7 Simple Dinner Ideas, Complete with Recipes!

Having dinner with family is a moment many look forward to after a full day of activities outside the home. However, having the same menu all the time can make everyone at home quickly get bored. If you want to change things up, try getting creative with simple dinner dishes made from ingredients that are easy to find at the market.

When experimenting with recipes in the kitchen, making healthy and nutritious meals should still be your priority. There’s no need to worry, these dinner recipes are not only delicious but also nutritious. Let’s check out the ingredients and how to prepare these simple dinner menus below. 

1. Fried Rice Vermicelli

A simple dinner menu that’s easy to make is fried rice vermicelli. Not only is it easy to prepare, but the ingredients are also relatively affordable. Here are the details of what you’ll need to make homemade fried vermicelli:

Ingredients:

• 2 packs of corn vermicelli.
• 1 carrot.
• 2 stalks of celery.
• 2 eggs.
• 1 bunch of bok choy.
• 2 stalks of leek.
• 5 cloves of garlic.
• 7 shallots.
• 5 sausages.
• 1 teaspoon of fish sauce.
• 2 tablespoons of sweet soy sauce.
• 1 tablespoon of chili sauce.
• 1 teaspoon of savory seasoning sauce (Raja Rasa).
• Salt to taste.

How to make:

1. Boil the corn vermicelli in boiling water.
2. Once cooked, drain and set aside.
3. Grind or finely crush the garlic and shallots.
4. Sauté the ground garlic and shallots until fragrant and fully cooked.
5. Add sweet soy sauce, savory seasoning, and fish sauce. Mix well with the sautéed spices.
6. Add chopped vegetables and sliced sausages into the pan. Stir-fry until the seasoning is well absorbed and evenly mixed.
7. Add the vermicelli into the pan and mix thoroughly.
8. Add salt, ground pepper, and stock powder to taste. Stir and adjust seasoning as needed.
9. Remove from heat and serve the fried vermicelli while warm.

2. Egg & Cheese Kimbap

Want to try a simple Korean-style dinner recipe? Kimbap filled with egg and cheese can be a great choice since it’s fairly easy to make. To prepare it, gather the ingredients and follow the steps below:

Ingredients:

• 600 grams of fluffy white rice.
• 1 carrot.
• 1 cucumber.
• 3 slices of cheese.
• 3 sheets of kimbap nori (seaweed).
• 3 green beans.
• 6 slices of Korean pickled radish.
• 3 eggs.
• 2 teaspoons mushroom stock powder.
• 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar.
• ½ teaspoon of ground pepper.
• 2 tablespoons of chili sauce.
• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise.
• Sesame oil, as needed.
• White sesame seeds, as needed.

How to make:

1. Cut the carrot and cucumber into long strips about ½ cm thick. Remove the cucumber seeds.
2. Boil the carrot, cucumber, and green beans until tender. Set aside once cooked.
3. In a bowl, beat the eggs with sugar, ground pepper, and mushroom stock powder.
4. Cook the eggs in a pan, flipping until fully done. Slice into thin, long strips.
5. Prepare a sushi mat with the rough side facing up.
6. Place a sheet of nori on the mat. Brush lightly with sesame oil. Add about 200 grams of rice and spread evenly. Arrange the fillings: pickled radish, carrot, cucumber, egg, green beans, and cheese.
7. Roll the rice tightly while holding the fillings in place so they stay compact.
8. Slice the kimbap into pieces about 1 cm thick.
9. Arrange on a clean plate and sprinkle with white sesame seeds.
10. Serve with the prepared sauces.

3. Crumbled Tofu

This simple dinner dish is made from yellow tofu and is quite easy to prepare. Here’s what you need and how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 5 pieces of yellow tofu.
• 1 egg.
• 4 shallots.
• 2 cloves of garlic.
• 1 bay leaf.
• 1 handful of basil leaves.
• Salt to taste.
• Sugar to taste.
• Seasoning powder to taste.

How to make:

1. Place the tofu in a clean bowl and mash it until crumbly.
2. Add 1 egg and mix well.
3. Sauté sliced shallots and garlic with the bay leaf until fragrant and cooked through.
4. Add the mashed tofu into the sautéed mixture. Stir well until the seasoning is absorbed.
5. Add salt, sugar, and seasoning powder to taste. Mix well and adjust the flavor as needed.
6. Cook until the tofu releases less moisture and becomes drier, then add the basil leaves.
7. Stir again until everything is well combined.
8. Remove from heat and serve warm.

4. Red Soup

If you want to try a healthy and nutritious soup, red soup can be a great choice. With its reddish color, this soup contains sliced carrots, potatoes, and pieces of chicken that help meet your body’s nutritional needs. Here are the ingredients and how to make it:

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots, thinly sliced.
• 1 large potato, diced.
• 75 grams of cauliflower.
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped.
• 1 small onion, chopped.
• 1 stalk of celery.
• 100 grams of chicken breast, diced.
• 4 sausages, sliced to taste.
• 10 meatballs, halved.
• 2 tomatoes, crushed with a little water.
• 5 tablespoons of tomato sauce.
• 1 teaspoon of tomato sauce (additional).
• ½ teaspoon of sesame oil.
• Sugar to taste.
• Salt to taste.
• Pepper to taste.
• Mushroom stock powder to taste.
• Water as needed.
• Margarine, as needed for sautéing.

How to make:

1. Heat a pan, add some margarine, and sauté the garlic and onion until fragrant.
2. Add the diced chicken and cook until it turns white.
3. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, add the remaining ingredients.
4. Stir well and simmer until everything is cooked. Adjust the seasoning if needed and taste before turning off the heat.
5. Serve the red soup with warm rice to enjoy with your family.

5. Simple Chicken Soup

Another simple dinner recommendation is clear chicken soup. With a mix of carrots, potatoes, and pieces of chicken, it makes for a warm and comforting meal.

Besides being easy to prepare, this dish is light on the stomach and perfect for those who want a healthy dinner. You can also add celery and a squeeze of lime juice for a fresher taste.

Ingredients:

• 250 grams of chicken (cut into small pieces).
• 1 carrot (thinly sliced).
• 1 potato (diced).
• 2 cloves of garlic (crushed).
• 1 stalk of green onion (sliced).
• Salt, pepper, and stock powder to taste.
• 500 ml of water.

How to make:

1. Boil the chicken until tender, skimming off any foam.
2. Add the garlic, carrot, and potato, and cook until the vegetables are soft.
3. Add salt, pepper, and stock powder, then stir well.
4. Sprinkle with green onions before serving.

6. Stir-Fried Tofu and Vegetables

Stir-fried tofu with vegetables like water spinach (kangkung) or spinach is a simple yet nutritious dish.

With garlic seasoning, a bit of sweet soy sauce, and salt, it tastes delicious and is quick to prepare, yet perfect for a hassle-free dinner.

Ingredients:

• 2 blocks of white tofu (cut into cubes, lightly fried).
• 1 bunch of water spinach or spinach.
• 2 cloves of garlic (chopped).
• 1 tablespoon of sweet soy sauce.
• Salt and pepper to taste.
• Cooking oil.

How to make:

1. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, then add the fried tofu.
2. Add the vegetables and stir until wilted.
3. Pour in the sweet soy sauce, add salt and pepper, and mix well.
4. Cook until done and serve warm.

7. Fried Fish with Sambal Matah

The last simple dinner option is crispy fried fish served with sambal matah, a traditional Balinese relish. It’s a perfect combination of spicy and fresh flavors.

Use fish like tilapia or mackerel, fry until crispy, then top with sambal matah made from shallots, chili, and coconut oil.

Ingredients:

• 2 whole tilapia or mackerel (cleaned).
• Salt and lime juice for marinating.
• Cooking oil.

Sambal Matah:

• 5 shallots (thinly sliced).
• 3 bird’s eye chilies (thinly sliced).
• 2 tablespoons of hot coconut oil.
• Salt to taste.

How to make:

1. Rub the fish with salt and lime juice, then let it sit for 15 minutes.
2. Fry the fish until cooked and crispy, then drain.
3. Mix the shallots, chilies, and salt, then pour hot coconut oil over the mixture.
4. Serve the fried fish with sambal matah.

Those are some simple dinner menu ideas that can inspire healthy and nutritious meals for you and your family. Besides serving dinner, don’t forget to prepare AQUA DULU at home. To meet your family’s daily hydration needs, keep AQUA Gallon available.

Please note that not all water is AQUA, since AQUA comes from 19 selected mountain springs in Indonesia, containing natural minerals and protected layers that keep it free from contamination. It also has a naturally cool taste even without refrigeration, making it perfect to refresh your throat after enjoying a warm dinner.

AQUA is an original Indonesian product certified Halal, BPOM, and SNI, ensuring it is safe for consumption. So, don’t forget to stay hydrated with #AQUADULU. AQUA is 100% Indonesian, 100% Halal, and 100% Pure.

Read also: 11 Healthy and High-Nutrition Foods for Children