by Jenna Byers

Don’t you just love simple meals that take virtually no time to prepare? We have got you covered with a few five ingredient or less meals such as a caprese pasta dinner, spicy cauliflower stir fry, and salmon. These delicious meals are tasty on the palette and easy on the wallet. 

Caprese Pasta Dinner

First off is one of my go-to’s and a favorite food combo. We love the classic trio that makes up caprese: tomato, basil (preferably fresh leaves), and mozzarella cheese. Add this to a pasta of your choice and boom: a delicious meal that leaves you wanting more and more servings. Additionally, we recommend adding about two tablespoons of olive oil to your cut-up tomato, torn-up basil, mozzarella cheese chunks, and pasta mixture. These are all of the necessary ingredients, but feel free to add salt and pepper on top (we don’t count these as ingredients because these two are vital to every dish). 

Spicy Cauliflower Stir Fry

Next up is a variation of this Spicy Cauliflower Stir Fry which makes for a delicious side dish or meal, depending on how hungry you are. The ingredients that you need for this dish are: one head of cauliflower, two cloves of garlic, two tablespoons of soy sauce, one lime, and one tablespoon of Sriracha. To start, break up the cauliflower into little pieces and throw it in a pan with some olive oil (technically this is a sixth ingredient, but we’re not counting it). Add your minced garlic, and let everything sauté for a few minutes until lightly browned. Add soy sauce, lime juice, and Sriracha. Voilà, that’s it! Enjoy this tasty and nutritious meal!

Salmon Two Ways

Finally, we have two tasty ways of marinating salmon. First of all, we have the Ginger Salmon. Toss a few tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos for a healthier alternative), about one tablespoon of freshly grated ginger, and two cloves of minced garlic into a bowl with salmon. Let marinate for no longer than ten minutes. 

Next up is the Salty Spicy Salmon. In a bowl, combine a few tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce, one tablespoon of either maple syrup or honey, and one tablespoon of Sriracha. Add in your salmon and marinate for ten minutes.

You can cook both options in whatever way you prefer. You can air-fry the salmon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-9 minutes or you can bake in the oven for fifteen minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend serving the salmon with quinoa (cooked following the package’s instructions) and a veggie of your choice.