quick supper ideas
Quick Supper Ideas
Cooking full-fledged supper meals can be a headache for most families on the go. Here are some quick supper ideas that are designed to make your meals easier to cook, as well as being delicious.
The English word supper is derived from the old German word 'sup', and refers to the last meal or evening meal. Although it is often used as a synonym to dinner, suppers are actually a separate meal that can refer to an informal, and usually simpler family meal. Most women have those frantic days of running around when fast food seems to be the only option for your supper time.
It doesn't matter whether you work outside your home, are a stay-at-home mom or a work-at-home mom, most of the time you are too busy to cook full-fledged meals. However, if you want to enjoy a nutritious but quick and easy supper, then use these ideas can help you on your way. They can help ease your evening chores, leaving you less frazzled and rushed after your cooking, with more time for peace and quiet before bedtime. What's more, your quick fix supper ideas use a few outstandingly fresh ingredients which are not only better than the conventional fast food, they also taste delicious.
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Savory Seafood Ideas
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Want something delectable and simple to make? Then you have to try mouth-watering shrimp tacos. All you need is approximately two pounds of shrimp, fifteen store-bought corn tortillas along with some butter, jalapeno chile (without stem), canola oil, some chopped onions, garlic and parsley.
Cook the chopped onions in canola oil. Add the shrimp to the pan once the onions have browned, and sauté for some time before adding butter, garlic, salt and the jalapeno stem. Heat the tortillas, and spoon the filling in the middle. Add some cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.
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Yummy Variations: Top the taco with some yummy mango salsa. Chop some mangoes, bell peppers and onions , and mix it with a bit of pepper and cilantro to make a yummy addition to the tacos.
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Time Taken: 25 minutes
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Salmon is a fish that is full of wonderful flavor. All you need to do is roast it with some butter or oil, and add some fresh herbs like cilantro to enhance the wonderful flavor of the dish. Preheat the oil along with some herbs in a roasting pan, before adding the salmon fillets to it.
This causes the fish to sizzle as soon a it touches the pan and gives it a slight brown color. All you now need to do is roast for around five minutes, before taking it off heat and adding some salt and pepper. Spoon some butter on top, and garnish with herbs.
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Yummy Variations: Serve it with some scrumptious mushroom noodles. If you are health conscious, switch to low-fat oil instead of butter. Chervil, dill, parsley are some other herbs you can use for the dish.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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If your cupboard is stocked with some Asian cooking essentials, then this dish is the quickest thing that you can make after a long day at work. To make prawn noodle soup, you would need flat noodles, chicken stock, and some ten to twelve prawns. Boil the noodles till it is done, and then drain out the water. Place the chicken stock in a pan, and add star anise, fish sauce, lime juice and a pinch of sugar. Bring it to a boil before adding prawns and noodles. Top the dish with some fresh spring onions and coriander.
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Yummy Variations: Add some coconut milk to the soup for a wonderful rich addition to the soup.
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Time Taken: 20 minutes
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Enhance the subtle taste of scallops by slightly searing it, and then adding it to fresh salad greens. This dish is not only quick but also very healthy.
Mix some large sea scallops with salt, black pepper, olive oil, minced garlic and some fresh ginger. Sauté the scallop mix in a pan which is lightly coated with oil, for two to four minutes on each side. Add it to salad greens and toss.
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Yummy Variations: Make a delicious salad dressing by mixing honey, lime juice, salt and vinegar in a bowl. Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad.
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Time Taken: 10 minutes![]()
Piquant Chicken Ideas
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An easy chicken casserole recipe should be in every woman's recipe book. Just add your favorite vegetables, herbs and a little squeeze of lemon juice to make a yummy casserole.
In a large pan, place the chicken breasts, chopped carrots, onions and celery, bay leaves and around six peppercorns. Add water to cover all the ingredients. Bring the mixture to a boil till the chicken is cooked and the vegetables are tender.
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Yummy Variations: Add condensed cream of soup or stir in some crème fraîche if you like.
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Time Taken: 20 minutes
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Simple, quick and easy-to-make, the delicious chicken cakes can be had on their own or with rice and noodles. In a food processor, add the chicken with one clove of chopped garlic, some freshly chopped ginger, coriander and onions. Blitz for approximately twenty seconds. Use your hands to shape the chicken mix into small cakes, before frying them in a pan. Serve with some sliced spring onions and sweet chili sauce.
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Yummy Variations: Add fish sauce, finely chopped lemongrass stalk and spring onions to add Thai flavors to the dish.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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A classic Italian dish that makes for an excellent time-saving supper idea, chicken piccata is made by slicing and then flattening the chicken breasts to make thin cutlets. These thin cuts of chicken are dredged in a mix of flour, salt, pepper and Parmesan cheese, and then browned in a pan for around three to four minutes.
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Yummy Variations: Top the chicken piccata with a sauce made by adding chicken stock or white wine, capers and lemon juice to the same pan that was used for making the piccata. Once the sauce is reduced by half, add some butter. Pour this over the piccata, and serve with some lemon slices and parsley on top.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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Chicken nachos are a delicious, easy-to-prepare recipe which can be hearty enough for a supper as well. To make this dish, place the tortilla chips in a baking dish and top it with shredded chicken, salt, pepper that is mixed with oil and salsa. Add shredded cheese on top and bake for ten minutes, till the cheese melts.
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Yummy Variations: Serve with guacamole and sour cream.
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Time Taken: 10 minutes![]()
Appetizing Pork and Beef Ideas
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Pork chops can be cooked in a number of ways but one of the easiest ways of doing it is by roasting it in a pan. To make this quick-fix pork dish, combine flour, rosemary, pepper and salt in a dish, and dredge the pork chops in the mix. Melt butter in a pan, and roast the pork chops on each side till browned. Make a sauce for the pork chops by combining some broth and vinegar with the loose bits in the pan.
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Yummy Variations: Add balsamic vinegar to add a tangy twist to the dish.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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Sandwiched between two tortillas, pork quesadillas for full of flavor. Add a meaty twist to this classic Mexican dish by mixing the pork with some salsa for added flavor before adding it to the warmed tortillas.
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Yummy Variations: Add cheese before spooning on the pork mixture on the tortillas.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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Sausage spaghetti is a yummy, delectable dish that can be made with leftover sausages. Add chillies, lots of tomatoes, onions and garlic to enhance the flavor of the sausages before adding it to al dente spaghetti (cooked and slightly firm). Grated Parmesan cheese, dried oregano or basil can be used for flavoring the dish.
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Yummy Variations: The best thing about this dish is the number of variations that you can try. Adding cabbage, squash or green peppers adds a different flavor to the dish.
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Time Taken: 20 minutes
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Mini cheeseburgers are sure to be a hit with everyone be it adults, or kids. This is great party recipe as well. The moist burgers are not only mouth-watering but also healthy for your child. Mix the lean ground beef with Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, garlic powder and pepper to flavor it before shaping it into small balls. Broil for five to six minutes in the oven. Top it with cheese slices, place on burgers and serve.
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Yummy Variations: Add a spicy twist to the burgers by adding some pickle relish to the beef.
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Time Taken: 30 minutes![]()
Vegetarian Delight
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Also known as 'Khao Phat Che', the Thai vegetarian fried rice is an important part of Thai cuisine. Made with Jasmine rice, this dish is simple to make and consumes less time. While Thai fried rice is usually made with meat chunks, there is a vegetarian way of cooking this dish. The fragrant rice is flavored with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, carrots, scallions and bok choy. It is served with lemon wedges and cilantro on top.
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Yummy Variations: Adding coconut milk adds to the flavor of the dish.
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Time Taken: 10 minutes
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A simple and hearty vegetarian dish that is sure to win your hearts, chili is made with black beans, kidney beans, bell peppers and some common spices like chili powder, turmeric, cumin. Herbs like basil and oregano are used to flavor this mouth-watering spicy dish. It can be had alone or served with some rice.
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Yummy Variations: Garnish the chili with sour cream, grated cheese, cilantro, avocado and cornbread crumble.
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Time Taken: 20 minutes
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Pita is a round pocket bread that can be cut and stuffed with delectable fillings. Fill the pockets with some fresh Greek salad made with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and tofu, or add store-bought hummus.
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Yummy Variations: The fillings can be varied. So let your imagination run wild and experiment with new flavors for the pita pockets. Let your kids do the stuffing for a fun family time in the kitchen.
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Time Taken: 15 minutes
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Instead of ordering for a store-bought pizza, try making a mushroom pizza at home. Add some tomatoes and mozzarella to make it a delicious pizza. All you need to do is take a pizza base, top it with sautéed mushrooms and tomatoes. Bake the pizza for around ten minutes, before taking it out and adding cheese. Place it in the oven, and bake till the cheese melts.
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Yummy Variations: Add olives, peppers and sprinkle some rosemary and parsley on top.
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Time Taken: 20 minutes
Most of these ideas take less than 10 minutes to prep and another 10 minutes to cook. So use these simple supper ideas, which will save you the trouble and give your family a meal that they will love!
Your Palate Demands...
Shrimp Tacos
Roasted Salmon with Cilantro
Prawn Noodle Soup
Seared Scallop Salad
Chicken Casserole
Chicken Cakes
Chicken Piccata
Chicken Nachos
Pan-Roasted Pork Chops
Pork Quesadillas
Sausage Spaghetti
Mini Cheeseburgers
Vegetarian Thai Fried Rice
Chili
Pita Pockets
Mushroom Pizza