Healthy Simple Cooking: 10 Easy Recipes

Cooking healthy meals at home doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. With the right ingredients and simple techniques, you can prepare nutritious dishes that are both delicious and easy to make. Here are 10 healthy and simple recipes that you can whip up in no time.

1. Avocado Toast with Egg

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 slices whole-grain bread
• 2 eggs
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Toast the whole-grain bread to your desired level of crispness.
2. While the bread is toasting, mash the avocado in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.
3. Cook the eggs to your liking (poached, fried, or scrambled).
4. Spread the mashed avocado on the toast, top with the eggs, and sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.

2. Quinoa Salad with Veggies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Rinse quinoa under cold water. In a pot, bring quinoa and water to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the water is absorbed.
2. Let the quinoa cool, then fluff with a fork.
3. In a large bowl, combine quinoa, cucumber, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
4. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
5. Top with feta cheese if using, and serve chilled or at room temperature.

3. Grilled Chicken with Steamed Vegetables

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
2. Brush the chicken breasts with olive oil and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Grill the chicken for 6-7 minutes per side, or until fully cooked.
4. While the chicken is grilling, steam the broccoli and carrots until tender.
5. Serve the grilled chicken with the steamed vegetables, garnished with lemon slices if desired.

4. Overnight Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup almond milk (or any milk of choice)
• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
• Fresh berries, nuts, or seeds for topping

Instructions:

1. In a mason jar or bowl, combine oats, almond milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and honey. Stir well.
2. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. In the morning, give the oats a stir and top with fresh berries, nuts, or seeds before serving.

5. Baked Salmon with Asparagus

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Place salmon fillets and asparagus on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Arrange lemon slices on top of the salmon.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and the asparagus is tender.

6. Vegetable Stir-Fry with Tofu

Ingredients:

• 1 block firm tofu, cubed
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 2 cups mixed vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated (optional)
• Cooked brown rice, for serving

Instructions:

1. Press tofu to remove excess moisture, then cube it and toss with 1 tbsp soy sauce.
2. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add tofu and cook until golden brown. Remove and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, sauté garlic and ginger (if using) for 1 minute.
4. Add mixed vegetables and stir-fry for 5-7 minutes, until tender-crisp.
5. Return tofu to the skillet and add the remaining soy sauce. Stir to combine.
6. Serve over cooked brown rice.

7. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Ingredients:

• 2 large zucchinis, spiralized
• 1/2 cup pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet, lightly sauté the spiralized zucchini noodles for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender.
2. Add pesto sauce and cherry tomatoes, tossing to coat the noodles.
3. Season with salt and pepper, then top with Parmesan cheese if desired.
4. Serve immediately.

8. Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1/2 cup water chestnuts, diced
• 2 green onions, chopped
• Lettuce leaves (Bibb or romaine)
• Sriracha or hot sauce (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a large skillet, cook ground turkey over medium heat until browned.
2. Add soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. Stir in water chestnuts and green onions.
3. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until heated through.
4. Spoon the turkey mixture into lettuce leaves and top with sriracha if desired.

9. Mason Jar Greek Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup red onion, sliced
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
• 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups mixed greens

Instructions:

1. In a mason jar, layer the ingredients starting with the olive oil and red wine vinegar at the bottom, followed by cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and feta cheese.
2. Top with mixed greens.
3. When ready to eat, shake the jar to mix the dressing with the salad ingredients and enjoy.

10. Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:

• 4 bell peppers, tops cut off and seeds removed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
• 1/2 lb ground turkey or black beans
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup corn kernels
• 1/4 cup shredded cheese (optional)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a skillet, cook ground turkey (if using) until browned, then stir in cooked quinoa, tomatoes, corn, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
3. Stuff each bell pepper with the mixture and place them in a baking dish.
4. Top with shredded cheese if desired.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the peppers are tender.

These 10 healthy and simple recipes are perfect for anyone looking to prepare nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. They are versatile, easy to make, and packed with flavor, making healthy eating a breeze. Enjoy cooking these dishes and treating yourself to delicious, wholesome meals!