5 cheat-meal worthy recipes to try on the weekend

Well, well, well, would you look at that! Today, May 6th, 2023 is officially International No Diet Day! And, who are we to argue with a day that gives us an excuse to indulge in all the cheesy, chocolatey, carb-loaded goodness we desire?
So, in the spirit of this glorious day:

Here are 5 cheat-meal worthy recipes to delight your taste buds!

Cheesy Veggie/Chicken Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 packet of pizza bread
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped veggies of your choice
• 1/2 cup cooked, shredded chicken (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 230°C.
2. Place your pizza bread on a greased pizza pan or baking sheet.
3. Spread the tomato sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
4. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce, then the chopped veggies and the cooked chicken (if desired).
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and drizzle the olive oil over the top.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil before slicing and serving hot.

Chicken/Veg Biryani

Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces
• 1 cup plain yoghurt
• 2 teaspoons ginger paste
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
• Salt to taste
• 3 cups water
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup fried onions (optional)

Directions:

1. Rinse the basmati rice and soak it in water for 30 minutes.
2. Heat the ghee or oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the chicken to the pot and cook for a few minutes until browned on all sides.
4. In a bowl, mix the yoghurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chilli powder, and salt.
5. Add the spice mixture to the pot with the chicken and onions, and cook for a few minutes until fragrant.
6. Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pot, stirring gently to coat the rice with the spices.
7. Add the water and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid has been absorbed.
8. Remove from heat and let the biryani rest for 10 minutes before uncovering.
9. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro, mint, and fried onions (if using) before serving.

If you prefer a vegetarian version of this dish, simply omit the chicken and replace it with vegetables such as potatoes, peas, carrots, and cauliflower. You can also use vegetable broth instead of water for added flavour.

Chole Bhature

For Chole
Ingredients:

• 2 cups chickpeas, soaked overnight and drained
• 2 tablespoons ghee or oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons ginger paste
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Lemon wedges for serving

Directions:

1. Heat the ghee or oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and sauté until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
2. Add the ginger paste and garlic paste to the pot and sauté for a minute until fragrant.
3. Add the ground cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, red chilli powder, and salt to the pot and stir well to combine.
4. Add the soaked chickpeas to the pot and stir to coat them with the spices.
5. Pour in 2 cups of water and bring the mixture to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until the chickpeas are tender and the curry has thickened.
7. Garnish with fresh cilantro and lemon wedges before serving.

For Bhature
Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup semolina
• 1/4 cup yoghurt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 cup ghee or oil, melted
• Water as needed
• Oil for frying

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, semolina, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. Add the yoghurt and melted ghee or oil to the bowl and mix well.
3. Gradually add water to the mixture, kneading it into a soft and smooth dough.
4. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
5. Divide the dough into equal-sized balls and roll each ball into a circle.
6. Heat oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat.
7. Carefully place a rolled-out bhatura in the hot oil and fry until it puffs up and turns golden brown on both sides.
8. Remove the bhatura from the oil and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain off any excess oil.
9. Repeat with the remaining rolled-out bhature.

Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

• 500g macaroni pasta
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.
2. Cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth to make a roux.
4. Gradually add the milk and heavy cream to the pot, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
5. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the pot. Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
6. Add the cooked elbow macaroni to the pot and stir until it is coated with the cheese sauce.
7. Pour the mac and cheese into a large baking dish.
8. In a small bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs with the melted butter. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the mac and cheese.
9. Bake the mac and cheese for 20-25 minutes, or until the bread crumbs are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
10. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

If you want to make this recipe vegetarian, you can simply omit the chicken broth and replace it with vegetable broth or water.

Gooey Chocolate Brownie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon espresso powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter and sugar, and whisk until well combined.
3. Add the eggs to the bowl, one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
4. Add the cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, espresso powder (if using), and vanilla extract to the bowl, and whisk until well combined.
5. Add the flour to the bowl, and stir until just combined.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, and smooth out the top with a spatula.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs attached.
9. Let the brownies cool in the pan for 10 minutes before cutting them into squares.
10. Serve the brownies warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if desired.

So, don't wait for a special occasion to indulge in these decadent cheat meal recipes. Whether it's a weekday or a weekend, treat yourself to something sinfully delicious and satisfy those cravings. Who needs a diet when you have these mouth-watering options at your fingertips? So, put on your apron, turn up the music, and let's get cooking! And hey, if you need someone to help you with the taste testing, we're always available.