15-minute microwave recipes

We have all been there: crazy hungry, home alone, maybe broke, and with that tingling sensation saying, "I think I want to cook today". You move around from room to room, end up at the refrigerator and look inside to see what you can salvage. And then you remember you can't cook for peanuts. But that is about to change. You find the easy ingredients, and we bring you the easy recipes that require not a skillet or a ladle. Microwave! Here we come!

Doughnuts

You probably dough-n't believe me! But let's put all your doubts to rest as you start with something sweet! Here's how.

• In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add sugar and vanilla and whisk to combine. Add flour and cocoa powder and stir gently with a spatula until mostly moistened and combined. Pour in the melted butter and continue stirring until fully combined. Use a shot glass to create the hole. Butter the inside of the small bowl and the outside of the shot glass, place it right-side-up in the middle of the bowl.
• Pour the batter in the bowl around the shot glass.
• Microwave on high for 60 seconds.
• Remove the shot glass. When the bowl is cool enough to handle, invert it to release the donut. Add chocolate icing.

French Toast

Eggs are a lifesaver! Eggs and bread together is gold. And cooked up in a microwave, they are absolutely amazing! Try it.

• Cut your bread into cubes.
• Butter up the cup that you will use to heat the combination in.
• Crack an egg into it.
• Add 3 tablespoons of milk.
• Sprinkle cinnamon.
• If you like your french toast really sweet or vanilla-y, add a single drop of vanilla extract (I don’t do this, but it might make you love it even more.)
• Heat for approximately one minute.

Coffee Cake

Mmmmmm! I can imagine the heavenly smell of it even as I write this! Get to work.

• Take all the ingredients: flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, instant coffee powder, baking soda, oil, milk, vanilla essence, chocolate chips, in a bowl and mix well.
• Grease a microwave safe mug with oil.
• Pour the batter in and pop it in the microwave and cook for 1 to 2 mins.
• Remove it from the oven, let it cool a bit, and serve with a scoop of ice cream or as it is.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Sounds difficult? Not so much really. Just a tad bit of work, and you come out looking fancy-schmancy and well fed! Find out how.

• Wash and clean the mushrooms. Pull off and dice the stems.
• Place the diced stems and onions in a small bowl, and cover with wax paper.
• With the microwave on high, cook for 45 seconds.
• Add the crumbs, cheese, sherry and enough water to moisten the mixture.
• Season to taste with parsley flakes, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
• Then spoon the filling into the mushroom caps.
• Place them around the edge of a large round microwave plate.
• Cook on medium for 3 minutes, turning the plate every minute for even cooking, and voila!

Cinnamon Roll

Ooh! That heavenly smell again! You are less than 5 minutes away from your Cinnamon heaven. Here's how:

• Combine applesauce, vegetable oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and a pinch of salt in a mug. Whisk all of it together with a fork until it combines and is nearly smooth.
• Microwave mixture on high power for 1 minute, then check the cake.
• If it is not fully cooked, microwave for an additional 15 seconds.
• Make the cream cheese icing using softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk.

Mug Pizza

You are welcome. Really. Put the Italian chef cap on and get to work signore!

• Combine 4 tbsp of plain flour, 1/8 tsp baking powder, a pinch of baking soda and 1/8 tsp of salt in a microwave safe mug, mix well using a fork.
• Add 3 tbsp of milk and 1 tbsp of oil, mix well using a fork.
• Spread 2 tbsp of pizza sauce evenly over it and sprinkle 2 tbsp of cheese.
• Finally place 6 olives over it and sprinkle ½ tsp mixed herbs, ¼ tsp oregano and ¼ tsp of chilli flakes evenly over it.
• Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Easy, ain't it!?

Mattar Dhokla

This takes something around 10 minutes to cook, but hey, that's still better than you messing up the whole kitchen, or worse, setting the house on fire, eh? Onward.

• Combine crushed green peas, besan, ginger-green chilli paste, powdered sugar, lemon juice, salt, some oil, mustard seeds, chopped green chillies, some heeng in a deep bowl, except the fruit salt along with approximately one fourth cup of water and mix very well using your hands.
• Just before steaming, add the fruit salt and 2 tsp of water and mix gently.
• Pour into greased microwave safe dish with a lid and microwave on high for 3 minutes covered.
• Combine the oil and the mustard seeds in a microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 2 minutes.
• Add the green chillies and asafoetida and microwave on high for 1 more minute.
• Pour the tempering over the dhoklas and cut into square pieces. There you go!

Thai Steamed Egg

I love red thai curry with some brown rice. I love cooking it too. Under supervision. With a fire extinguisher handy. I should probably try my hand at this easy recipe too as I perfect the other thing.

• Finely slice the spring onion, brown onion, and ginger for dipping sauce. Place the spring onion and brown onion into the large bowl leaving a pinch of spring onion on the side for garnish. Place the ginger into the small dish.
• Pour enough soy sauce into the small dish to cover the sliced ginger and sit to the side.
• Add a tablespoon of soup stock to the large bowl. Add the eggs, beat into a mix. Add some water.
• Loosely cover with microwave-safe plastic food wrap.
• Put in microwave on high for about 10 minutes. Keep watch as the egg mixture will rise during cooking.

Masala Paneer

And with this, order in some roti from that dhaba nearby. Dinner is sorted!

• Put the oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
• Add the green chilli paste, mix well and microwave on high for 30 seconds.
• Add the tomatoes, tomato purée, chilli powder, coriander seeds powder, pav bhaji masala, dried fenugreek leaves and salt, mix well and microwave on high for 3 minutes, stirring in between after every 1 minute.
• Add the paneer cubes, mix well and keep aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
• Microwave the paneer mixture on high for 3 minutes, stirring twice in between.