Roast dinner for one
Quick and imaginative new suppers for one are among the most frequent requests we receive at BBC Good Food, so this month we’re giving you fresh inspiration.
Cooking for yourself doesn’t have to be boring and, as my boyfriend often works late, I’ve learned to enjoy preparing meals for myself. However, I never want to spend hours slaving away over a meal that only I will appreciate.
Whether it’s a quick yet sumptuous toastie after a busy day at work, or a roast that requires minimal effort, we all appreciate a proper dinner without having to make enough to feed a family. Many supermarkets are making this easier, selling smaller packs of veg, or a single piece of meat or fish in a pack, to ensure we waste less.
So here are my three new ‘home alone’ suppers. I hope you love them as much as I do.
EASY FIBRE 3OF5
ADAY
SERVES 1 PREP 10 mins COOK 35 mins
2 tbsp olive oil 1 large chicken breast, skin on 6 small new potatoes (about
200g/7oz), halved 2 carrots, cut into rounds 1 small onion, cut into wedges 3 broccoli spears or forets 3 thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf 150ml/ chicken stock, warmed
tbsp plain four
1 Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Rub 1 tbsp of the oil over the chicken skin, then season. Put the potatoes, carrots, onion and broccoli in a small roasting tin with the thyme and bay leaf. Drizzle over the remaining oil, season well and toss together to coat everything. Sit the chicken breast on top and roast in the oven for 25-30 mins until it is cooked and the veg are tender. 2 Remove the chicken, potatoes and broccoli from the roasting tin and set aside while you make the gravy. Set the tin on the hob over a high heat and add the stock. Bring to the boil, then simmer for a few mins. Add the plain four and stir constantly to remove any lumps. Once the sauce has thickened, take off the heat. 3 Slice the chicken breast into 3-4 pieces at an angle. Serve with the potatoes, broccoli, carrots and onion gravy. PER SERVING 702 kcals • fat 31g • saturates 6g • carbs 55g • sugars 17g • fbre 14g • protein 43g • salt 0.7g If you’re shopping for one, buy bottles of liquid stock instead of concentrated stock cubes. That way you can use as little or as much as you need, and won’t be left with a half-crumbled cube. We like Knorr Touch of Taste liquid stock.