Two Recipes To Make Your Dorm A 5-star Restaurant
- Georgiana LaRocca
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
For me, the hardest part about being away from home is not having home cooked dinners every night. While living off of Kraft mac and cheese, packaged ramen, and dining hall food is convenient, it does not have the same satisfaction and nutritional value as a meal you cooked yourself. For those of us with access to a kitchen, exploring the world of cooking for ourselves can be a rewarding and healthier alternative. Before you roll your eyes and object based on time commitments or costs, let me assure you that not all cooking has to be expensive and time consuming. To give you a head start, below I have listed two money-conscious and time efficient recipes to bring that homey feel to your dorm. As my grandmother used to say, “Try it, you might like it.”
Burrata pasta
Over the summer, my friend introduced me to her burrata pasta recipe. Burrata is an Italian cheese that originated from Puglia, a region in southern Italy. It has a harder exterior, similar to that of mozzarella cheese, and is filled with a creamy mixture of mozzarella and cream, called stracciatella. This pasta can be enjoyed on a hot summer day, or in the comfort of your dorm when you’re in need of a hearty, delicious meal!
Ingredients:
1 bag of Farfalle pasta (or any pasta you like)
1-2 burrata balls
2 handfuls basil
8 oz jar of roasted red peppers
5 oz jar kalamata olives (halved)
Instructions:
Fill a pot about halfway with water, and place over medium heat. When the water starts to boil, pour the bag of pasta into the pot and let cook for about 8-12 minutes (cooking time varies depending on preference).
Once the pasta is cooked, remove pasta from heat and pour the pasta into a bowl using a strainer. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper to the pasta and mix.
While pasta is cooling, chop the red peppers and the basil. Add the peppers, basil, and olives to the pasta and mix.
Once pasta is mostly cooled, cut burrata in quarters and place on top of the pasta.
Mix all together and serve.
tacos
My friends and I were looking to expand our cooking expertise, and we came up with the idea of a make your own taco night. It was a quick and easy meal to make, and all ingredients can be found at your local Trader Joe’s, or other local market. This recipe includes platanos maduros, or fried sweet plantains, which are a dish from the Caribbean and Latin America. They are a popular side dish made from ripe plantains, which are then sliced and fried until they are caramelized and soft.
Ingredients
1 package of Trader Joe’s chili-lime chicken (their rosemary chicken works just as well)
1 package of corn tortillas
1 bag of frozen platanos maduros
1 bag of corn
1 can of black beans
2 avocados
1 lime
Steps
Heat the chicken in a pan with olive oil over medium heat. Heat until warm and then remove the chicken from heat.
Pour the can of black beans into a pot and put over medium-low/medium heat. Add in any seasonings you like and let the beans simmer. Stir occasionally and remove from heat once warmed.
Pour the bag of corn into the pan (you can use the same one from the chicken) and cook over medium heat until the corn is hot (more detailed cooking instructions are listed on the back of the bag).
Place parchment paper over a baking sheet, and place maduros on the parchment paper. Keep some space in between each. Look at the bag for oven temperature and cooking time.
Lightly toast tortillas in a pan.
Once done with the above steps, mash two avocados in a bowl and pour the juice of one full lime over the top. Add in any seasonings you prefer (we used salt, pepper, and everything bagel seasoning).
These recipes make cooking fun and create a way in which you can show off your culinary skills without breaking the bank. Even if you do not have a lot of space (I know these dorm kitchens can be tiny), these meals are easy to make and delicious to eat! But don't stop here, let your imagination and your appetites run wild because there really is no limit to what you can whip up. From homemade pizza to vegetarian grain-based dishes or even burgers, there are simple and cost effective options waiting to be explored. So, next time you’re in search of something to eat for dinner, try your hand at one of these recipes and add your own flare to it!