10 meals that require just 5 ingredients

Ellie Donnell

Ellie is a strong believer that peanut butter makes everything better

Keep the cooking time short and your shopping list shorter with these 10 easy, healthy and speedy meals that all require just 5 ingredients (excluding olive oil, salt and pepper).

10 meals that require just 5 ingredients

1. Pea and prosciutto gnocchi

When in doubt, a pack of frozen peas will always help you out. This springtime gnocchi dish takes a much-loved bowl of ‘pesto pasta’ up a notch with the addition of crispy prosciutto and parmesan. Make it in 20 minutes.

2. Steak with cheese and onion polenta

This 20-minute meal is quick enough for a midweek fix yet elegant enough to impress your loved one on date night. Seared steak and gooey, cheesy polenta – you can’t go wrong. We’ll bring the wine…

3. Pomegranate and sweet potato chicken tray bake

Just five ingredients, one tray and minimal washing up; this chicken tray bake is sweet, salty and good for you too. Are you convinced yet?

4. Sardines with watercress salad

Don’t be afraid to use tinned fish. It’s just as nutritious as fresh, inexpensive and a handy ingredient to keep in your cupboard for when you need a meal in minutes. Here, we’ve used tinned sardines to create a light and summery salad, paired with avocado, watercress and radishes.

5. Artichoke panzanella

A main-meal veggie salad that takes just 15 minutes to throw together. And with soft artichokes, crispy croutons and crunchy almonds in every bite, this hearty dish delivers on flavour and texture.

6. Cacio e pepe with asparagus

We’ve used asparagus in this quintessentially Italian dish, but feel free to use any seasonal greens you prefer.

7. Egg-fried rice and veg stir-fry

Use this easy egg-fried rice dish as a base for your own creation. Add fried chicken or prawns for extra protein, opt for tofu to keep it veggie, mix up the vegetables or add fresh chilli for extra heat.

8. Spaghetti carbonara

The Italian’s know best when it comes to turning a few simple ingredients into something truly special. Example A: spaghetti carbonara.

9. Spinach and onion tortilla

A box of eggs, a bag of spinach and a mound of cheese is the basis for this one-pan wonder. It’s a great one to pack-and-go too, for a lunch you’ll look forward to throughout the week.