Asian
Cucumber and sesame salad
Crunchy cucumber dressed with soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame seeds.
Easy meals
Seven dishes with up to three steps and less than 15 active minutes.
Au Menu helps you choose meals and plan your shopping.
Your week of easy meals
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Shopping for the week
Fruit and vegetables
- chives · 15 g
- garlic · 2 cloves
- chilli flakes · 1 g
- onions · 50 g
- parsley · 5 g
Dairy and cheese
- pouring cream · 125 ml
- egg · 2 eggs
- butter · 38 g
- grated Comté · 30 g
- grated Comté · 25 g
- pouring cream · 15 ml
- egg · 6 pieces
Meat and fish
- cooked ham · 100 g
- tuna in brine (drained weight) · 140 g
Pantry
- dried spaghetti · 380 g
- olive oil · 30 ml
- dried penne · 320 g
- capers · 10 g
- olive oil · 10 ml
- chopped tomatoes · 250 g
Frozen food
- frozen peas · 150 g
Au Menu suggests: starter, main, dessert
Starter, main and dessert: up to three steps and less than 15 active minutes per recipe.
Starter
- North African and Middle Eastern
Houmous
Smooth chickpea purée with tahini, lemon and garlic.
- Italian
Stracciatella — Roman egg and Parmesan soup
Beef broth with beaten eggs and Parmesan cooked into delicate shreds, finished with parsley and nutmeg.
Bouyiourdi — baked feta with tomatoes and mild chilli
A meze of softened feta over grated tomatoes, baked with oregano.
Main
- Italian
Spaghetti with garlic and olive oil
Spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and chilli.
- French
Chive and parsley omelette
Omelette with chives and parsley.
- Italian
Pasta with tuna and tomato
Penne with tomato, tuna and capers.
Trahanosoupa — trahana soup with feta
A thick soup of wheat and milk trahana, served with feta and toast.
Dessert
- American
Wacky cocoa cake without eggs or milk
A soft cocoa cake made with water and oil.
- Brazilian
Romeu e Julieta — cheese and guava paste
Slices of lightly salted queijo minas cheese paired with sweet guava paste.
Mbouraké — crumbly millet with peanuts
Cooked millet mixed with peanut paste, sugar and vanilla for a crumbly texture.
Pets-de-sœur — hazelnut pastry spirals
Puff pastry spirals filled with hazelnut spread and toasted hazelnuts.
Tips for planning your week
Choose a recipe you can follow comfortably
Start with preparations whose techniques you understand and whose equipment you have. This selection combines up to three steps with under 15 active minutes. Read the whole recipe: one step may contain several actions, and cooking can take longer.
Prepare before turning on the heat
Set out your board, knife and containers. Measure ingredients and do the required chopping before a short cooking stage. You can then watch the pan without searching a cupboard or weighing something at the same time.
Use cooking cues as well as a timer
Set a timer to remind you to check, then follow the recipe’s texture and doneness cues. Timing does not replace observation: the size of the pieces, heat level and quantity can change the result.
Learn a few reliable dishes before varying them
Repeating a recipe you enjoyed helps you get to know your hob, equipment and timings. Change one accompaniment or seasoning at a time. On a first attempt, avoid changing quantities, cookware and method all at once.
Your questions about these meals
What should I cook as a beginner?
Pasta with a simple sauce, a filled omelette or an assembled dish with few cooking tasks can be useful starting points. Choose techniques that feel manageable to you.
Is a three-step recipe always easy?
It is a reading guide, but each step may include several actions. These recipes also take under 15 active minutes; check the full steps and equipment to decide what suits you.
Can I double the quantities without changing cooking time?
Not always. A fuller pan or thicker dish may need longer, or require several batches. Adjust servings, then check that the cookware suits the quantity.
How can I avoid feeling overwhelmed while cooking?
Read the steps first, prepare the ingredients and choose a simple accompaniment. Allow extra time for a first attempt rather than starting just before you want to eat.