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Sunday, November 9, 2008
While S and I love nothing more than spending a full day working on prepping an amazing meal, the reality of our lives is that on most weekdays, we get home late, grab a quick dinner and then spend another couple of hours working before finally turning in. And I don’t think we’re alone. I think for many couples like us — couples who work together and who work for themselves — time becomes our most precious commodity. Simple, and once regular, pleasures like cooking a meal together or taking the day off to hang out become special events. It’s become important then to learn to cook amazing meals in as little time as possible. When I was in university, one of my very first and still favourite cookbooks was Nigel Slater’s Real Fast Food. This amazing little cookbook offers 350 recipes for great dishes, all of which can be made in under 30 minutes. But these days, even 30 minutes is a pretty long time.
One of our current favourite dishes is grilled Sanma. Sanma, for those of you unlucky enough not to have had one, is also known as Pacific Saury or mackeral pike. It is a long skinny fish with delicious flesh and skin. The great thing about Sanma is when fresh, you don’t need to do much to it. Just sprinkle a little salt, drizzle a little olive oil and cook it under a hot grill for a few minutes. It’s done when the skin starts to blister, the eyes turn white and pop out a little and your kitchen starts to fill with a lovely, cooked fish aroma (well, I like the smell… you might not). The best thing is that the whole meal takes just 5-10 minutes to prep and cook. And while one person is looking after the fish, the other can throw together a quick salad or pop open a bottle of wine. Other ultra-quick faves include Mentaiko pasta, and roast duck noodles, and bara-chirashi, all of which I’ve written about before. So what’s your favourite ultra-quick meal?        Posted by Chubby Hubby 
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This is a ‘gotcha’ post…I was expecting something about Taco Bell or Burger King and was all set to give you ideas of how to have healthy meals quickly. Got-me.
Posted by: Joan Nova | 9 November 2008 @ 11:29 pm
What a great idea! I haven’t had sanma in ages.
To follow in your fishy tradition, what I haven’t done since a kid but absolutely love, bake a small salmon steak and top over green tea and rice, sprinkle furikake: sake chazuke!
Posted by: Emily | 10 November 2008 @ 1:08 am
yes you are right, we work almost everyday , time is so precious. I like the idea of fast cooking, looks simple and yet retain it flavours too.
Posted by: Big Boys Oven | 10 November 2008 @ 2:02 am
i was hoping to see how roast duck noodles might be fast but your link ony led to more metaiko pasta
Posted by: Mei | 10 November 2008 @ 6:11 am
Time is precious, even more so when kids get into the picture. Just wondering if you have any tips for a quick and simple meal for couples with kids?
Posted by: yin | 10 November 2008 @ 9:47 am
Mei: The link should be working. Please try again.
Posted by: Chubby Hubby | 10 November 2008 @ 10:09 am
Grilled fish is my favourite “fast food” too! I do this almost every week with blackspot threadfin. Just a dash of sea salt, olive oil, freshly ground black pepper and cooked in my La Creuset grill pan makes a heavenly dinner.
Posted by: Emma | 10 November 2008 @ 11:56 am
Your blog is super. So are your photographies. They make me hungry. I have spent a nice moment when seeing them. Thanks a lot.
Posted by: Eleonora | 11 November 2008 @ 4:50 am
Shrimp that has been marinated for a few minutes in olive oil, garlic, lemon and basil. Throw quickly onto my grill pan with a few scallions (I drizzle the remaining marinade on those) and throw everything on top of greens. I love how quickly shrimp cooks up, and how easily it takes on other flavors.
Posted by: Clare | 11 November 2008 @ 5:19 am
Pasta is always a quick go to - I can my pasta sauce so always have some on hand.
Posted by: Biz | 11 November 2008 @ 8:14 am
What impressed me was how fresh the sanma looked. Where did you buy them from?
Posted by: Irene | 11 November 2008 @ 11:33 pm
Mmm, those little fishies are making me so hungry!
In a much less gourmet way, breakfast for dinner is very popular ground these parts, as are grilled sandwiches with soup or anything in a tortilla.
I am so hungry for lunch now!!!
Posted by: Natty | 12 November 2008 @ 4:33 am
I have been hearing about Nigel’s recipes forever. I think I will treat myself to this book on amazon.com tonight!
Thanks!
Stacey Snacks
Posted by: Stacey Snacks | 13 November 2008 @ 9:17 am
Your sanmas bring back fond memories of eating smoked herring in Holland. My favourite quick dish is my cheesy potato melt: small hashbrown potatoes, diced onion, diced red pepper, a pinch of paprika and salt and pepper, all fried together and with grated cheddar melted on top!
Posted by: Asha | 16 November 2008 @ 2:20 am
yum… samma! one of my favorite fish for nigiri when our local spot has it fresh. broiling fish over high temps is a fantastic idea for a quick dinner. we like to use hamachi kama when we can get a hold of it, since it stays so moist and juicy under the heat. otherwise, if time is super tight, we’ll do a quick spaghetti with a bright sauce of canned san marzano tomatoes, garlic and chili flakes. 12 minutes start to finish!
Posted by: jak | 17 November 2008 @ 1:57 pm
I really enjoy your blog - and this topic is fantastic. My fav fast food would have to be good italian bread toasted - rub garlic, with thinly sliced motz cheese, thinly slices Jersey tomatoes, olive oil, salt, pep, and fresh basil on top.
If you have a moment can you check out my blog and what you think http://lastmealjourney.blogspot.com/ ? I am trying to get a critique from the other blog authors that I enjoy.
Thank you in advance,
Andrew
Posted by: Andrew | 18 November 2008 @ 9:28 am
Mmmmmmmmmmmm beautiful!! sometimes the most simplest way of preparing food is the most beautiful, looking at it reminds me of the countless fresh and raw kip fillets i’ve consumed back in the netherlands… makes me wish i was back there
Posted by: JT | 19 November 2008 @ 3:52 am
Pasta…it’s super quick and easy, plus. you can thrown anything in with it and it’s just delicious!
Posted by: Heather | 19 November 2008 @ 8:15 am
My fav super quick goto staples are: baked vegetables (zucchini and tomato tossed with basil and olive oil with an egg on top) and mah poh tofu. Quick, tasty, and healthy!
Posted by: milli | 19 November 2008 @ 10:31 pm
What a coincidence - I was just looking at an article from the NY Times which has 101 ten-minute meal ideas. Here is the link
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/dining/18mini.html?ex=1342497600&en=e76301c448a572af&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
Posted by: Rachel | 24 November 2008 @ 7:47 am
grilled fish fingers, topped with tomato ketchup in the middle of toast. taken off a jamie oliver cook book.
if not, just a simple canned cream of chicken. i just throw in sliced cheese, a small can of mushrooms and fresh diced tomatoes.
Posted by: Jun | 24 November 2008 @ 11:45 am
I just recently started reading your blog, and what a great one it is. A lot of attention and detail given to the writing, the food and your lovely kitchen. Bravo!
P.S. My favourite “fast” food - buttermilk roast chicken drumsticks. You can premarinate it and stick it in the fridge until you’re ready to eat it!
Posted by: Steph | 25 November 2008 @ 2:02 pm
I love cold soba noodles. Best recipe I have found is by Nigella Lawson. I am not a fan but some of her older recipes are very good.
Just takes patience with the noodles to leave them, so the flavours mingle and get better…..
Posted by: Dave | 22 December 2008 @ 6:34 pm