3 for the fridge, 3 for the freezer no.2 (fish cakes/balti/burgers)

by - https://thebatchlady.com/r/3483/

This is my second weekly menu plan – you can make 3 meals for the fridge for this week and 3 meals for the freezer to have another time. Here’s what we’re making in this video, doubling up 3 recipes for a family of 4: 2 x fish cakes, 2 x chicken Balti, 2 x homemade burgers = 6 family meals made in under an hour!

Prep Time
Total Time
Difficulty
Intermediate
Cuisine
Various
Servings
4
Ingredients
Serves

Ingredients

  • Minced beef
    1.20 kg
  • American mustard
    5 squeezes
  • Worcestershire sauce
    6 tablespoon
  • Salt and pepper
    1
  • Burger buns
    8
  • Frozen diced onions
    4.5 cups (515 g)
  • Chicken or turkey breast
    6 breasts
  • Frozen spinach cubes
    24
  • Chopped tomatoes
    3 tins
  • Pataks Balti spice paste
    1 jar
  • Broccoli
    1 head
  • Fresh fish pie mix
    2 packets
  • Ready made mashed potato
    3 packets
  • Fresh dill
    60 g
  • Eggs
    5
  • Breadcrumbs
    1 tub

Method

  1. 3 for the Fridge 3 for the Freezer no. 2 (fish cakes / chicken Balti / homemade burgers)

    Each meal serves 4 portions. So these quantities make 6 family meals for a family of 4.

    Don’t forget to keep clearing as you go!

    Start by heating your oven to 180°C.
    Heat a splash of oil in a pan and add the chopped onions to fry.
    Lay the fish out on baking foil and cook in the oven for 10-12 minutes. (The video shows me using 3 packs but you will find 2 packs will be enough.)
    Chop up the chicken and add to the pan with the onions.

    Thoroughly clean the chopping area and utensils after handling the raw chicken.
    Remove the fish from the oven and leave aside to cool.

  2. Now for the burgers:

    Combine the minced beef, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, one egg and seasoning in a bowl.
    Divide the mixture into 4 then halve each again, using your hands form the 8 burgers.
    Place 4 burgers in a labelled freezer bag and the other 4 in the fridge.
    Put 4 buns into a freezer bag alongside the burgers.

    Give the chicken and onion mixture a stir. Add the tins of tomatoes, the curry paste and the frozen spinach. Stir again and leave cooking on the heat. Chop up the broccoli and set aside.

  3. Wipe down the cooking area, ready to start on the fish cakes.

    Beat 4 eggs in a shallow dish. Place the breadcrumbs in a second shallow dish.
    Crumble the mash into a large mixing bowl, chop in the dill, add in the fish and season well. Mix together.
    Now use your hands to portion out and shape each cake. You could make 8, or 12 if you want to give your family members different amounts.
    As you make each fish cake, roll it in the egg and then in the breadcrumbs until well coated.
    Place half the fish cakes in a labelled freezer bag and the other half in the fridge.

  4. Now back to the curry to finish it off by adding in the broccoli florets, stir well, allow to cool and then portion out – one meal for the fridge, one for the freezer!

  5. Ready to Eat

    Fish cakes – if frozen, simply defrost in fridge the night before.
    These can be pan fried over a medium heat, 8-10 minutes each side, or cooked in the oven at 180°C for about 15 mins, until golden brown and hot in the middle.
    These can be cooked from frozen but they will just take about twice as long.

    Chicken Balti – if frozen defrost overnight in fridge and then simply heat in microwave or on stovetop until piping hot.
    Serve with Nan bread and rice.
    (Nan bread can be heated in oven directly from frozen).

    Homemade Burger – if frozen defrost in fridge overnight.
    Heat in oven at 180°C for 20-25 mins, turning once. Make sure burgers are steaming hot all the way through.

  6. Reheat instructions: For the fish cakes you want to defrost fully before cooking either in the oven at 180oc for 15 minutes or placing in a frying pan with a little oil and frying for 8-10 minutes on each side. When reheating the balti, ensure it is fully defrosted before reheating in the microwave or a saucepan until piping hot. To reheat the burgers ensure they are fully defrosted before placing in the oven at 180oc for 20-25 minutes turning half way.

Comments

7 comments
  1. This looks fab! Definitely going to try it. I tried looking for the reheating instructions on the printable but I couldn’t find them. Am I looking in the right place?

  2. Hi I have all my ingredients today am ready to start can’t wait love watching and as a mum of 3 this is making things so much easier for me .

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