If you want to minimize cleanup and effort, just use a rice cooker.
Costs 30€
Put in rice and lentils at a ratio of your chosing, cook with oil and salt
Optionally spices and tomato paste
Put in frozen veggies either in a steaming basket or directly in the rice
Chuck in an onion (quartered if you’re lazy) and some garlic
Yoghurt on the side
Congratulations you now have a healthy, cheap meal you can make at home or at work. If you eat directly out of the cooker you only need to clean your spoon. No cutting board needed either.
Mine has a non-stick pan. It all comes down to how quickly you empty it. Emptied immediately, it rinses clean. If it sits around while I eat, I’ll need to scrub a little
I’m a pretty good cook, but I don’t think there’s enough here to get it done. Do rice and lentils take about the same amount of water to cook? How much oil?
Rice cooker was a surprising win for me - usually single use appliances are not worth it, but a rice cooker is, plus you can do more with it than you expect. I have rice much more frequently now that it’s just a matter of clicking a button
I have a basic 6c model that feeds my family with two hungry teens, and currently costs $20 online. Has worked great for years of 3+ meals/week. Non-stick pan makes cleanup simple, although I am trying to get away from non-stick coatings so may replace it soon: stainless steel pan version costs $40
If you want to minimize cleanup and effort, just use a rice cooker.
Congratulations you now have a healthy, cheap meal you can make at home or at work. If you eat directly out of the cooker you only need to clean your spoon. No cutting board needed either.
Don’t you need to clean the rice cooker?
I’m not trying to be a smartass, I’m just that desperate that I’m hoping to find out you don’t need to.
Mine has a non-stick pan. It all comes down to how quickly you empty it. Emptied immediately, it rinses clean. If it sits around while I eat, I’ll need to scrub a little
Old rice/pasta with olive oil, garlic and cheese is great too.
I’m a pretty good cook, but I don’t think there’s enough here to get it done. Do rice and lentils take about the same amount of water to cook? How much oil?
Rice with oil? Doesn’t it make it unsticky?
It depends on how long you cook it, I prefer it not very sticky. Longer cooking times will make it a bit softer and more sticky.
Rice cooker was a surprising win for me - usually single use appliances are not worth it, but a rice cooker is, plus you can do more with it than you expect. I have rice much more frequently now that it’s just a matter of clicking a button
I have a basic 6c model that feeds my family with two hungry teens, and currently costs $20 online. Has worked great for years of 3+ meals/week. Non-stick pan makes cleanup simple, although I am trying to get away from non-stick coatings so may replace it soon: stainless steel pan version costs $40