This project aims to prepare a variety of meal options for the comming week. Its goal is to allow several, normally time consuming, dishes within half an hour.

It is inspired by Ethan Chlebowskis video about how to kind of meal prep.

I do meal prep quite a lot though mostly because I do not cook single portions. Thought down the week I rather want to cook something new than to eat the same dish a few times. Freezing food would solve the variation issue, though I still find myself in the situation that Id rather cook something new than thawn something, simply because I love to cook. It is a hobby that does calm me down.

So rather than finding a way to motivate me cooking I am searching for a way to prepare so I can cook time consuming dishes in under half an hour or so during the week.

Ingredients

Beef: I used a cut for Goulasch, though any cut will do.

Pressure Cooker: not necessary, but this will bring down preparation times drastically.

Beef stock: You do not need beef stock, you can use plain water, though the taste will be noticible better. I used beef stock powder, not ideal but still fine.

Instructions

Heat up some oil in the pressure. Fry your cut on all sides until golden. Remove from heat. Ensure there is nothing sticking to the pot, otherwise scrape it off. Add the beef stock or water, close up and let it cook for an hour.

Note: I let it cook for 2 hours and the meat fell appart. Depending on the size and pressure one our will be more than enough.

Let it cool down a bit and separate the liquid. This can be used for all kind of soups like Ramen during the week.

Use two forks to rip th meat appart. Pulled meat will be used in most follow up recipes, though in case you want to make beef salad Id rather cut the required amount of first.

Meals Tested

Beef Ramen: under 10 minutes

Super simple and fast, cooking pasta is most time consuming with soup and meat ready. Just cut some vegetables and blanche it in the noodle water or the soup. I usually also boil the egg together with the pasta to safe time.

Beef Salad: under 10 minutes

Note: some rest time will elevate the taste quite a lot

wheat semolina with pulled beef

With one part wheat semolina and two parts water: start by bringing the water to a boil. Remove from heat and mix in the semolina. Place it back on heat under constant stirring for one minute. Flatten it inthe pot and let it rest for another 5 minutes. In the meanwhile add 50g of pulled beef, 4tbsp water and a tbsp tomatomark to a pan. Stir until hot. To serve I cut a few slices of paprika.

Lazy Bulgoggi Pot Stickers 40 minutes

Not very fast but delicious. I followed the potsticker recipe and used this filling:

• 250g carrots

• 250g cabbage shortly cooked

• 200g [pulled beef]

• 2tbsp soj sauce

• 2tbsp oyster sauce

• 1tbsp sugar

• 1tbsp minced garlic

• 2tsp sesame oil

• 4tbsp rice vinegar Note: with the carrots I reduced the sugar and increased the vinegar each by one tbsp as it was too sweet.

Meal Ideas

A list of potential follow up meals and their estimated preparation time.

• Pulled Beef Burritos: with prepared tortillas and caned beans and corn under 10 minutes
• Congee Bulgoggi: under 10 minutes if you have Congee, otherwise this will take ages
• Bulgoggi Spring rolls: under 15 minutes
• Pasta Sauce: under 15 minutes
• Left over sourdough pancakes: under 10 minutes
• Lahmacun: that will take some time in any ways.. so maybe not worth it. At least one hour..
• Cheaty Ragout: under 30 minutes