Table of Contents
7 Mouthwatering Dinner Recipes That Will Make You a Culinary Star!
Homemade Gnocchi
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds (about 900 grams) of russet potatoes
- 2 cups (about 250 grams) of all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 large egg
Optional toppings or sauces:
- Marinara sauce
- Pesto sauce
- Alfredo sauce
- Butter and herbs
Instructions:
- Start by boiling the potatoes: Place the whole potatoes (with skin on) in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, usually about 20-25 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and let them cool slightly until you can handle them comfortably. Peel off the skins using a knife or your fingers.
- Mash the peeled potatoes using a potato masher or a ricer until they are smooth and free of lumps. Let the mashed potatoes cool completely.
- Once the mashed potatoes have cooled, transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Add the salt, egg, and about half of the flour. Mix everything together with your hands or a wooden spoon until a dough starts to form.
- Gradually add more flour, a little at a time, until the dough is soft and slightly sticky but not overly wet. You may not need to use all of the flour.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour. Take a small portion of the dough and roll it into a rope-like shape, about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick.
- Use a knife to cut the rope into small pieces, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. You can leave them as is or create ridges by rolling them gently over the tines of a fork.
- Place the shaped gnocchi on a floured baking sheet or tray in a single layer to prevent them from sticking together.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, carefully drop the gnocchi into the boiling water. Cook them until they float to the surface, which usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove them and transfer to a plate.
- Serve the cooked gnocchi with your favorite sauce or toppings. You can lightly pan-fry them in butter for a crispy texture before adding the sauce if desired.
Asparagus Stuffed Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 bunch of fresh asparagus, trimmed
- 4 slices of mozzarella or provolone cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/4 cup white wine (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them to an even thickness, about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick. Season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Lay a slice of cheese on each chicken breast. Arrange several asparagus spears on top of the cheese.
- Carefully roll up each chicken breast, ensuring the filling stays inside. Use toothpicks to secure the ends if needed.
- In a large oven-safe skillet or baking dish, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Place the stuffed chicken breasts seam-side down in the skillet or baking dish. Brown them on all sides for about 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Pour chicken broth and white wine (if using) into the skillet around the chicken breasts. Add butter to the pan.
- Transfer the skillet or baking dish to the preheated oven. Bake the chicken for about 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley.
- To serve, slice the stuffed chicken breasts into rounds and spoon some of the pan juices over the top.
Shredded Chicken Tacos
Ingredients:
For the shredded chicken:
- 1 pound (about 450 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth or water
- Juice of 1 lime
For assembling the tacos:
- Soft corn or flour tortillas
- Shredded lettuce or cabbage
- Diced tomatoes
- Diced onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced avocado
- Shredded cheese (such as cheddar or Mexican blend)
- Sour cream or Greek yogurt
- Salsa or hot sauce (optional)
Instructions:
- Season the chicken: In a bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken breasts or thighs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and sear for about 3-4 minutes on each side until browned.
- Pour chicken broth or water into the skillet, along with the lime juice. Bring the liquid to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the chicken cook for about 15-20 minutes or until it’s cooked through and tender.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the skillet and transfer it to a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the skillet with the cooking liquid. Stir well to coat the chicken with the flavorful juices. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to absorb the flavors.
- Warm the tortillas: You can heat the tortillas in a dry skillet for a few seconds on each side or wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven.
- Assemble the tacos: Place a spoonful of the shredded chicken onto each tortilla. Top with shredded lettuce or cabbage, diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, avocado slices, shredded cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and salsa or hot sauce if desired.
- Serve the shredded chicken tacos immediately and enjoy!
Teriyaki Fried Rice Dome
Ingredients:
For the teriyaki sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
For the fried rice:
- 3 cups cooked rice (preferably day-old and cooled)
- 2 tablespoons oil (vegetable or sesame oil)
- 1 cup mixed vegetables (such as peas, carrots, corn, and bell peppers)
- 1 cup diced cooked chicken, shrimp, or tofu (optional)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions:
- In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, mirin, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Once simmering, add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan and stir well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large skillet or wok, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add the mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until they start to soften.
- Push the vegetables to one side of the skillet and add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the empty side. Pour the beaten eggs into the oil and scramble until cooked.
- Add the diced chicken, shrimp, or tofu to the skillet and stir-fry briefly until heated through.
- Add the cooked rice to the skillet and pour the teriyaki sauce over the rice. Stir well to combine everything evenly and coat the rice with the sauce. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season the fried rice with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
- To assemble the fried rice dome, use a small bowl or a dome-shaped mold. Fill the mold with the fried rice mixture, pressing gently to pack it down.
- Carefully invert the mold onto a serving plate to release the dome-shaped fried rice.
- Garnish the Eriyaki Fried Rice Dome with chopped green onions and serve hot.
Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Ingredients:
For the marinade:
- 1 pound flank steak, thinly sliced against the grain
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the stir fry:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1/4 cup beef broth or water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
- Cooked rice or noodles for serving
Instructions:
- In a bowl, combine the sliced flank steak with soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, sesame oil, and black pepper. Mix well to coat the meat evenly. Let it marinate for at least 15-20 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the marinated beef slices and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until browned. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add minced garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add broccoli florets to the skillet and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until they start to turn bright green and slightly tender.
- Pour beef broth (or water) into the skillet and cover with a lid. Let the broccoli steam for another 2-3 minutes until fully cooked but still crisp.
- Return the cooked beef to the skillet with the broccoli. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and hoisin sauce (if using). Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
- Pour the cornstarch slurry into the skillet and stir continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and broccoli evenly.
- Remove from heat and serve the beef and broccoli stir fry hot over cooked rice or noodles.
Veggie Curry
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (such as bell peppers, carrots, peas, potatoes)
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
- Cooked rice or naan bread for serving
Instructions:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Add chopped onions and sauté until they become translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the skillet. Sauté for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Stir in the curry powder, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook the spices for about a minute to release their flavors.
- Pour in the coconut milk and stir well to combine with the spices and onions. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Add the mixed vegetables and diced tomatoes to the skillet. Stir to coat the vegetables with the curry sauce.
- Cover the skillet and let the curry simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender but still retain their texture.
- Season the veggie curry with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Garnish the curry with fresh cilantro leaves just before serving.
- Serve the veggie curry hot over cooked rice or with naan bread on the side.
Tags : 7 Mouthwatering Dinner Recipes