Quick and Easy

A plate of chicken tostadas
Image by Takeaway

Some (most?) days you’re pressed for time, and you just need to get a meal on the table with minimal effort and maximum flavor. Turn to the wider world for a cornucopia of options!

The following recipes are relatively straightforward and simple to prepare. And for the most part, they will allow you to get dinner on the table in around an hour or less. Keep in mind that a few do call for time to marinate meat, poultry or fish or to soak dried beans. Start marinating or soaking in the morning, and things will come together quickly for dinner that night.

International quick and easy recipes

Liang Mian 
(Chinese cold sesame noodles)
Plate of Chinese sesame noodles

Liang Mian 
(Chinese cold sesame noodles)

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)
Bowl of steaming bulgogi

Bulgogi 
(Korean barbecued beef)

Gai Pad Yod Khao Pod 
(Thai chicken with baby corn)
Baby sweetcorn on a cutting board

Gai Pad Yod Khao Pod 
(Thai chicken with baby corn)

Ma Yi Shang Shu – Ants Climbing a Tree 
(Chinese cellophane noodles with ground pork)
Serving of ants climing trees

Ma Yi Shang Shu – Ants Climbing a Tree 
(Chinese cellophane noodles with ground pork)

Truchas a la Navarra 
(Spanish, Basque ham-stuffed trout)
Two fried trout on a plate with lemon and serrano ham

Truchas a la Navarra 
(Spanish, Basque ham-stuffed trout)

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)
Cheeseburger with tomatoes, lettuce and onion wrapped in paper

Hamburgers 
(American grilled beef patty sandwiches)

Pasta alla Puttanesca 
(Italian pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers)
Bowl of pasta puttanesca

Pasta alla Puttanesca 
(Italian pasta with tomatoes, olives and capers)

Maine Lobster Rolls 
(American, New England lobster salad sandwiches)
Lobster roll sandwich

Maine Lobster Rolls 
(American, New England lobster salad sandwiches)

Mie Goreng 
(Indonesian stir-fried noodles with vegetables)
Serving of Indonesian stir-fried noodles with vegetables

Mie Goreng 
(Indonesian stir-fried noodles with vegetables)

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)
Oyako Don (Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

Oyakodon 
(Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)
Zaru Soba (Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Zaru Soba 
(Japanese cold buckwheat noodles with dipping sauce)

Encebollado Ecuatoriano 
(Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)
Encebollado Ecuatoriano (Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)

Encebollado Ecuatoriano 
(Ecuadorian fish and onion stew)

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)
Quiche lorraine with a slice missing

Quiche Lorraine 
(French bacon and egg tart)

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)
Bowl of Japanese New Year soba noodles

Toshikoshi Soba 
(Japanese New Year soba noodles)

Zhajiang Mian 
(Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)
Zhajiang Mian (Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)

Zhajiang Mian 
(Chinese pork and noodles in brown bean sauce)

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)
Shawarma vendor slicing for a sandwich

Shawarma 
(Middle Eastern spiced meat sandwich)

Garides me Feta 
(Greek shrimp baked with tomatoes and feta)
Bowl with garides me feta Greek shrimp dish

Garides me Feta 
(Greek shrimp baked with tomatoes and feta)

Tabouli 
(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)
Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad on a plate

Tabouli 
(Middle Eastern bulgur and parsley salad)

Camarões Piri-Piri 
(Mozambican, Angolan shrimp in fiery red pepper sauce)
Piri-piri peppers

Camarões Piri-Piri 
(Mozambican, Angolan shrimp in fiery red pepper sauce)

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