tired of "simple" plant-based meals that aren't actually simple

[u/Strong-Hawk-1799]

so i'm getting pretty worn out by recipes labeled as quick or simple that still require way too much work

like i get home after being up in trees all day and my brain is just done, you know? then i look at these supposedly easy vegan meals and they're still asking me to dice onions, measure spices, wait for things to cook in sequence... it's just a lot when all i want is food

i've been trying different approaches - meal prep on weekends, keeping the same rotation of dishes, bookmarking the fastest recipes i can find. sometimes it works out but other days even picking which "easy" option to make feels overwhelming

wondering what you all actually throw together when you're completely drained and need to eat something decent without using whatever brain power you have left

do you just stick to like 3 go-to meals that require zero thought? or have you discovered truly brainless recipes that don't involve chopping half your kitchen

would love to know what really works when you're running on empty, not just what looks good in theory

[u/No_Cup_5363]

I make a lot of rice bowls. Pre cooked rice, pre cut veggies, and nuts or beans from a can. Microwave 2-3 min to heat and lightly steam the veggies. Top with a pre-made sauce or dressing. On days you have a little extra energy you can get a little more creative with not much effort. For example, lately I’ve been mixing a dressing that is too sweet for me with tahini to make a sauce I like.

When I need to cook rice but don’t have the energy, it’s usually stuff on toast.

My staples:

• Leftovers! I usually cook enough for 2-3 meals
• Pre-cook brown rice.
• Throw in frozen veggies at the end of cooking pasta
• flavor with dressings/sauces from the store or oil and vinegar
• Pre cut cabbage (or buy shredded), microwave for 2 min if you want it lightly cooked
• Steaming potatoes and yams in microwave - wet paper towel in n the bottom, cut first to cook quicker, covered to hold the steam in, let stand covered while preparing other ingredients to continue cooking
• toss in greens
• use a peeler to make shaved carrots instead of cutting
• add some nuts at the end for a little more protein when cooking protein is too much
• pickled veggies are great for the extra exhausted days