makan

Quick & Easy Recipes That Use 7 Ingredients Or Less For Broke Uni Students

You no longer have to depend on instant noodles or 'nasi bujang' anymore!

Cover image via Canva & Skinny MS/Pinterest

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Surviving uni life on a shoestring budget? We feel you.

The struggle is real, and we know that the last thing you need is more stress about what to eat.

Here are 12 tasty, budget-friendly meals for you to makan puas puas in the comforts of your room:

1. Egg, cheese, and mushroom sandwich

The classic egg sandwich is undoubtedly a go-to favourite for many of us. Yet, a simple combo of egg and bread leaves our tummies wanting more, and hunger creeps in sooner than we'd like.

Adding mushrooms and a slice of cheese to the classic sandwich will not only fill your tummy, but you can also whip it up in just 10 minutes.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Freepik

Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 4 mushrooms
- 1 slice of cheese
- 4 slices of bread of your choice
- Pepper
- Salt

Directions
1. Beat the eggs, then add salt and pepper.
2. Add some oil to the pan, then pour in the eggs.
3. When the eggs are partially cooked, slice the mushrooms in half and sprinkle them over the eggs.
4. Once the mushrooms turn slightly brown and tender, add the cheese. Once your dish is done, sandwich it between the bread.

2. Stir-fried mushrooms with broccoli

Eating healthy in uni often feels impossible or overly expensive. However, with just six simple ingredients, you can easily whip up a delightful stir-fry that's not only low effort but also super flavourful.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Skinny MS/Pinterest

Ingredients
- 1 whole broccoli
- 1 carrot
- 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce

Directions
1. Add salt in boiling water and blanch the broccoli and carrots for two minutes.
2. Heat a pan and add oil. 
3. Add minced garlic and fry until it turns slightly brown.
4. Then, put in broccoli, chopped carrots, and mushrooms. Stir fry until cooked.
5. Add light soy sauce and oyster sauce, and stir evenly. You can either eat the dish on its own or pair it with rice.

3. Fried eggs in soy sauce

Eggs in soy sauce are one of the favourite dishes among Asians. If you've not try it before, give this recipe a shot and it will become your new go-to favourite.

Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 red onion
- 3 tablespoons of sweet soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 1 bird's eye chilli (cili padi)

Directions
1. Heat a pan and add oil.
2. Add finely chopped onions and sauté until wilted.
3. Crack in two eggs. Cook them sunny side up without scrambling or breaking the yolk.
4. Lastly, add sweet soy sauce, oyster sauce, and one chopped bird's eye chilli. Ready to serve.

Recipe source: Syiqin Azrin 

4. DIY chilli oil

Just drizzling a generous amount of chilli oil over your go-to instant noodles can elevate it into a super flavourful dish.

The best part is this condiment can be made with just a handful of ingredients, and can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for several weeks, or up to six months in the refrigerator.

Ingredients
- Oil
- 2-3 tablespoons of chilli powder
- 1 or 2 chicken stock cubes (adjust based on your preferences)
- 2 garlic bulbs

Directions
1. Finely chop the garlic.
2. Pour your desired amount of oil into the pan and add the chopped garlic.
3. Sauté the garlic until fragrant.
4. Then, add chilli powder and keep stirring to prevent burning.
5. Finally, add your chicken stock cube(s). Allow the mixture to cool before transferring it into an airtight container for storage.

5. Chicken ginger rice

This three-ingredient dish is perfect when you're not in the mood to cook a full meal but still want to satisfy your hunger. Simply infuse chicken and ginger into your plain rice and elevate it into a flavourful and comforting dish.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Freepik

Ingredients
- 2 cups of rice
- 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock
- 3 slices of ginger

Directions
1. Put the rice in a saucepan, pour in the chicken stock, and add ginger.
2. Turn up the heat and wait until the stock begins to simmer.
3. Then, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking until the rice grains start to rise above the stock.
4. Cover it with a lid and continue cooking for five minutes.
5. Once the stock has been absorbed, turn off the heat and cover it.
6. Leave the pot for 10 minutes to allow the residual steam to continue cooking the rice and then it's ready to serve.

Recipe source: Marions Kitchen

6. Chilli garlic fried rice

If you're a fried rice enthusiast but find it hard to make one in your dorm due to limited ingredients, this is your life-saver. This fried rice, made from the simplest ingredients, will satisfy both your cravings and soul.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Canva

Ingredients
- 2 cups of rice
- 4-5 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of chilli powder
- 1 red chilli (optional)
- 2 eggs
- Salt

Directions
1. Heat the oil and sauté the chopped garlic until it turns brown.
2. Crack in the eggs and gently scramble them.
3. Then, add chilli powder and stir well before adding the rice.
4. Continue cooking for five minutes and then lastly, add salt. Your dish is ready to be served.

7. Oyster sauce chicken

Cooking this dish may sound like a challenging task. But with this easy recipe, you can treat yourself to a delightful meal, especially when stress from piled-up assignments or impending finals is taking its toll.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Canva

Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 5-6 ginger pieces
- 1 chicken breast
- Salt
- Pepper

Directions
1. Begin by marinating the chicken with light soy sauce, salt, pepper, and oil. Allow the chicken to rest for 10-15 minutes.
2. Heat a pan and add oil. Then, add in ginger pieces and finely chopped garlic. Cook on low heat until fragrant.
3. Place the prepped chicken in the pan. Make sure to place the chicken with the skin side down for some crisp.
4. Add some water for a little boil to cook the chicken. Lastly, add in oyster sauce and stir for a while.


8. Cheesy egg fry

This cheesy egg fry is a tasty twist on a classic. You can enjoy it with rice or as a cheesy egg sandwich.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Unsplash

Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- Mozzarella cheese (shredded or sliced)
- Butter (optional)
- Salt

Directions
1. Heat the oil or butter in a pan. Crack in the eggs and fry like an omelette.
2. When the eggs are semi-cooked, sprinkle shredded cheese on top. If using sliced cheese, cut it into smaller pieces to ensure the cheese is evenly spread out.
3. The cheesy eggs are ready to serve. For an extra crunch, top it off with seaweed crackers.

9. Bok choy stir fry

This bok choy recipe offers a simple stir-fry that's delicious on its own. You can also amp it up by adding mushrooms or bite-sized pieces of chicken for a heartier meal.

Ingredients
- Bok choy (quantity based on your preference)
- 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Cornstarch (mixed with water)
- 1 teaspoon of your preferred seasoning powder

Directions
1. Trim the roots of the bok choy and blanch it in boiling water for a minute. Drain and set aside.
2. Add oil to a pan and cook the finely chopped garlic until fragrant.
3. Pour in water, add oyster sauce, and stir well. Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding cornstarch according to your preference.
4. Lastly, add the bok choy and cook it for a few minutes. Your delicious dish is ready to be served.

Recipe source: Syiqin Azrin

10. Aglio e olio pasta

If you're planning a movie night with your friends in the dorm, then this simple aglio e olio pasta is the perfect choice.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Canva

Ingredients
- Oil
- 5-6 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Pasta
- Chicken breast or mushrooms (based on your preferences)
- Salt

Directions
1. Fill a large pot with water. Bring it to a boil and add three tablespoons of salt.
2. Drop in the pasta and give it a gentle stir. It is recommended to use the cooking time on the pasta package as a guide.
3. Heat oil in a pan. At low heat, add in the minced garlic and stir until fragrant.
4. Then, add in sliced chicken breast or mushrooms. Once cooked, you can add the cooked pasta.
5. Finally, add salt and your dish will be ready.

11. Steamed tofu with chicken and soy sauce

Tofu can be an obsession for many. If you are one of them, you should try this.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Valerie Aksakova/Freepik

Ingredients
- Tofu
- 1 chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- Salt
- Pepper

Directions
1. Put the tofu on a plate that fits your steamer. Steam the tofu for 8-10 minutes and set aside.
2. Slice the chicken breast into small pieces. Then, prep the chicken with salt and pepper and fry it.
3. As for the sauce, add an adequate amount of water, followed by light soy sauce and oyster sauce.
4. Once boiled, pour it on the steamed tofu and add the chicken pieces.

If you don't have a steamer, you can prepare the sauce first and then add the tofu to it, cooking them together.

12. Chicken porridge

Chicken porridge is often the go-to meal when we're feeling under the weather, but its hot and soothing texture makes it a comfort food for many, especially during the rainy season.

With minimal ingredients, you can easily make this dish in the comfort of your room.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Canva

Ingredients
- 2 cups of rice
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 2 pieces of sliced ginger
- 1 chicken cube
- Sesame oil
- Pepper

Directions
1. Soak the uncooked rice in water for 10 minutes.
2. Boil water in a pot. Add ginger and garlic to infuse some fragrance.
3. Add rice to the water and keep boiling. You can add more water if you want a mushier porridge.
4. Once the porridge is cooked, add one chicken cube and stir till it dissolves.
5. Finally, drizzle some sesame oil for extra fragrance and sprinkle with pepper.

13. Sausage stir-fry

This is one of the easiest and tastiest dishes you can cook in your hostel room. You can pair it with rice, make a sandwich, or savour it on its own.

With minimal ingredients and a quick cooking time, this dish is perfect for busy days when you crave a delicious and hassle-free meal.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

Image via Freepik

Ingredients
- Sausages
- 1 egg
- 1/2 red onion
- Salt and pepper (optional)

Directions
1. Slice the sausages as you desire.
2. Heat a pan and add a splash of oil.
3.  Add onions and sauté for a few minutes until they become soft.
4. Lastly, add the sausages, then crack in the egg and scramble it.

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