Microwave recipes

Aishah

Now that I finally have a small western-style galley kitchen equipped with a microwave, single electric thermostically controlled hot plate from NZ and a small gas bottle with plate on top for when the light cuts(decided against big gas bottles and multi - gas burner cooktop because of heat it generates), I am finding the microwave a boon! Fast cooking, minimum heat generated.
For anyone living like me in a 'white bread only' area here is a great recipe for making your own bread easily and quickly in the microwave. I found it via Google and then adapted it. It is meant to have 1/4 cup oil as well but I leave that out - no need for it.
Dry Ingredients throw into mixing bowl- equivalent of 2 cups flour - i use 1 cup wholemeal, then the rest from millet, corn, rice, or besan -take your pick! You could use all wholemeal if you want.
1/4cup sugar; 2teasp.baking powder;1/2teasp.salt;
Whisk with a fork 1 egg plus 1 cup milk - I throw the milk powder into the dry ingreds. and just add water to the egg.
Make a well in the middle of your dry stuff, pour in the wet and stir with a fork, whipping it up a bit as you do so until it is like a stiff batter.
Put it into an ungreased glass dish up to 9"square with straight sides.
Cook on high for 6mins (High in my oven is 850w and is right for this timing) Let it stand for 5 mins.
Freshly made is good, next day use for toast.
I was going to get a breadmaker to overcome this horrible white bread we have here (all sorts of lovely flours locally ground are available here) but I thought too long making and much electricity using.
Now... I am looking for non-Indian food that I can make easily and quickly via the microwave! So far i have 'invented' fresh veg with tinned baked beans; tuna with veg; veg. omelette; garlic sauce veg; chow mein and noodles; biriyani but that is the limit of my repetoire and Mr K is getting tired of the repetition although he finds my non-Indian food delicious just the same!
Could we start a microwave recipes thread ( I looked the great dishes one before but not many microwave and most Indian) for non-Indian cooking until my sister sends the Edmonds Cookbook for microwave from NZ?? Criteria is ingredients easily obtainable - the quicker and faster the better!
Also please no health hazard of microwaves in this thread! I have made my decision and looked into that already.. I will be most grateful for your suggestions!

ba9rn

This site is worth a look. Gets updated frequently too.

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Aishah

many thanks ba9rn - I took a look, liked it and posted it into my Favourites!

sudheer poppa

Bought one last weekend... so far the only adventure has been to cook water.... oopss heat water

However I tried at the office microwave a quick fix dish, some frozen vegetables 3 mins defrost, 3 mins with water and final tree mins with some soup powder mixed with water.. output was quite good.. Ideal for late night office munching rather than ordering pizzas or junk stuff..

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Aishah

That sounds good - we can't get frozen veg but I will use fresh and buy soup powder mix! Yum! Yum!

PRIYA

If you can buy chicken portions and dunk them in a soupmix powder of your choice, add water and some veggies of your choice, even some diced potato - you'll have another tasty dish - and more Western flavoured than Indian.
Chicken cooks beautifully in the microwave and is always moist. You could cook your chicken portions in a ready-made soupmix instead of coating each portion - just another suggestion.

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Aishah

Priya - yes can get chicken - how many minutes do I cook it for? Sounds delicious, thank you!

PRIYA

My microwave is only a 600w, but does have a turntable.

If you have a round casserole dish, with a lid, this will be better because of 'wave' distribution. I cooked my portions initially for 10mins on full power and then another 10mins on 80pc power - turning the portions occasionally. Not knowing the wattage of your microwave makes it difficult to say how long, but it'll definitely be quicker than mine. Remember too that standing time is also important to finish off the cooking process.
If you brown your portions in a frying pan initially, the appearance of the finished product will be more attractive too.

Aishah

Many thanks - mine is 850 watts so maybe slightly shorter timings
so I will experiment. I am collecting all these recipes into a microwave notebook so easy to refer to as I cook.

PRIYA

Good luck!!! The choices are endless with chicken and fish fillets too. You'll soon be an expert.

And if you have a sweet tooth........apples peeled and cored, some sultanas, a little water and sugar, a cinnamon stick and some cloves - into a casserole dish and voila, stewed apple!!!

the opoponax

wow, some of this stuff sounds so good! and ambitious...

i remember when my family got a microwave, my mom tried so hard to use it for cooking full meals. failed miserably. most americans i know only use them for reheating and convenience foods.

PRIYA

That is such a waste to use it just for defrosting and re-heating. The uses are endless - especially when time is short.
To be perfectly honest, I'd be lost without mine.

the opoponax

yeah, at this point my microwave at home would be more aptly called "the shelf where we pile the junk mail". or maybe "frozen burrito reheater". i almost never use it and if it actually belonged to me, i would get rid of it.

Sama

since we don't have a recipe forum YET, I moved this to the cuisine forum. "Microwave recipes" really does not belong in the EXPAT forum!

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goangoangone

I prefer to cook.

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