Introduction

In today’s fast-paced world, busy schedules often leave us with little time to prepare wholesome and delicious meals. However, with the advent of modern kitchen appliances like the Gigawatts electric food chopper, meal preparation has become a breeze. In this blog post, we will explore five make-ahead recipes that take full advantage of the convenience offered by an electric food chopper. These recipes not only save you time but also ensure that you have healthy and scrumptious meals ready to enjoy whenever hunger strikes.

1. Rainbow Veggie Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

– 1 cup quinoa

– 2 cups water

– 1 cup cherry tomatoes

– 1 cup cucumber

– 1 bell pepper (any colour)

– 1/2 red onion

– 1/4 cup fresh parsley

– 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

– 1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)

– 2 tablespoons lemon juice

– 2 tablespoons olive oil

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

a. Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and cook it in water according to package instructions. Let it cool.

b. Using your Gigawatts electric food chopper, chop the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion into small, uniform pieces.

c. Finely chop the fresh parsley and mint leaves.

d. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, chopped vegetables, fresh herbs, and feta cheese (if using).

e. Drizzle lemon juice and olive oil over the salad and toss everything together.

f. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

g. Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

2. Spicy Black Bean and Sweet Potato Burgers

Ingredients:

– 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

– 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed

– 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (gluten-free if preferred)

– 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

– 1 garlic clove, minced

– 1 teaspoon ground cumin

– 1 teaspoon chilli powder

– Salt and pepper to taste

– Olive oil for frying

Instructions:

a. Steam or microwave the sweet potato cubes until tender. Let them cool.

b. In your electric food chopper, pulse the black beans and cooked sweet potato until coarsely chopped, leaving some texture.

c. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and add breadcrumbs, chopped red onion, minced garlic, ground cumin, chilli powder, salt, and pepper.

d. Mix everything together until well combined.

e. Shape the mixture into burger patties and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

f. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the patties until browned on both sides.

g. Allow the patties to cool completely before storing them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in a toaster or oven when ready to eat.

3. Zesty Pesto Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

– 8 oz pasta of your choice (penne, fusilli, or bowtie work well)

– 1 cup cherry tomatoes

– 1 cup fresh spinach leaves

– 1/4 cup pine nuts

– 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

– 2 garlic cloves

– 1 cup fresh basil leaves

– 1/2 cup olive oil

– Juice of 1 lemon

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

a. Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and let it cool.

b. In your Gigawatts electric food chopper, pulse the cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach, and pine nuts until finely chopped.

c. Add the grated Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, and fresh basil leaves to the chopper and pulse until well blended.

d. While the chopper is running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil until a smooth pesto sauce forms.

e. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and pesto sauce. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated.

f. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pasta and season with salt and pepper to taste.

g. Store the pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

4. Hearty Vegetable Lentil Soup

Ingredients:

– 1 cup dried green or brown lentils

– 1 tablespoon olive oil

– 1 large onion, finely chopped

– 2 carrots, diced

– 2 celery stalks, diced

– 2 garlic cloves, minced

– 1 can diced tomatoes

– 4 cups vegetable broth

– 2 cups water

– 1 teaspoon dried thyme

– 1 teaspoon dried rosemary

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

a. Rinse the lentils and cook them according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

b. In your electric food chopper, chop the onion, carrots, and celery until finely diced.

c. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and sauté the chopped vegetables until softened.

d. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.

e. Stir in the canned diced tomatoes, cooked lentils, vegetable broth, and water.

f. Season the soup with dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.

g. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

h. Allow the soup to cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

5. Nutty Energy Bites

Ingredients:

– 1 cup rolled oats

– 1/2 cup nut butter (almond, peanut, or cashew)

– 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup

– 1/4 cup ground flaxseed

– 1/4 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans)

– 1/4 cup dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, or apricots)

– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

– A pinch of salt

Instructions:

a. In your electric food chopper, pulse the rolled oats until they are coarsely ground.

b. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground oats, nut butter, honey or maple syrup, ground flaxseed, chopped nuts, dried fruits, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.

c. Mix everything until well combined.

d. Using your hands, shape the mixture into bite-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

e. Refrigerate the energy bites for at least 30 minutes to set.

f. Once firm, transfer the energy bites to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Conclusion

With a Gigawatts electric food chopper at your disposal, meal prep becomes a simple and enjoyable task. These five make-ahead recipes not only showcase the versatility of this kitchen appliance but also prove that healthy and delicious meals can be prepared in advance to fit even the busiest of schedules. Whether it’s a colourful salad, a flavorful burger, a zesty pasta salad, a hearty soup, or a nutritious snack, these recipes will revolutionise the way you approach meal planning and ensure that you always have something tasty and nourishing to enjoy whenever hunger strikes. So get your Gigawatts electric food chopper ready and embark on a journey of effortless meal prep and culinary delights!