Sick Day: Seven quick but nourishing dinners to make when you are not feeling well

It could be a cold or it could be Covid - if you're feeling sick the last thing you'll want to do is cook dinner. Here are seven fast meal ideas that are packed with nutrients

When you are sick, food should be nourishing but not labour intensive.

Tomato and red lentil soup

recipe by:Derval O'Rourke

Quick, easy, nutritious and delicious - this might be the perfect soup

Servings

4

Preparation Time

 5 mins

Cooking Time

 30 mins

Total Time

 35 mins

Course

 Starter

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 4 celery sticks, sliced into 1 cm pieces

• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced into 1 cm rounds

• 1 litre vegetable stock

• 100g dried split red lentils

• 2 bay leaves (or a bouquet garni)

• 500ml passata

• salt and pepper

Method

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over a low heat. Add the onion, cover, and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the celery and carrots, and cook, covered, for another 5 minutes. Add a splash of water if the pan gets dry.

2. Add the stock, lentils and bay leaves. Stir well and increase the heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

3. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the passata. Simmer for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and the passata is heated through. Season to taste. Ladle the soup into warmed serving bowls.

David Tanis’s Pasta Cacio e Pepe

This delicious version of Cacio e Pepe, one of my all-time favourite pasta dishes comes from one of my all-time favourite cooks David Tanis

Servings

2

Cooking Time

 12 mins

Total Time

 12 mins

Course

 Main

Ingredients

• 225g linguine

• 2 tbsp butter

• ½ tsp coarse ground black pepper

• 175g pecorino 

Method

1. Cook the linguine extra al dente (this is crucial) in well-salted water.

2. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat and add the black pepper.

3. Drain the pasta and add to the pan, along with 110ml (4fl oz) of pasta water and a good pinch of salt. Stir constantly, keeping the liquid at a rapid simmer; the pasta will begin to wilt in the sauce and absorb liquid. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring, until most of the liquid has been absorbed.

4. Turn off the heat,add the grated pecorino, and stir until the pasta is coated with the creamy sauce. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Enjoy immediately...