The “Nothing to Cook” Problem: 10 Simple Meals to Cook

🍽️ The “Nothing to Cook” Problem: 10 Nigerian Simple Meals You Can Make From Simple Kitchen Staples

There are days when you open the kitchen cupboard, check the fridge and still think, “What are we going to eat today?”

It does not necessarily mean there is no food in the house. Sometimes, you simply need a little creativity.

Nigerian kitchens are filled with ingredients that can be transformed into satisfying meals without requiring a long shopping list. From garri and beans to eggs, noodles, plantain and rice, simple staples can become completely different dishes.

Here are 10 ideas for those days when inspiration disappears.

Simple Meals: 🍚 1. Quick Jollof Rice

If you have rice, tomatoes, pepper, onions and seasoning, you already have the foundation for a simple jollof rice.

You can add vegetables, eggs, chicken or fish if they are available. However, jollof does not have to wait for a special occasion.

A simple pot can become lunch or dinner for the family.

🫘 2. Beans and Plantain

Beans can be surprisingly versatile.

Cook the beans with onions, pepper and seasoning, then serve with fried, boiled or roasted plantain.

Have ripe plantain? Make the meal slightly sweet.

Have unripe plantain? Boil or fry it for a different texture.

Simple Meals:  🍳 3. Egg Sauce and Yam

When you have eggs but are unsure what to do with them, egg sauce is an easy answer.

Combine eggs with tomatoes, peppers and onions, then serve with boiled or fried yam.

You can also use the same sauce with potatoes, rice or bread.

🍝 4. Nigerian-Style Spaghetti

Spaghetti does not have to mean an elaborate recipe.

Cook the pasta and combine it with tomato sauce, vegetables, eggs or whatever protein is available.

Adding onions, peppers and a little seasoning can completely change a basic plate of pasta.

Simple Meals: 🍌 5. Fried Plantain and Eggs

This is one of those combinations that proves simple food can still be satisfying.

Fry ripe plantain until golden and prepare scrambled or fried eggs with onions and peppers.

It works for breakfast, lunch or a quick evening meal.

🥔 6. Potato Porridge

Have potatoes sitting in the kitchen?

Turn them into a hearty porridge with tomatoes, peppers, onions and seasoning.

You can add fish, vegetables or other available ingredients to make the meal more substantial.

🥣 7. Garri With a Twist

Garri is often treated as an emergency food, but there is more to it than soaking it in water.

Depending on what is available, you can enjoy it with groundnuts, milk or other additions.

It can also accompany beans, soup or other Nigerian dishes.

The key is knowing how to combine simple staples.

🌽 8. Corn and Pear

When fresh corn is in season, you do not always need an elaborate recipe.

Boiled or roasted corn paired with African pear can make a simple and satisfying snack or light meal.

It is also a reminder that seasonal foods can provide delicious options without complicated preparation.

🍜 9. Upgrade Your Noodles

Instant noodles can become much more interesting with a few additions.

Try adding:

• Eggs
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Cabbage
• Sweetcorn
• Onions
• Peppers

You can also add leftover chicken or fish when available.

A few vegetables can turn an ordinary bowl into a more colourful meal.

Simple Meals: 🥞 10. Simple Nigerian Pancakes

If you have flour, eggs, milk or water, sugar and a little oil, you can make pancakes.

Add bananas when available or serve them with fruit for a simple breakfast.

They can also be useful when you need something different from the usual bread and eggs.

🧠 The Secret Is Looking at Ingredients Differently

Sometimes the problem isn’t that there is nothing to cook. The problem is that we keep imagining the same ingredient in the same way.

Rice does not have to be plain rice.

Beans do not have to be eaten in only one form.

Eggs can become sauce, scrambled eggs, pancakes or an addition to noodles.

Plantain can be boiled, fried or roasted.

The Nigerian kitchen is full of possibilities.

Before heading to the market because you think there is “nothing to eat,” take five minutes to check your cupboards, freezer and refrigerator.

You might already have enough ingredients to create something delicious.

Simple Meals: 🇳🇬 Final Thought

Good food does not always require expensive ingredients or complicated recipes.

Sometimes, all it takes is a few staples, a little creativity and the willingness to try something different.

So the next time someone asks, “What are we cooking today?”, don’t panic.

Open the kitchen cupboard first. Your next meal might already be there.