Family Meal Ideas to Bring Loved Ones Together
With October upon us and silly season fast approaching, it can feel like the year is only speeding up, with work and school commitments crowding our already busy schedules.
When the world starts to spin, there’s one surefire way to slow things down: with a tasty meal, enjoyed around the table. It’s a simple – but essential – ritual to ground your family and friends in what really matters: connection.
Quick Midweek Meals, Made to Share
Unless you’re big on Sunday meal prep (in which case, hats off to you), it can be tricky to get a wholesome meal on the table during a weeknight – something that feels special, but doesn’t take hours to make. This is why you need a roster of low-effort, high-impact recipes like the following:
Casserole Cuisine
For a tasty one-bowl wonder, try this One-Pot Lemon Chicken with Rice casserole: it requires minimal prep and then you let the oven do the work while you get on with life. Plus, how great is it that the rice goes into the pan with the chicken and soaks up all that flavour from Ina Paarman’s Lemon & Herb Coat & Cook Sauce?
Ever-Popular Pasta
Pasta makes the world go round – it’s fast, easy and endlessly versatile. But before you opt for your regular spaghetti dish, why not try something new? This Smoked Sausage and Mushroom Pasta is brimming with bold flavours and super quick to make, thanks to Ina Paarman’s Tomato & Mushroom Pasta Sauce.
Stir Up Satisfaction
What would a weeknight meal plan be without an easy stir-fry option? You’re going to want to add this Chicken Stir-Fry with Noodles to your recipe file. Ina Paarman’s Honey & Soy Coat & Cook Sauce brings all the flavour you need, plus you could easily substitute the chicken for steak, pork fillet or even prawns! What’s not to love?
Toasties with a Twist
And then we need something for those nights when just the thought of cooking leaves you feeling exhausted, right? Bring on the jaffles for the ultimate comfort food. It’s ideal for any leftover mince, bolognaise sauce (or even cottage pie!) And if you have none of those, just grab a jar of Ina Paarman’s Beef Bolognaise Pasta Sauce and off you go. This is a fun recipe to let the kids get involved – to really put the ‘family’ in family cooking and offer you the chance to reconnect.
Easy Weekend Treats for a Slow Gathering
On weekends, make time to slow down with friends and family over a lingering meal – whether it be a braai, a potjie or just a lazy Saturday lunch. It’s the quintessential South African family tradition!
But you still don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen when you could be relaxing around the table. We’re trying to minimise all that chopping and dicing here! For simple recipe options, try these:
Superb Salad
For a simple but super sophisticated Saturday lunch, how about an easy Salad Nicoise? This substantial salad comes together in a flash and will go down a treat with a nice glass of white wine. To take things to the next level, you could also substitute the tinned tuna for fresh tuna (grilled on the braai). Just assemble, dress with Ina Paarman’s Creamy Caesar Dressing and sit back to enjoy the results.
Perfect Pork
We’ve all got our favourite braai recipe, but the weekend offers you the chance to try something new, right? Instead of just blindly going for boerie rolls, how about you impress friends and family with something slightly more exotic (but still simple!) like Pork Espetadas? Ina Paarman’s Sticky Plum & Soy Marinade makes quick work of bringing loads of flavour to pork neck. Pork really gets on well with sweet flavours, so for a side to match, consider something fruity like this punchy Pineapple and Mango Salad.
Fabulous Grilled Fish
If seafood is your game, there are few things more rewarding to dish up than fresh Whole Fish Over the Coals – a true family meal. Serve it with something simple, like potato salad – this Mixed Potato Salad offers a new interpretation of the old stand-by, with a nice pop of spice and lots of tang, thanks to Ina Paarman’s Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing.
Decadent Dessert
Finally, what’s a leisurely meal with loved ones without dessert? For something fun (and so easy you can get the young ones to help you make it), these Chocolate Ice-Cream Sandwiches are sure to charm young and old, and draw everyone to the table in delight. And since they make use of Ina Paarman’s Choc Chip Cookie Mix and Chocolate Mousse Mix, you can be sure the effort involved will be low, but the impact deliciously high.
Remember, wholesome eating starts at home, and a home-cooked meal offers the ideal medium to bring your loved ones together. To make every meal a moment worth sharing, visit www.paarman.co.za for a range of tasty, trusty recipes made with Ina Paarman products – crafted from fresh, quality ingredients packed with nutrients.
