4 Healthy Slow-Cooked Meals

In an age where everything is rushed, there’s nothing better than taking your time to make a delicious and healthy meal. But who has the time to spend hours in front of the stove? Most of us end up getting unhealthy take-out.

Until we realize there’s a way to make fuss-free meals just as easy as take-out, only healthier: slow-cooked meals. Slow cooking has many benefits, like:

• Slow-cooked food tastes better
• It’s more nutritious and healthier
• It’s almost impossible to burn your food!
• You reduce your intake of processed food
• Even the toughest meats soften, this means you can use cheap cuts
• It makes cooking dried beans super easy
• It won’t heat up your kitchen
• You will save a lot of time!

What do I Need to Make Slow-Cooked Meals?

If you’re sold on all the great benefits of slow-cooking, your next step is to get something to cook your meal in. You could invest in a crock-pot – just like Grandma had, or a slow-cooker which is similar.

Other options are using a Dutch oven like this: https://unocasa.com/products/enameled-cast-iron-dutch-oven or a casserole dish.

You could even use a pressure cooker. Although it is traditionally used for cooking food faster, it can also be used over low heat for slow-cooked meals.

Recipe Ideas for Slow-Cooked Meals

Once you have something to cook in, all you need is a few good recipes and quality ingredients. Here are four great recipe ideas to get you going:

1. Coconut Quinoa Curry

Perfect for vegetarians (and vegans!) This curry recipe can be adapted to make your favorite vegetarian curry or even a stew!

• 2 cups of sweet potato, diced
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• 1 cup of onion, diced
• 1 can of garbanzo beans, drained
• 1 can of tomatoes
• 2 cans of coconut milk
• 1/4 cup of quinoa
• 1 tbsp of minced garlic
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 tbs soya sauce
• 1 chili pepper, minced

Instructions:

1. Add all the ingredients, plus a cup of water, and stir until it’s well mixed.
2. Cook for 7 hours on low heat until the sweet potato is cooked through.

2. Slow and Simple Salmon

This is a basic fish recipe that can be adapted to most types of fish. Mix up your seasoning according to taste, and experiment with your favorite fish dishes!

Ingredients:

• 2 lb salmon fillet, skin-on
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 1/2 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 tbs fresh dill, chopped

Instructions:

1. Line pot with parchment paper and top with a layer of lemon slices.
2. Lay the fish on top and season generously.
3. Add lemon juice and broth.
4. Top fish with more lemon slices.
5. Cook on low for two hours.

3. Tender and Tasty Slow Cooker Chicken

There is nothing as versatile as a whole cooked chicken. Use this recipe to get it cooked, and serve it with whatever you feel like. Some perfectly mashed potatoes and steamed veggies would go down a treat!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 1 chicken
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Oil the pot and roll up some small aluminum foil balls to form a ‘rack’ for the chicken at the bottom.
2. Whisk the sugar, chili flakes, paprika, and thyme together.
3. Pat the chicken dry and season.
4. Rub the sugar mix well into the chicken.
5. Place in the pot, breast side facing up.
6. Cook on high heat for around 2 1/2 to 3 hours (until the chicken’s juices run clear)
7. Remove from the pot.
8. To crisp the skin, broil for around 4 minutes.

4. Slow and Steady Split Pea Soup

Soup is comforting on cold days and packs a powerful punch when it comes to vitamins and minerals. This recipe is simple and super tasty!

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups of split peas
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks of celery, chopped
• 2tsp of garlic, minced
• 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1 tsp of ginger, minced
• 1/4 tsp of chili flakes
• 6 cups of chicken broth
• 1 ham hock
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients except broth and ham hock in the pot.
• Pour broth over and add the ham hock.
• Cook on low heat for around 7 to 8 hours (until the peas are soft)
• Shred remaining meat from the bone and serve.

The Start of Slow-Cooking Adventures

With these four recipes, you have an excellent foundation for slow cooking. Experiment with them and with your own recipes. Soon, you’ll be cooking all kinds of delicious, healthy meals with minimal effort!