 

Ingredients: 

  • Two slices of ham 
  • Two slices of bread 
  • Mayonnaise spread 
  • One leaf of lettuce
  • One slice of cheese

Steps

  1. Grab two slices of bread and place them in a toaster. 
  2. When the two slices of bread are toasted, put them on a plate and apply the mayonnaise spread across both slices. Ensure you are fully covering one side of both slices. 
  3. Grab the two slices of ham and fold them in half. Place them on one slice of bread. 
  4. Add the slice of cheese.
  5. Fold the lettuce in half and place it on top of the cheese.
  6. Top the layers off with your last slice of bread. 

Now, you can pack your sandwich in your lunchbag and enjoy it for lunch. 

Easy Bibimbap 

Bibimbap is a Korean dish filled with rice and different types of meats and vegetables. It’s relatively easy to make, although it can be time consuming. But with the correct ingredients and preparation, stirring up a bibimbap is definitely doable in a short amount of time. Here is a recipe which I abide by: 

Time required: 20-40 minutes 

Ingredients

  • One cup of rice 
  • Kimchi (from Lucky Moose, HMart, or Galleria). View recipe here to make your own.
  • Rib Eye Slices (small pieces, about 6-8). 
  • Two tablespoon of Gochujang sauce
  • One Tablespoon of water
  • One Teaspoon of minced garlic
  • One Tablespoon of sugar 
  • One egg

Steps 

  1. Begin by cooking the rib eye slices: Sprinkle some oil over a pan, turn it on medium heat and wait for 3-5 minutes. Then, add the rib eye slices. 
  2. While keeping an eye on the rib eye slices, wash the one cup of rice thoroughly and pour it into a rice cooker. Then, add the water and turn on the rice cooker.  Alternatively, put rice in a pot and add about two inches of water. Let the rice soak for 10-20 minutes, and then drain the rice.
  3. Continue to reposition the rib eye slices, until the edges are golden brown, and until both sides are cooked. 
  4. Now, you can make the sauce: Combine the gochujang, water, minced garlic, and sugar together. Ensure that the consistency is thin; the fluid should pour out of the bowl effortlessly.
  5. Once you finish cooking the rib eye slices, place them on the side on a plate. 
  6. Now, turn the heat to high, and add the egg. 
  7. When the edges of the egg turn golden brown, flip the egg and leave it on for 30 seconds. 
  8. When you finish cooking the egg, place it on another plate. 
  9. Arrange the bibimbap in a bowl: Add the rice, then the kimchi, followed by the rib eye. Drizzle some of the sauce, and add an egg on top. 

Now you have it! Some delicious, homemade bibimbap for dinner. 

Easy Stir Fry 

Do you have some leftover rice? You can easily take some out of the fridge and put them in a pan for a quick stir fry dish. If you’re in a hurry and are running out the door, here is another filling recipe you can consider for lunch. 

Time required: 20-30 minutes

Ingredients 

  • One and a half cups of rice
  • One-third cup of diced carrots 
  • One-third cup of peas
  • One or two eggs 

Steps

  1. Turn the heat on to medium. Drizzle a frying pan with oil. 
  2. After 5-10 minutes, crack an egg and place it in the pan. You can now begin scrambling the egg. 
  3. After around 7 minutes, add the vegetables. 
  4. After two minutes of placing the vegetables, place the rice and cook the meal together. 
  5. Add salt or pepper for more flavour. 
  6. Wait until the vegetables and eggs turn golden brown; ensure the rice is also spread apart and not clumped together. Then, you’re ready to enjoy your meal. 

This stir fry is a quick recipe to combine different ingredients with diverse nutritional value. 

Which dish should I pick out of the three? 

Picking when to eat these three dishes depends on your preferences and lifestyle choices. However, I would usually go with the sandwich for lunch or breakfast, just because they’re easier to prepare and more portable to carry around campus. 

For dinner, especially when I’m studying at home, I would opt for bibimbap due to the longer preparation time. The good news is that the bibimbap is often filling and delicious, as there are multiple ingredients. So, the longer time for preparation is often worth the sacrifice. 

Stir-fry can be used for many meals: It can be a filling breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to the number of ingredients and nutritional value.
Being a student often entails multiple deadlines. However, meals cannot be missed as they are essential for a healthier lifestyle. In the end, it’s best to choose a dish which resonates with yours. 

I encourage you to try out these recipes, and let us know which one you enjoy the most!