Seven One Mug Meals You Have To Try

Had a long day, but can’t be bothered to cook? Ever thought of trying your hand at some mug meals? Nope, we’re not talking about those infamous cakes in a cup (although these are one of the many tasty treats you can rustle up), instead we’re talking about quick and easy, healthy recipes that you can follow to get some amazing dinner ideas when you’re cooking for one. It’s as easy as make, mug, microwave!

1) Quick Mini Croissants

Ingredients:
Puff Pastry
Flour Butter
Apricot
Jam

For the Marmalade Sauce:
Orange juice
Dark brown sugar
Cloves
Cornflour
Butter

Method:
–  Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle
–  Cut into thin triangles, re-rolling the trimmings to use all the pastry
–  Spread the pastry with the butter, rolling up each one. Start with the longest side and twist into a crescent shape
–  Put the apricot jam into a mug and warm through for 20 seconds
–  One at a time, put the croissants into a large mug and microwave for one minute until puffed up
–  Remove from microwave and brush with the warm jam to glaze
–  To make the marmalade sauce, put the orange juice, sugar and cloves into a separate large mug and microwave for 1 ½ minutes, stirring until the sugar has dissolved
–  Stir well and microwave for another minute, watching carefully and pausing if the sauce looks like it is bubbling over –  Blend the cornflour to a paste with the butter
–  Stir the mixture into the sauce and microwave for a further 30 seconds (the sauce is much runnier than marmalade). Serve with the croissants.

2) Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup

Ingredients:
Sunflower oil
Chopped chicken goujons
Onion
Garlic clove
Sweetcorn
Chicken stock
Five-spice powder
Cornflour
Egg white, lightly beaten

Method:
–  Put the oil, chicken, onions and garlic into a large mug and toss to coat all the ingredients with oil
–  Microwave for 1 ½ minutes until cooked through
–  Add sweetcorn, stock and five-spice powder, mixing well
–  Microwave for 2 minutes, being careful not to let the soup boil over
–  Blend the cornflour to a paste with a little cold water and stir into the soup
–  Microwave for 30 seconds
–  Stir the soup briskly with a fork as your pour in the lightly beaten egg white, so it cooks into ribbons that run through the soup

3) Bacon and Egg Quiche

Ingredients:
Butter
Filo pastry
Bacon rashers
Eggs
Dash of milk
Salt and pepper
Grated cheese

Method:
–  Put the butter in a large, wide mug and microwave for 20 seconds until melted
–  Lay the pastry on the work surface and brush with the butter
–  Use the pastry to line the mug, feeding each strip down one side, then up the other side, overlapping them slightly
–  Leave the ends overhanging and microwave for 30 seconds
–  Put the bacon on a double sheet of kitchen paper and microwave for 2 minutes until just cooked
–  Whisk together the eggs and milk, and season with salt and pepper
–  Stir in the bacon and cheese, then pour into the mug
–  Microwave for 5 minutes until just set. Leave to stand for 2 minutes, then serve hot or leave to cool and chill in the fridge

4) Cauliflower Cheese

Ingredients:
Onion
Bacon rashers
Cauliflower florets
Milk
Cornflour
Butter
Stilton
Black pepper

Method:
–  Put the onion and bacon in a mug and microwave for 20 seconds until the onion has softened
–  Add the cauliflower and milk, and microwave for 1 ½ minutes
–  Turn the cauliflower in the hot milk, then microwave for a further 2 minutes until the cauliflower is just soft
–  Blend the cornflour and butter together to form a paste, then carefully stir into the milk until thickened
–  Stir in the cheese and season with pepper, and microwave for 1 minute
–  Stir well, then microwave for a further 30 seconds until the sauce is thick and coating the cauliflower

5) Prawn Risotto

Ingredients:
Risotto rice
Vegetable stock
Onion
Olive oil
Garlic
Prawns
Black pepper
Fresh parsley

Method:
–  Put the rice into a large bowl and pour over enough stock to cover generously
–  Microwave for 5 minutes until oft, then drain
–  Put the onion, oil and garlic into a mug and mix together well
–  Microwave for 1 minute
–  Stir well, then microwave for another minute
–  Stir again, then add the prawns
–  Drain the rice, then stir into the mug and season with salt and pepper
–  Microwave for 1 – 2 minutes until piping hot and the prawns are pink
–  Sprinkle with parsley to serve

6) Banoffee Dessert

Ingredients:
Butter
Breadcrumbs
Banana
Condensed milk
Demerara sugar

Method:
–  Put the butter in a mug and microwave for 20 seconds until it is melted
–  Stir in the breadcrumbs
–  Place the banana slices on top and pour over the condensed milk
–  Microwave for 1 minute
–  Microwave for 15 second bursts for a further 2 -3 minutes, watching to make sure the milk does not boil over
–  Leave to cool for at least 10 minutes
–  Sprinkle with sugar and serve warm, or leave to cool and chill before serving

7) Mocha Cake with Warm Chocolate Sauce

Ingredients:
Butter
Egg
Plain flour
Baking powder
Cocoa powder
Dark soft brown sugar
Coffee powder
Icing sugar

For the sauce:
Butter
Dark soft brown sugar
Golden syrup
Dark chocolate

Method:
–  Put all the cake ingredients except the icing sugar into a large mug and mix well
–  Microwave for 3 minutes until risen and springy to touch
–  Leave to cool

–  For the sauce, put the butter, sugar and syrup into a mug and microwave for 30 seconds until they have all melted
–  Stir vigorously until the sauce is smooth
–  Add the chocolate and microwave for 30 seconds until the chocolate is beginning to melt
–  Stir vigorously until the chocolate has melted completely and blended into the sauce
–  Pour over the cake to serve