Things I’ve Been Cooking Instead of Doing My Homework

To those who are now off campus with their own kitchens, or those who have made a make-shift dorm version, this article is for you. It's all exciting until you're standing in the kitchen at 8pm with a paper due and no idea what to make. So here's a list of the meals I keep coming back to: low-prep, fast, and easy to adapt whether you have a full kitchen, a shared one, or just a rice cooker and a microwave. Most ingredients are easy to find at Trader Joe's, Stop & Shop, or wherever you shop. I've been cooking these instead of doing my homework so let that be a warning to you.

The Bowls

The Better-than Emily Mariko Salmon Bowls

When I asked people what their first meal in their new off-campus kitchen was, every single one said a salmon bowl. And they’re not wrong. It's just perfect. I love switching between a miso-salmon nobu dupe or spicy mayo situation, but you can’t go wrong. Pro tip: Costco's prepacked frozen salmon is so easy, well-priced, and delicious. Thaw it, add a sauce (or don't), and put it under the broiler for 7 minutes. Then add your non-negotiables: rice, avocado, cucumber, scallions, and seaweed. Everything else is up to you, and it hits every time.

Not-boring Ground Beef and Rice Bowls

I do actually like ground beef and rice, but not in the seasonless, joyless, protein-crazy way I keep seeing on my TikTok feed. My favorite way to make that meal more exciting is a beef teriyaki bowl. I usually make it when I’m craving Chinese takeout but want something a little healthier and faster. Cook ground beef with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and hoisin (or skip all that and use store-bought teriyaki sauce). Add onions, peppers, and broccoli if you want more veg, and top with sesame seeds and scallions. I like to get my beef almost crispy so cook until super crusty. Serve with rice and spring rolls from Trader Joes if you want to get extra fun.

Sushi-ish Bowls 

Unfortunately, as college students, no one has the time or money for sushi-grade fish on a weeknight. Sushi is by far my favorite food, and even though this is not a sushi recipe, this recipe always fixes my craving. Canned tuna is a great substitute, you just need to zhuzh it up with mayo, sriracha, soy sauce, and my secret touch: yuzu juice, which really cuts the fishy canned taste. (Honestly add yuzu to every single dish on this list and you’ll thank me). Add whatever else you like in your sushi rolls—avocado, cucumbers, edamame, mango, crispy seaweed, scallions, etc. Use microwave rice and you’ll never have to touch the stove. Eel sauce is also a big game-changer and it’s only 5$ from the Loop by Hachiroku. 

The Rice Cooker

10-min-prep Hainanese Chicken Rice

All you need is rice, chicken, garlic, ginger, scallions, dark soy sauce (or regular if you can’t find it), and chili crunch. All of these ingredients you can find at Trader Joes, Stop and Shop, The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, or wherever you choose to shop. If you want the dark soy sauce, The Loop, Hong Kong Grocer, or Gmart all have them. Cook the chicken and rice together in chicken broth in the rice cooker, and the chicken comes out tender. You can even take the skin off and crisp it separately. While it cooks, pour hot oil over chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic, and you're done. Top the chicken and rice with the scallion sauce, chili crisp or sambal, and soy. Please just don’t have plain chicken and rice, please.

Pasta

Tinned-Seafood Pasta

Tinned fish is a sleeper hit, specifically the tinned mussels and calamari from Trader Joe’s. I feel fancy every time I top them with a puttanesca-style sauce, so almost everything comes from a jar or tin. I use olives, capers, tomato paste, tomatoes, onion, garlic, lemon, white wine if I have it, the tinned fish at the end, and parsley. It feels luxurious for cheap. Panko breadcrumb is the best topper if you want to go even further.

One-pot Orzo with Ground Beef

The simplest dish if you think you can't cook. Onion, ground beef, spinach, garlic, shredded cheese, and orzo all go in one pot. Cook the onion and ground beef first, then add garlic and spinach. Cover with water or chicken broth and cook until the pasta is done; then, add cheese and stir until everything is creamy. It cannot get easier than that.

Just Simple Bolognese

This is my favorite dish my mom makes, and the first thing she taught all my siblings to cook. She uses lots of carrots, onion, and garlic, then ground beef, tomato sauce, and oregano or Italian seasoning. It’s got everything you’d ever want: Protein, carbs, and it freezes well for if you ever want to do meal prep. Or, it’s a perfect date dish with some wine if that’s what you're looking for.

Fridge Clean Out

Doenjang Jjigae

"Refrigerator-cleaner stew," a.k.a throw in everything you haven't used during the week. I usually use onion, potato, tofu, garlic, ginger, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms, but it varies depending on what’s left in my fridge. The key ingredients are doenjang, gochujang, and ssamjang. Then, a little soy sauce, gochugaru if you like it spicy, and fish sauce for extra flavor. Eat it on its own or with rice, topped with green onions. Super versatile and feels super nutritious. 

Costco Hacks

Chicken Soup and Chicken Salad and Chicken Dinner

You can make three dishes in one from the beloved Costco rotisserie chicken. Which is FIVE DOLLARS BTW. First, take the chicken out of the bag but DO NOT throw out the bag with the juices. Take the legs off and set aside. Then take the breast meat off the bones and take the skin off. You are left with a carcass, the juices, and the wings. Toss them all in a pot with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken bouillon, and some spices and let simmer for three hours. With the chicken breasts, shred them with your hands or a fork, and take half and set aside to add in the soup later. With the rest, add some mayo, celery, apple, onion, and anything else you like in your chicken salad (I like mine super herby so I add a bunch in). Finally, take your two chicken legs and eat with some potatoes, pasta, salad, or anything you have in your fridge. 

Notes

I'm not a rotation girl, since I hate eating the same thing twice, but these are the meals I'd happily make again and again. Though most of it comes from a jar, a can, or the freezer, it's all been way better than the dining hall. And if you have a go-to dinner or underrated combination I need to try, send it my way. I'll be in my kitchen (not doing my homework).