5 easy recipes men can make

“Man-friendly” recipes

The kitchen may seem like an intimidating beast for anyone with limited experience in it, but cooking meals from scratch should be creative and fun. Just put faith in your tastebuds and it’s easy to know what goes well together. Here are five “man-friendly” recipes, from a comforting soup to hearty sandwiches. They’re all easy to make and can be customized with whatever is in your kitchen.

Tomato Basil Soup

This is a simple recipe that can double as a sauce for pasta. Tomatoes are chock full of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been shown to decrease the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease, among others. Use salt-free canned tomatoes if you can find them. I sometimes substitute fresh rosemary for the basil, and it’s delicious. If you like, sprinkle the soup with some grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese.

Get the recipe: Tomato Basil Soup

Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Salad

This salad helps keep me from wasting things in my crisper. And when I crave veggies, it’s the meal I turn to. I’ve added chicken for a hit of protein, but any leftover meat will do, or go for a couple of hard-boiled eggs. I like to top this salad with a low-fat creamy ranch dressing, but try any dressing you like.

Get the recipe: Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Salad

Chicken Souvlaki Pita

This recipe is an easy version of souvlaki on a bun. The toppings you add are up to you and shouldn’t be limited to those in this ingredient list. I always say sandwiches make the perfect meal because of the variety you can add. Tzatziki is readily available in grocery stores; check near the deli sections. Or you can make your own by combining 1 cup (250 mL) plain yogurt, 2 grated cucumbers, 2 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 Tbsp (15 mL) vinegar, 1 cup sour cream and a bit of salt and pepper.

Get the recipe: Chicken Souvlaki Pita

Salmon Salad Sandwich

This recipe is great if you have a leftover piece of salmon from the night before. (Canned salmon can be substituted as well, but make sure it is canned in water with little or no salt.) Studies have shown that eating just two servings of salmon a week can reduce your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and of having a heart attack. While you can eat the bones in canned sal­mon (doing so increases the amount of calcium you get), they are easily removed if you prefer. 

Get the recipe: Salmon Salad Sandwich

Breakfast Skillet

This is a great breakfast or brunch to start the weekend because it’s one that the whole family will dig into-plus, it’s full of good-for-you veggies. And it’s really simple to throw together; you can search the fridge and add any leftovers you have-be as creative as you want!

Get the recipe: Breakfast Skillet

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