8 Easy International Meals Ready in Under 1 Hour

Cook 8 international meals at home. Each for 4 servings. All under 1 hour total.

MealOriginPrepCookTotal
Pad ThaiThailand15m10m25m
Butter ChickenIndia10m25m35m
ShakshukaTunisia10m20m30m
BibimbapKorea15m15m30m
Chicken EnchiladasMexico15m25m40m
Teriyaki SalmonJapan10m15m25m
Arroz con PolloSpain15m30m45m
BobotieS. Africa20m35m55m

Use pantry staples. Basic pans only.

My Story: In Bangkok, a vendor flipped noodles over fire. The lime tang stuck with me. I recreated it stateside. These 8 bring that memory to my table weekly.

1. Quick 25-Min Pad Thai (Thailand)

Tangy noodles with shrimp.

Prep: 15 min | Cook: 10 min | Total: 25 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients

  1. 8 oz rice noodles
  2. 2 tbsp oil
  3. 2 eggs beaten
  4. 8 oz shrimp peeled
  5. 2 garlic cloves minced
  6. 1 cup bean sprouts
  7. 3 scallions sliced
  8. 1/4 cup peanuts crushed
  9. 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  10. 2 tbsp fish sauce
  11. 2 tbsp sugar
  12. 1 tbsp lime juice

Steps

  1. Soak noodles in hot water 10 min. Drain.
  2. Heat oil in wok. Scramble eggs 1 min. Push aside.
  3. Add shrimp garlic. Cook 2 min.
  4. Toss in noodles sauce ingredients. Stir 3 min.
  5. Mix in sprouts half scallions 1 min.
  6. Serve topped with peanuts scallions.

2. Creamy 35-Min Butter Chicken (India)

Juicy chicken in tomato gravy.

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 25 min | Total: 35 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients

  1. 1 lb chicken thighs cubed
  2. 2 tbsp oil
  3. 1 onion chopped
  4. 2 garlic minced
  5. 1 tbsp ginger grated
  6. 1 cup tomato puree
  7. 1 cup heavy cream
  8. 2 tbsp butter
  9. 1 tsp garam masala
  10. Salt

Steps

  1. Heat oil. Brown chicken 5 min. Remove.
  2. Saute onion garlic ginger 3 min.
  3. Add puree. Simmer 10 min.
  4. Stir cream butter garam masala.
  5. Return chicken. Cook 7 min.

3. 30-Min Shakshuka Eggs (Tunisia)

Eggs in spicy tomato.

Prep: 10 min | Cook: 20 min | Total: 30 min | Serves: 4

Ingredients

  1. 2 tbsp oil
  2. 1 onion diced
  3. 1 bell pepper diced
  4. 3 garlic minced
  5. 1 tsp cumin
  6. 28 oz tomatoes canned
  7. 8 eggs
  8. 1/2

Leave a Comment