Have your bags packed already? Because it's almost time to singalong to Sudirman's Balik Kampung track on repeat! Everyone is looking forward (as I'm sure you are ?) to the Raya celebration, the morning feast and reuniting with cousins and family members who you only get to see once a year. But what's not so great is the drive back to our kampongs... The driving for hours on end plus the throng of cars who are heading back for the festive season increases tenfold on the expressway. ?
Credit: Giphy
Well, here's a tip ? beat the crazy traffic by starting early before sahur rolls around, and skip the queue at the RnRs when iftar time comes with these 6 simple recipes for a fuss-free, stress-free meal on-the-go! ?
1. Banana pancakes (lempeng pisang)
Bananas are a staple in any household. Tasty and healthy to have daily, it'll also fill you up for longer hours in Ramadan. Just a simple recipe to follow and you'll have a stack of classic banana pancakes handy for a quick bite anytime of the day. Yummy to have on its own, who says you can't have breakfast for iftar? ?
Preparation Time: 6 minutes
Cooking Time: 6-8 minutes
Feeds: 4-6 people
Ingredients:
- 600g bananas, mashed
- 1 cup grated coconut
- 1 cup plain flour
- 200g palm sugar, melted
- A pinch of salt
Steps:
- Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
- Pour a small ladleful of batter into a hot pan and let it cook for around 2-3 minutes on one side then flip it over.
- Repeat step 2 until all the batter has been used up.
2. Quesadillas
Quesadillas are easy to make if you have a pack of tortilla wraps and cheese lying around. Simply amazing to eat and filling too, this will be your go-to meal when you're commuting. From leftover chicken to bits of vegetables you had for dinner the night before, you will never waste again when you turn them into quick, yummy quesadillas. ?
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 5-7 minutes
Feeds: 5 person
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 tomato, diced
- 2 garlic clove, crushed
- 2 red or green chilis, sliced
- Leftover chicken
- 1 tsp lemon or lime juice
- 10 tortilla wraps
- 1 pack of cheese slices
Steps:
- Fry the onion, tomato, garlic and chili together until cooked.
- Mix the cooked ingredients with the leftover chicken or beef and lemon or lime juice to make the filling.
- Top the tortilla with the filling and a slice of cheese. Then sandwich firmly with a second tortilla.
- Repeat step 3 until filling has been used up.
- In a large frying pan, over a high heat, dry-fry the tortillas for 1 min each side.
- Once cooked, cut into triangles for ease of eating.
#HHWT Tip: Pack sour cream in a small container to dip your quesadillas in for a more authentic taste.
3. Chicken burrito
If you want a more filling meal that's easy to eat while on the go, consider making chicken burritos for the whole family! This too is another leftover-friendly meal that's quick to prepare. You can swap the chicken with any leftover meat from the night before. Best of all, this recipe requires no cooking! ? If you want an extra kick, add black pepper and chili to the mix to keep you alert on your balik kampung trip ?
Preparation Time: 3 minutes
Cooking Time: 3-5 minutes
Feeds: 5 person
Ingredients:
- 10 large lettuce leaves
- Leftover chicken
- 2 tomato, sliced
- 1 pack of wraps
- Mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, chilli sauce or any other condiment of choice
- Aluminium foil
Steps:
- Lay wraps on a plate.
- Place lettuce, slices of tomato and leftover chicken on the wrap.
- Spread the condiment of your choice for extra flavour.
- Roll the wrap up. Use a bit of mayo to glue the end of the wrap and hold it together.
- Wrap them in foil for easy eating.
#HHWT Tip: Make sure to wrap it tightly to avoid mess! Otherwise, you'll be left with loose ends. ?
4. Egg muffins
Many don't realise how versatile a muffin pan can be. You could easily make any meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner - into bite-sized snacks! ? Like this delicious looking egg muffin. Eggs give you both protein and fat that will keep hunger at bay for longer. This simple recipe is a gateway to your creativity as you can basically throw in anything to your liking when making this egg muffins!
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Feeds: 12 servings
Ingredients:
- 6 large eggs
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Mix and match fillings (according to your preference):
- Sausages, cooked and chopped
- Mushrooms, sliced
- Tomatoes, diced
- Onion, diced fine
- Bell pepper, diced fine
- Cauliflower, cut into small bite size
- Parmesan cheese
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Crack the eggs into a large bowl and beat until smooth. Season eggs with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Grease a muffin pan, and place your desired combination of fillings into each muffin cup.
- Pour the beaten eggs into each muffin cup until the eggs almost reaches the top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until set.
5. Pizza Toast
Credit: @marmalicious_ on Instagram
Pizza is a comfort food for many. But when you make it on your own, you can opt to make a healthier version with a mix of toppings to your heart's desire ? With a few simple ingredients, this dish is quick to whip up yet very filling and tasty to have in the car. Whether you have it for sahur or iftar on the go, your pizza toast is enjoyed by both adults and children alike!
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 12 minutes
Feeds: 6 people
Ingredients:
- 1 can of tomato puree
- 1 packet of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 foot-long pepperoni, sliced
- Black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, to taste
- Fresh basil, chopped fine
- 6 toasted whole wheat bread
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 180ºC.
- Spread tomato puree on each slice of toasted whole wheat bread evenly.
- Top with pepperoni, onion, black pepper and chili flakes.
- Put extra serving of shredded mozzarella cheese on top and add a sprinkle of basil.
- Bake for 4 minutes or until cheese is melted.
#HHWT Tip: Swap the pepperonis with sausages or opt to make this a vegetarian pizza toast with sliced aubergine and bell pepper as toppings ?
6. Sardine roll
Credit: @lynneiya on Instagram
Everyone loves the ease at which a can of sardines can be prepared for meals. It's good with rice, bread, pastry - you name it! Whether you're making a meal for sahur or iftar, these yummy sardine rolls are easy to prepare and can be eaten single-handedly! This recipe adds a healthy twist to a classic favourite that'll leave you feeling refreshed on your journey ??
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Feeds: 6 people
Ingredients:
- 1 can of sardine chunks
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, pounded
- 1/2 tsp black pepper, grinded
- 1 tsp lemon or lime juice
- 1 stick of celery, diced
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 loaf of whole wheat bread
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 175ºC
- Mix the sardine chunks with the onion, garlic, black pepper, lemon or lime juice, celery and mayonnaise to make the filling.
- Slightly flatten slices of bread using rolling pin.
- Lay a little filling towards one side of each slice of bread, and roll it tight.
- Dip the roll in the egg mixture and then roll it in the breadcrumbs. Repeat until filling is used up.
- Place the rolls on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 15 mins (until golden)
#HHWT Tip: You can easily swap a can of sardine with tuna, sausages, or sliced meat. For extra protein, add a slice of cheese or scrambled egg to every roll ?
Credit: Giphy
These recipes are perfect for when you need a mess-free, easy-to-handle meal to have in the car. Easy to prepare, quick to finish, and yummy on the tummy, you're now ready to hit the road! Safe and fun travels, everyone ? ~Balik kampung! Oh oh oh balik kampung~ ???
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