Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you are safe in your home. The current situation of quarantine because of COVID-19 is tough on most of us, but if we support each other and stay healthy, we will be able to survive the quarantine.
However, our perspective matters a lot, and if we think positively, this quarantine can also be an opportunity to spend more quality time with our families and learn new things. I like to cook, and I have used this time to try out numerous new and healthy recipes. In today's post, I am going to share some recipes to try in quarantine that are really delicious and are sure to make you feel better…along with a bonus muscle rub recipe in the end. So, keep reading to learn more.
6 Easy, Delicious Recipes to Try in Quarantine
#1. Portobello Mushrooms and Parmesan Casserole
If you are a vegetarian, this is an excellent recipe for you.
The portobello mushrooms have a delicious meaty flavor and texture, and they go great with parmesan cheese. Here are the instructions for making this delicious and healthy recipe.
Ingredients:
- Portobello mushrooms (3 caps)
- Crushed garlic (3 cloves)
- Fresh basil (4 leaves)
- Chopped parsley (2 tbsp)
- Red pepper flakes (¼ tsp)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
- Diced tomatoes (1 28-ounce can)
- Panko breadcrumbs (2 cups)
- Parmesan cheese (1 cup)
- Four eggs
- All-purpose flour (1 cup)
Directions:
- Scrape out the mushrooms and cut them in half.
- Take a saucepan and heat some olive oil in it. Add the garlic and cook until it is translucent and fragrant; then add the tomatoes, pepper flakes, and basil and simmer until the raw tomato flavor is gone and a creamy sauce is formed.
- Process the entire mixture in a blender until it is smooth.
- In one bowl, beat the eggs and in another mix the panko crumbs, parsley, and parmesan cheese
- To fry the mushrooms, you should first dredge them in the flour, then dip them in the eggs, and lastly, coat them with the panko crumbs before putting in some preheated oil and frying until golden.
- Create a bed of the tomato sauce in a casserole, place the mushrooms on top and cover them with more sauce and some grated parmesan cheese.
- Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 20 to 25 minutes
#2. Moroccan Style Lamb Tagine
If you want to try something new and exotic, then this Moroccan recipe is a good option. It is easy to make and is full of proteins. Here are the ingredients and instructions.
Ingredients
- Frenched lamb shanks (6 pieces)
- Chopped yellow onions (3 cups)
- Thinly sliced garlic (3 cloves)
- Freshly grated ginger (1 tbsp)
- Chili powder, cumin, cardamom, ground turmeric and cinnamon (1 1/2 tsp each)
- Diced tomatoes (1 28-ounce can)
- Chicken stock (2 cups)
- Diced Yukon gold Potatoes (1 round)
- Lime (4 slices)
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
Directions:
- Add some olive oil to a large skillet or preferably a Dutch oven.
- Let the oil heat up and then sear the lamb shanks on all sides until they have browned evenly on all sides; set them aside
- Add the onions, ginger, and garlic to the same pot. When the garlic and onions become fragrant and translucent, add the can of diced tomatoes and spices.
- Add some chicken stock, and return the seared lamb shanks to the pot.
- Bake in a 300 degrees F preheated oven for three hours, and serve while hot
#3. Roast Chicken with Lemon and Garlic
Roast chicken is a simple recipe that everybody makes, but you can make it super delicious and exciting with this easy recipe. Check it out to make your roast chicken even better.
Ingredients:
- One roasting chicken (5-6 pounds)
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
- Fresh thyme
- Garlic (3 heads, cut in half)
- Lemons (4 pieces)
- Melted butter (2 tbsp)
- white wine (1 cup)
- Chicken stock (1/2 cup)
- Sliced bacon (1/2 pound)
Directions:
- Put the chicken on a roasting pan and season deliberately with salt and pepper
- Now, stuff the chicken with one lemon, thyme and two halves of garlic
- Brush the butter on the outside for the chicken and then add the remaining garlic heads and lemons to the pan.
- Roast the chicken for one hour in a 450 degrees F preheated oven.
- Used the rendered fat, with some chicken stock and wine to make a quick sauce for your roast chicken.
#4. Fettuccine Pasta with a Creamy Chicken Sauce
Pasta is always an easy recipe to make, however, instead of the traditional red sauce pasta, try something new with this creamy chicken pasta recipe. Keep reading for the detailed ingredients and directions.Â
Ingredients
- One chopped shallot
- Thinly sliced celery (2 stalks)
- Shredded carrots (2 medium-sized pieces)
- Fresh thyme (1 tsp)
- Heavy cream (1 1/2 cups)
- Boneless and skinless chicken breasts cut into strips (1 1/4 pounds)
- Grated Gruyere cheese (1 cup)
- Grated parmesan cheese (¼ cup)
Directions:
- Add the vegetables in a large pan or skillet and cook them until they lose most of their water.Â
- Add the heavy cream and cook until a thick sauce forms.
- Throw the chicken into the skillet, and let it cook thoroughly.Â
- Add the Gruyere cheese and simmer until it melts. Don't forget to stir the sauce occasionally to avoid the cheese from sticking.
- Now add the cooked pasta into the pan and toss around until coated completely. You can also add some pasta water to control the consistency of the sauce.Â
- Grate some parmesan before you serve.Â
#5. Grilled Branzino Fish with Lime Zest and Garlic
If you are feeling bored after eating the same foods and want to try something different than your regular meals, try making a seafood dinner. Moreover, fish have a useful dose of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy and complete diet. Check out the recipe below.
Ingredients:
For the marinade:
- The Grated zest of 2 limes
- Minced ginger (1 tsp)
- Minced shallot (1 piece)
- Extra-virgin olive oil (1/4 cup)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the fish:
- Limes (5 pieces)
- Branzino fish (2 1-pound pieces)
- Fresh basil (1/2 cup)
- Ginger (8 thin slices)
- Pepper and salt for seasoning according to taste
Directions:
- Start by marinating the fish, use the lemon zest, ginger, shallots, and olive oil to make the marinade.
- Season the fish with salt and freshly ground black pepper as well.
- After the fish has marinated for a while, stuff it with thin slices of lime, basil leaves, and some slices of ginger.
- Grill the fish 5-7 minutes on all sides until the skin becomes golden brown and crispy.
Cacciatore Chicken
Here is another chicken recipe with Italian roots. It incorporates some delicious chicken thigh prepared in a hunter style with onions and tomatoes and is usually served with pasta. Check the detailed recipe below.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs (8 pieces)
- Olive oil (1/4 cup)
- Butter (2 tbsp)
- Flour (1/2 cup)
- Sliced red and green bell peppers (2 pieces each)
- Onion (1 part)
- Diced garlic (5 cloves)
- White mushrooms (12 ounces)
- ground thyme (1/2 tsp)
- Turmeric (1/4 tsp)
- Dry white wine (3/4 cup)
- Diced tomatoes (1 28-ounce can)
- Pasta (1 pound)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Season all sides of the chicken deliberately with salt and pepper and drench them in all-purpose flour.
- Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet.
- Get a nice sear on the chicken until the skin becomes crisp and brown; set the chicken aside
- Throw the vegetables into the same skillet and sauté them until they are soft, then add the can of diced tomatoes along with the spices.
- Add the seared chicken to the sauce and cook in a 350 degree F preheated oven for one hour.
- Meanwhile, boil some pasta to serve with the chicken and sauce. Grate some parmesan cheese over the chicken when it comes out of the oven.
Anthony believes words have the power to influence people and disseminate knowledge artistically. Even though, he writes for no particular niche, his passion for blogging has driven him to take up writing in his leisure time to accompany his studies.