You could easily turn it into a lasagne, or even a chilli con carne just by adding some peppers, kidney beans, chilli powder and cumin. Home cook turned recipe book author Suzanne Mulholland, aka The Batch Lady , would disagree. The key, she says, is to batch cook ‘base dishes’ that can be used in lots of different ways. This keeps meals varied and exciting while still limiting the time we need to spend in the kitchen.

Batch cooking recipes | BBC Good Food

Either choose a book which has specific batch cook recipes or double up the portions of your favourite recipe. Perhaps top with mashed potato and bake for an easy veggie cottage pie , or if you want to keep meat on the menu, how about a rich sausage and lentil ragu served with pasta?I have been batch cooking since the kids were young – about 18 years. I was fed up with feeling like I was always chasing my tail when it came to mealtimes. Make our tasty lentil recipe and use it as a base to make three more fabulous dishes. By itself it's a tasty vegan, low-fat and gluten-free meal Take some time aside to batch-cook and fill your freezer with this moreish leek, cannellini beans and squash pie and you'll thank yourself on busy weeknights

The Batch Cook Book: Money-saving Meal Prep For Busy Lives

Enjoy these rich meatballs for a weeknight dinner or part of a larger spread. The meatballs are complemented by zingy lime and cardamom flavours Cook a big batch of this filling spiced lentil and squash soup and freeze the leftovers for a speedy supper another day. It's healthy and low in fat Combine two Italian classics - parmigiana and lasagne - in this veggie bake. It's ideal for batch cooking as you can freeze it before or after baking Large pans – make sure the recipe you plan to cook will fit into the pans you have available. Read the method before you start, in case you need more than one.Make a batch of these spiced cod fishcakes and freeze them for busy weeknights. Serve with salad and coleslaw for a tasty family meal Not only can they learn from all your experience, it'll create fun (and messy!) memories that'll last a lifetime. Do you relish getting ahead with dinners for the week? Our batch cooking recipes are easy, many are freezable, and they save you time and money.

The batch-cook base dishes that save hours in the - BBC

Before you get started on making your base dishes, you’re going to want to have a few key ingredients on hand – ones which are both budget friendly and versatile, says Mulholland. Whip up a huge batch of bolognese that's fit to feed a hungry crowd, or freeze half for a speedy midweek mealUse up any cans of beans you have in the cupboard for this classic French sausage casserole. Made in a slow cooker, it’s a great batch-cook for the freezer Take mince, tinned tomatoes or passata, some onions and carrots, and you have your basic bolognese sauce. And while it’s great with spaghetti, there’s so much more you can do with it. Freeze the dhal base of this curry for busy weeknights. It's cheap, easy and really versatile – simply defrost and add prawns, veg or meat