3 ways to transform your instant meals into healthier and tastier treats
Admit it, more often than not, what you have in your pantry would be hassle-free instant food. As any person who’s lived independently (ahem, alone) knows, they’re pretty painless and require minimal to no cooking, which means not only do you get to eat faster, but also lessen the potential damage you can inflict on your kitchen.
But hey, eating shouldn’t just be about filling your stomach, good food can work wonders for the soul – and your ego – since you’re actually going to do this. A quick scan through The Maya Kitchen’s trove of recipes has provided these 3 simple ways to transform your instant meals into tastier, healthier, and over-all, fancier dishes. Let’s get down to business.
From canned tuna to Italian sandwich!
This Chili Corned Tuna Salad in Panini Toast provides a yummy twist to your canned staple. And you can do this in just 3 steps!
- 1 can corned tuna, 380 grams, drained
- 2 tablespoons celery, chopped
- 1 piece red onion, sliced or chopped
- 3 tablespoons pickle relish
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 pairs prepared buttered batard bread slices, pressed in panini machine
- cucumber, thinly slice
- red onion, thinly slice
Start by mixing drained corned canned tuna with celery, onion, pickle relish, mayonnaise, chili powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Lay thin cuts of cucumber and red onion on top of a slice of toasted batard bread. Lastly, spread the tuna salad mixture onto the bread. Enjoy it by yourself or share the hefty servings!
Yield: 3 servings
Instant noodles to Thai stir-fry!
Your favorite pack of instant noodles is filled with endless possibilities far beyond the instructions on the back. Use it to whip up this Thai Chicken and Peanut Stir-Fry Noodles recipe, a great (and healthier!) option to your usual instant fare.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 150 grams chicken breast fillet, chopped
- 1 piece large-sized carrots, julienne
- 1 piece medium-sized onion, sliced
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 100 grams sliced fresh shitake mushrooms
- 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow and green)
- 3 tablespoons oyster sauce or light soy sauce
- 500 grams fresh egg thick noodles “miki”, blanched, washed and cleaned
- prepared peanut sauce
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2-3 tablespoons Chinese chili-garlic sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons rice wine/mirin
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup wansoy, chopped
- 2 stalks leeks, sliced diagonally
- freshly roasted peanuts, as needed
Pan fry pieces of chicken until lightly browned, then add in carrots, onion, garlic, mushroom, bell pepper, and oyster sauce. Cook the noodles together with peanut butter sauce for 5 minutes. Place noodles on a platter, then top it with the stir-fried chicken, vegetable mixture, wansoy leeks, and roasted peanuts. And voila, you’ve added a Thai dish to your menu!
Yield: 5-6 servings
Cake mix to delectable dessert!
Store-bought dessert? Nope, but it’ll definitely look like it. Stock up on MAYA Happy Mug Cake Mix’s two flavors, chocolate cake with caramel sauce or caramel cake with chocolate sauce.
Ingredients:
- Banana Chocolate Mug Cake
- 1 pack MAYA Happy Mug Chocolate Mug Cake Mix
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1/2 piece overripe banana (mashed)
- banana, mug cake sauce
- Green Tea Mug Cake
- 1 pack MAYA Happy Mug Caramel Mug Cake Mix
- 2 teaspoons sweet matcha powder
- 3 tablespoons water/milk
- whipped cream, green tea powder
- Ube Mug Cake
- 1 pack MAYA Happy Mug Caramel Mug Cake Mix
- 1 tablespoon ube jam
- 3 tablespoons water/milk
- whipped cream, ube jam
- Strawberry Mug Cake
- 1 pack MAYA Happy Mug Caramel Mug Cake Mix
- 1 tablespoon strawberry jam
- 3 tablespoons water
- whipped cream, fresh strawberries
- Caramel Biscuit Mug Cake
- 1 pack MAYA Happy Mug Caramel Mug Cake Mix
- 1 tablespoon caramel cookie butter
- 3 tablespoons water
- whipped cream, caramel biscuits
Just follow the instructions on the back to prepare your base. Now, here’s the exciting part: upgrade your mug cakes by adding mashed bananas (best with chocolate cake), sweet matcha powder, ube jam, strawberry jam, or cookie butter into the mixture. Pop these little treats in the microwave for 2 minutes, then drizzle the sauce over the top as you add fresh fruits and whipped cream before digging in—the same way your fave pastry chefs do.
Nothing beats quick, easy-to-follow recipes from The Maya Kitchen to help you turn your instant meals into everyday gourmet dishes. Learn more uncomplicated ways to eat well at www.themayakitchen.com.
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Learn great recipes at www.themayakitchen.com. If you want to take your baking and cooking skills up a notch check out Maya Kitchen’s course offerings at the website, e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.
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