What to Cook this Week is a new weekly cooking series that we’ll publish every Monday with weeknight meal ideas from the Grantourismo recipe archives. Suggestions might include dishes to cook for upcoming holidays, meals we’re making in our kitchen, and perhaps recipes that we’re testing that we’d love you to try.
For our new What to Cook this Week series, every Monday morning I dig into our recipe archives – which is heaving with hundreds of recipes from around the world, many dating back to 2010 when we launched Grantourismo – for easy midweek dinner ideas for you.
In What to Cook this Week, I’ll share easy meal ideas for those nights you’re feeling like you don’t want to spend a whole of time in the kitchen, as well as suggestions for meals requiring a bit more effort, when you’re happy to while away the evening in the kitchen with loved-ones and a bottle of wine and good music in the background.
We’ll also suggest recipes that we’re planning to cook here in our Cambodian kitchen in the week ahead. And if you’re interested, we’d also love to share the occasional recipe that we’re developing for our cookbooks and invite you to test it and let us know how it turned out for you.
Before I share ideas as to what to cook this week, I have a favour to ask. Grantourismo is reader-funded. If you’ve enjoyed our recipes, please consider supporting our work by buying us a coffee. We’ll put that coffee money toward cooking ingredients for recipe testing.
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And lastly, you could use our links to book accommodation, rent a car, buy travel insurance, or book a tour on Get Your Guide. Again, we may earn a small commission but you won’t pay extra. Lastly, you could also shop our Grantourismo store for gifts for foodies, including fun reusable cloth face masks designed with Terence’s photography. Now let’s give you some ideas as to what to cook this week.
What to Cook this Week from Chilli Con Carne Sin Carne and Cambodian Chicken Curry to Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad
These are our suggestions for what to cook this week and they include some of our most favourite recipes and most popular recipes on Grantourismo right now.
Monday Night – Chilli Con Carne Recipe Sin Carne
If you’re looking for a super easy Monday night meal idea that comes together in 30 minutes – even faster after you’ve made it a few times – make my vegetarian bean chilli recipe. Even if you’re not a vegetarian, I guarantee you will love my chilli con carne ‘sin carne’ (without the meat).
I made it last night as we were so tired from working all weekend and it’s such a cinch to pull together. Although I actually added pork mince as it had to be used up. It already has an abundance of flavour, but I also added additional spices, as I can’t help but experiment. You should too, and please let us know how it turns out. And if you prefer to fall back on a classic, there’s also Terence’s outstanding chilli con carne.
Whichever you make, make enough for leftovers, so you can whip up some chilli con carne cheese quesadillas for lunch Tuesday or my ultimate nachos recipe if Tuesday’s meal idea doesn’t inspire you. Tuesday also happens to be #TacoTuesday so you could also use the leftover chill to make breakfast tacos or tacos for lunch on Tuesday.
Easy Vegetarian Chilli Recipe for Chilli Con Carne Sin Carne (Without Meat) and It’s Vegan Too
Tuesday Night – Cambodian Chicken Curry
After over-indulging on Mexican and Tex-Mex we always feel like Asian food and by Tuesday night I’ve got a bit more energy back so I’m planning on making a curry. The thing about curries is you can leave them on the stove simmering away while you finish some work or simple relax with a glass of wine.
I haven’t made this Cambodian chicken curry in a while, so I think I’ll cook that. That was the dish that made me fall in love with Cambodian food. We’ll have plenty of jasmine rice with that. If Terence has finished a website he’s been working on until late most nights, then we might hang together in the kitchen and make these Cambodian fried spring rolls while the curry does its thing.
Cambodian Chicken Curry Recipe for a Gentle Comforting Southeast Asian Curry
Wednesday Night – Shrimp Fried Rice Recipe
We always have steamed rice left after a curry, so we’ll probably make fried rice for dinner on Wednesday. I love this shrimp fried rice and while it’s made with shrimp paste, if that’s too funky for you, you could use fish sauce instead.
Not the same flavour, I know, but it will still provide umami. Or leave it out, especially if you can get hold of nice sweet plump fresh shrimps or prawns. And if you can’t, check the freezer section at the supermarket. We’ll keep things simply Wednesday night.
Shrimp Fried Rice With Shrimp Paste Recipe – How to Make Cambodia’s Bai Cha Kapi
Thursday Night – Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad
I’ve been having cravings for Thai food and there’s plenty of shiny purple eggplants and beautiful corn available right now, so I think I might make these Thai corn fritters as a starter and this beautiful Thai grilled eggplant salad for dinner on Thursday and that will be just fine. There’s no need for a feast every night. That can wait until Friday night.
Delightful Thai Grilled Eggplant Salad Recipe with Red Shallots, Fragrant Mint and Soft-Boiled Eggs
Friday Night – Russian Kotleti Recipe
I’m usually up for poking around my collection of Russian family recipes and cooking up a Russian feast by for Friday dinner by the time the end of the week comes around. I haven’t made this Russian kotleti recipe for chicken cutlets or chicken meat patties in a while, so that will take centre stage.
Terence will have to make his heavenly creamy mashed potatoes for that and I always do a simple healthy Russian garden salad to go on the side. Dishes of radishes and my own dill pickles are another given. I’m tempted to make a starter… perhaps Russian devilled eggs or blini with smoked salmon, sour cream and dill, which work both as an appetiser and brunch.
I’m also planning on putting our little Christmas tree up on Friday evening, and getting Terence to put some Christmas carols on. I think it will be time to get in the mood for Christmas, don’t you?
Russian Kotleti Recipe for Delicious Deep-Fried Russian Style Chicken Meat Patties
Please do let us know if you’ve made any of our What to Cook this Weekend recipes in the comments below as we’d love to get your feedback and hear how our recipes turned out for you. Have a great week!
