Cooking every day can become tiring, especially when you have work, family responsibilities and other activities to attend to. After a busy day, the last thing many people want is to spend hours in the kitchen preparing a meal from scratch.
One way to make weekday cooking easier is to prepare some foods ahead of time. This saves time, reduces stress and helps you avoid the temptation to buy food whenever you are too tired to cook.
Here are six Nigerian foods you can prepare in advance to make your weekdays easier.
1. Tomato Stew
Tomato stew is one of the most useful foods to prepare ahead because it goes with several Nigerian meals. You can make a large quantity with fresh tomatoes, pepper, onions, seasoning and your preferred protein.
After cooking, allow the stew to cool before storing it in clean, airtight containers in the refrigerator or freezer. During the week, you can simply reheat the quantity you need and serve it with rice, yam, beans or spaghetti.
2. Egusi Soup
Preparing egusi soup in advance can save you a lot of time during the week. The process of washing vegetables, preparing meat and cooking the soup can take a while, so making it ahead is a practical option.
You can cook enough for a few meals and divide it into smaller portions before storing. When you are ready to eat, reheat only the portion you need and prepare fresh eba, fufu, semo or pounded yam to go with it.
3. Beans
Beans can take a long time to cook, especially when preparing them from scratch. To reduce the time spent in the kitchen, you can boil a reasonable quantity ahead and store it in meal-sized portions.
During the week, you can reheat the beans and add stew, palm oil or other ingredients depending on the meal you want. You can also use the cooked beans to prepare beans and plantain or beans porridge.
4. Moi Moi
Moi moi is another Nigerian food you can prepare ahead of a busy week. Although preparing it involves peeling or washing beans, blending and seasoning, you can make several portions at once instead of repeating the process every day.
Once cooked, allow the moi moi to cool and store it properly in the refrigerator or freezer. It can be reheated when needed and served with pap, custard, rice or bread.
5. Nigerian Pepper Soup
If your family enjoys pepper soup, preparing it ahead can make meal planning easier. You can cook a pot with fish, chicken, goat meat or your preferred protein, using the right spices and seasoning.
Divide the cooked pepper soup into smaller containers and refrigerate or freeze it. On a busy evening, you only need to reheat a portion. It can be enjoyed on its own or served with boiled yam or rice.
6. Jollof Rice Sauce
Instead of preparing jollof rice from the beginning every time, you can make the pepper and tomato base ahead of time. Blend your tomatoes, pepper and onions, then cook the mixture with oil and seasoning until it is well fried.
Allow it to cool before storing it in airtight containers. When you want to make jollof rice during the week, add the prepared sauce to your rice and stock, then cook as usual.
CONCLUSION
Preparing some Nigerian foods ahead of time can make weekday cooking less stressful. You do not have to spend your entire weekend in the kitchen; even preparing two or three items can make a difference.
Remember to store cooked food in clean, covered containers, refrigerate or freeze it promptly, and reheat it thoroughly before eating. With a little planning, you can spend less time cooking during the week and still enjoy homemade meals.