Meals on the table within 30 minutes - quick and easy recipes - page 91

Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, the waffles for this bacon, cheese, and fried egg breakfast sandwich are a cool transformation of ramen noodles. Just boil the noodles, drain, and incorporate them into a straight-up waffle batter (chicken flavoring packet added for a savory boost).

Ah, the fried egg taco, favorite of the early-morning protein seeker and the late-night fridge raider. In this healthy twist, you start by sautéing shallots and quickly wilting some arugula. Then fry your eggs, transfer to warm corn tortillas, add your favorite red salsa, and you’re done.

Fish offers a wide canvas for tacos: grilled, battered and fried, ceviche-cured. Here, boneless fillets are seasoned, floured, and pan-fried so they’re crisp at the edges, moist and tender inside. A simple fresh pineapple salsa spiked with lime and jalapeños gives the tacos brightness and a little bite. What to buy: Tilapia is a fish that’s affordable and readily available, but check to make sure the fillets you buy are from a source that practices sustainable aquaculture.

A five-minute turn in a stovetop smoker gives instant ramen noodles a depth of flavor that tastes like it took hours. You start by steaming eggs in the shell, before placing them in the smoker with the noodles. Then make the instant ramen in the usual way, and serve the smoked egg on top. It’s simple, comfortingly complex, and satisfying all at once. Special equipment: You’ll need a stovetop smoker for this recipe—our favorite is the compact and affordable model from Camerons.

The calzone—pizza dough lavished with a handful of cheese and other toppings, folded over, sealed, and baked—is the perfect self-contained meal. Here we fill ours with cheese, ham, and sliced jalapeños, and because we start with store-bought pizza dough, it all comes together in a flash. What to buy: Premade pizza dough is available bagged in 14- or 16-ounce portions at well-stocked groceries. If you’d like to make your own, you’ll need two-thirds of our Basic Pizza Dough recipe.

Nothing opens our eyes in the morning like breakfast tacos, especially ones that hold something bold and spicy. Here, we combine sautéed poblano chile strips with ham under a fried egg, served in a warm corn tortilla. Up and at ’em!

Skip the bun and wrap it up pigs-in-the-blanket style with this ridiculously easy yet whimsical jumbo-sized rendition. Just roll out store-bought pizza dough and cut it into strips that you use to spiral-wrap the hot dogs. Bake and serve with beer and caraway seed mustard, spicy yellow mustard, or whole grain dijon mustard. If you’d like to make your own pizza dough, you’ll need two-thirds of our recipe for Basic Pizza Dough.

We got the idea for these impromptu gnocchi from our Home Cooking community discussion board. All you need is half a pound of pizza dough, a pot of boiling salted water, and a sauce (marinara is perfect). Enlist your kids to help with the shaping, then let them watch you poaching the dough and tossing it in the sauce. What to buy: Premade pizza dough is available bagged in 14- or 16-ounce portions at well-stocked groceries.

Rolls hot from the oven can take a dinner party from nice to amazing, but with all the other things clamoring for a cook’s attention, home-baked bread tends to fall through the cracks. These knot-shaped, garlic- and parsley-flavored rolls are different: You start with store-bought pizza dough, which slashes prep time; then just roll, brush with butter and flavorings, and bake. The dough knots also work as a stand-alone nibble, served with marinara sauce for dipping.

We love the Stromboli, the Italian-American pizza roll. We simplified things a bit here, with store-bought pizza dough and a once-over rolling technique. Our filling calls for marinara, shredded mozzarella, ham, and fresh chiles, but don’t be shy about freestyling with other cured meats and cheeses, herbs, veggies—the beauty of a Stromboli (er, Strom-Dough-Li) is its versatility. What to buy: Bags of premade pizza dough are available in 14- or 16-ounce portions at well-stocked groceries.

We couldn’t resist trying this simple yet sophisticated baked asparagus “fries” recipe developed by one of our community members, AngelaID. This supereasy, and healthy, take on deep-fried potatoes is a great side or appetizer at any meal. If you can’t find fresh asparagus because it’s not in season, most stores sell frozen asparagus that’s often cut in stems and pieces, which could be good for bite-sized “fries.”

Pizzas topped with bacon, eggs, and goat cheese—perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Next time you cook bacon for breakfast, set aside a few pieces.

A soft taco topped with a fried egg is perfect as the first thing you eat in the morning or the last thing you eat at night, even when those lines blur a bit. These have refried beans, melted cheddar, and creamy Greek yogurt to boot.

Food writer and cooking teacher Nadine Abensur introduced us to this superpunchy pestolike sauce from North Africa in her book The Cranks Bible: A Timeless Collection of Vegetarian Recipes. Chermoula is delicious with grilled fish and grilled or steamed vegetables, a secret flavor weapon for making healthy stuff taste great. Game plan: Chermoula is best right out of the food processor, but it will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge.

Tender on the inside and craggy with baked cheese on top, these ham and cheese scones are rich and savory, ideal for brunch or to serve alongside bowls of Basic Vegetable Soup for lunch or supper. What to buy: Black Forest ham is dry-cured and smoked—you can substitute another kind of smoked ham.