What am I cooking today? Recipe of the day (Thursday, July 17, 2025)

It's the agonizing question that arises almost daily after work: What should I cook today? Pasta, pizza, a casserole, or perhaps a more traditional snack? There are plenty of options, but often it's the sheer number of dishes that drives many tired workers to despair.

To ease the burden of decision-making, we've included our daily recipe for you to try – some unusual, some simple. The main thing is that it's delicious.

Whether as a side dish to a steak or as a snack at the pool, fries are a true classic. Their counterpart, wedges, is particularly quick to prepare. Here you'll find recipes for both oven-baked potato dishes.

If our recipe of the day doesn't fit into your current menu, you'll find plenty of other ideas below, whether quick and easy, healthy, or especially popular with kids.

Many people agree that things should be quick and easy, especially during a stressful workweek. These quick recipes offer an ideal solution for those who are short on time but still want to put something delicious and nutritious on the table. From light salads to hearty stir-fries, here are some meal ideas that can be ready in a flash:

tomato soup

1. Chop the onion and garlic and fry them in oil.
2. Dice the tomatoes, add them to the pot and let everything simmer.
3. Stir in tomato paste, water and vegetable stock, season with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar.
4. Blend the soup with a hand blender until smooth. Then garnish with crème fraîche and basil.

Scrambled eggs with spinach and tomatoes

1. Whisk the eggs and fry them in a pan with a little oil.
2. Add spinach (fresh or frozen) and diced tomatoes.
3. Season with salt, pepper and a little nutmeg.

Wraps with chicken and vegetables

1. Cut the chicken breast into strips and fry in a pan.
2. Heat the wraps briefly in a pan or microwave.
3. Fill with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and the roasted chicken.
4. Drizzle with yogurt or a light sauce if desired.

Tomato and mozzarella salad

1. Cut tomatoes and mozzarella into slices.
2. Arrange on a plate and garnish with basil leaves.
3. Season with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.

Pasta with pesto

1. Cook pasta.
2. Mix in a bowl with ready-made pesto (basil, tomato or your choice).
3. Optionally garnish with Parmesan and pine nuts.

Avocado toast

1. Toast bread.
2. Mash the avocado and spread it on the bread.
3. Season with salt, pepper, chili flakes, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Optionally, top with a fried egg or tomato slices.

Fried rice with egg

1. Fry cooked rice (ideally from the day before) in a pan.
2. Add vegetables (e.g. peas, carrots) and soy sauce.
3. Crack an egg into the pan and mix it into the rice.
4. Garnish with spring onions.

When children are at the dinner table, choosing the right meal can be challenging. Many children aren't particularly enthusiastic about vegetables on their plates, but with the right recipes, vitamins and important nutrients can be skillfully mixed in. These recipes are suitable for little "picky eaters" and provide variety on the plate:

Spaghetti with tomato sauce

A classic that almost all kids love. With fresh tomatoes, some vegetables hidden in the sauce, and whole-wheat pasta, it becomes a balanced meal.

Homemade chicken nuggets

Children love the crispy texture and mild flavor. Homemade ones are a healthier alternative to store-bought versions, especially when baked in the oven.

Mini pizzas

Children can help with topping, which makes eating even more exciting. With whole-wheat dough and plenty of vegetables, the pizza becomes a nutritious meal.

Vegetable pancakes

Pancakes are popular with children, and when mixed with grated vegetables such as carrots or zucchini, they become not only colorful but also healthy.

Mac and Cheese with Cauliflower

Mac and cheese is a kid favorite, and adding pureed cauliflower makes the sauce creamy and more nutritious without altering the flavor.

Stuffed peppers

These colorful little peppers are kid-friendly and can be filled with a mixture of rice, vegetables, and cheese. Delicious and a visual eye-catcher.

Don't stress!

For some, it's a hobby; for others, it's an annoying daily routine: Cooking isn't something everyone enjoys, but it still requires time and effort. Those who still want to eat deliciously and healthily can use a few tips to minimize the effort.

• Select simple recipes

Choose recipes with few ingredients and simple preparation steps. Dishes like salads, sandwiches, or pasta with a quick sauce can be prepared without much effort.

Plan your meals for the week in advance and prepare larger batches. This way, you only have to cook once and have food for several days.

Appliances like slow cookers, multicookers, and microwaves can take a lot of the work out of the process. You simply throw in the ingredients and let the appliance do the rest.

• Choose ready meals cleverly

There are now many healthy ready meals available that contain no preservatives or additives. Pay attention to the ingredient list and choose meals that contain plenty of vegetables and little sugar.

• Focus on simple snacks

Fruit, nuts, yogurt and raw vegetables with dip are quick and healthy snacks that require little preparation.

If you find it difficult to cook regularly, you can also enlist the help of delivery services or family members. Sometimes it can also help to cook together with others to discover the joy of cooking.

• Learn simple combinations

Learn a few basic recipes or simple combinations that you can vary again and again. For example, rice with vegetables and a protein source (like chicken or tofu) or a quick vegetable stir-fry.

• Use frozen and canned food

Frozen vegetables and fruit, or canned goods like beans and tomatoes, are already cut and washed and ready to use. They save time while still providing plenty of nutrients.

• Use the right spices

Good spices can add a lot of flavor to even simple dishes without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. A small collection of favorite spices can make cooking much easier.

If you want to be at the forefront of food trends, you can't avoid the social media platform TikTok. "Baked Feta Pasta," "Dalgona Iced Coffee," and "Green Goddess" are just a few of the recipes that have garnered millions of views on the network. A selection of TikTok food trends and how to prepare them:

Dalgona coffee

Green Goddess

This salad is conquering social media

Salmon Rice Bowl

Instant ramen

When things have to happen quickly

Cucumber salad

Hype on social media

Baked Feta Pasta