Cook a meal you will want again tomorrow, using equipment you have checked. For one person, small batches are often easier to finish and store than a large pot made because the ingredients looked inexpensive. A saucepan, a knife, a board and a container can be enough for several useful meals, if those items are available in your unit.
The quantities below are starting portions you can adjust to your appetite. Adjust the meal ideas to the products and equipment you use. Use the package directions for the product you buy, especially for grains, dry pulses and cooking times.
Check the kitchen before shopping
- Confirm the cooker or other appliance you may use and ask how to operate it.
- Check for a suitable pan, lid, knife, board, spoon and heat-safe bowl.
- Look at the available fridge space before planning leftovers.
- Buy oil and seasoning only after checking what is already supplied or shared.
- Keep cleaning supplies separate from food and agree which items belong to whom.
For what to buy first, use the priced grocery basket and grocery-shopping guide. Avoid buying a large frozen or chilled pack simply because its price per kilogram looks lower than a smaller one.
Tomato pasta: one meal, with an optional second portion
| Ingredient | Starting quantity for one | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Dry pasta | 100g | Choose a shape you can cook in your pan. |
| Tomatoes | 200g | Wash and chop. |
| Onion | Half a small onion | Peel and chop finely. |
| Oil | 1 teaspoon | Use a suitable cooking oil. |
| Water and seasoning | As required | Follow the pasta instructions; season to taste. |
Soften the onion in the oil over a moderate heat, add the tomatoes and cook until they form a sauce. Stir and add a little water if the pan starts to dry. Cook the pasta separately according to its packet, drain it safely and mix it with the sauce. Add a suitable protein source if you want a fuller meal, and include its cost in your calculation.
A 100g portion from the listed JOD 1.22, 500g Pasta Zara packet costs about JOD 0.24 for the pasta alone. Pasta price and pack size. Add the actual amount of tomato, onion, oil and other ingredients used. Doubling the recipe doubles the ingredient quantities; it does not necessarily double a whole shopping receipt when some items are already in the cupboard.
A small lentil and vegetable pot
For two modest portions, start with 150g dry lentils, one small onion, one carrot, one teaspoon of oil and water according to the lentil packet. Rinse and inspect the lentils. Soften the chopped onion in the oil, add the chopped carrot and lentils, then add water and cook at a gentle simmer until the lentils and vegetables are tender. Add water as needed and stir to prevent sticking.
Different lentils behave differently. Large or whole lentils do not become the same texture as split red lentils, and their cooking times vary. Choose the product first, follow its instructions and taste for doneness. Serve with bread or another accompaniment you have priced separately.
Al Rayhan’s 900g large-lentil pack is listed at JOD 1.60. The 150g lentil ingredient therefore costs about JOD 0.27, or about JOD 0.13 per half of this pot before the vegetables, oil and accompaniment. Lentil product and quantity. This is an ingredient calculation, not the cost of a complete bowl.
Bulgur with vegetables, or a no-cook meal
For one bulgur meal, use about 75g dry bulgur and follow the packet’s water and preparation instructions; fine and coarse products can need different treatment. Combine the prepared grain with chopped cucumber and tomato, a little oil and lemon if you like. Add beans or another suitable protein source. Do not treat an approximate cup measurement as a substitute for a product’s cooking instructions.
For a day when you cannot cook, build a meal from bread, a ready-to-eat bean or chickpea product and washed vegetables. Check whether the pulse product is already cooked: a packet of dry chickpeas belongs in a different preparation plan. For dairy-free versions, check sauces and spreads as well as the main ingredient. The vegetarian and vegan guide gives more examples.
Store leftovers while the meal is still manageable
Cool leftovers promptly, cover them and put them in the fridge or freezer within one to two hours. Eat refrigerated leftovers within 48 hours, or freeze suitable portions sooner. Reheat only once, until steaming hot throughout. Food Standards Agency student guidance. Label the container with the contents and date so a shared fridge does not become a guessing game.
Rice needs its own shorter storage plan. Cool cooked rice quickly, ideally within an hour, refrigerate it and use within 24 hours; reheat no more than once, until steaming hot throughout. Food Standards Agency rice guidance. If you are new to managing a shared fridge, cooking only what you intend to eat immediately is simpler.
Build a routine around classes
Choose a cooking day with time to shop, prepare and clean up. Keep the next meal small enough to carry or store properly. For a long studio session at German Jordanian University (GJU), plan when you will eat and how any packed meal will be stored.
Our rooms for rent in Jabal Amman for students who cook at home are offered by room or as whole apartments. Confirm the particular kitchen equipment and storage before buying cookware or planning bulk meals. Use food shopping and eating in Jabal Amman to connect home cooking, local meals and delivery.
