The Weekly 5: One-pot meals you can make ahead

Red lentil dal, vegetable lasagna, congee + more

Hi friends,

Meal Prep Month is coming to an end soon (one last recipe dropping tomorrow!) and I hope you’ve been able to take away some lessons from the ideas in this series.

I realize that a lot of people are intimidated by the term “meal prep” because it sounds like you have to spend an entire Sunday cooking, just so you can eat the same meals all week long. (Trust me, not my idea of a good time either.)

Instead, I equate “meal prep” with “cooking ahead”. All it is is thinking ahead, and preparing something that will wait for you in the fridge and help keep you from ordering takeout. That something can mean different things to different people, be it a fiber-rich breakfast or just a versatile sauce for your grain bowls.

These one-pot (or skillet, or casserole dish) meals, for instance, are cozy and perfect for transitioning into the fall season. While these dishes are certainly lovely eaten right away, they’re equally great reheated the next day - whether you’re taking them to the office for lunch or saving them for dinner…

1. Rice and Beans Casserole

This brown rice casserole - with black beans, corn, mushrooms, and bell peppers - has a Mexican-inspired flavor profile and practically cooks itself.

2. Red Lentil Dal with Spinach and Cauliflower

This hearty lentil soup is packed with fiber and protein, anti-inflammatory spices, and loads of veggies.

3. Greek Baked Orzo with Olives and Chickpeas

Orzo releases starch as it cooks, creating a risotto-like texture here. A must-try for lovers of Mediterranean flavors.

4. Roasted Vegetable Lasagna

Roasted cauliflower, mushrooms, and bell peppers, plus creamy cashew “ricotta”, fill the layers of this satisfying vegan lasagna.

5. Brown Rice Congee

A comfort food unlike any other, this rice porridge is finished with soy sauce and sesame oil, plus an earthy mix of shiitake mushrooms, edamame, and spinach.

Planning to make one of these? Tell me how it goes in the comments section or tag me with your creation on Instagram.