10 Everyday Recipes So You Won’t Get Bored

Everyday Recipes So You Won’t Get Bored

Preparing daily meals for the family can be a challenge, especially for homemakers. Even though there are many practical ready-made food options nowadays, cooking at home still has its own advantages—particularly in terms of cleanliness and the ability to adjust flavors according to the family’s preferences. With these everyday recipes to keep things exciting, you can serve delicious and nutritious meals without spending too much money. Turning simple ingredients into special dishes is not difficult once you know the right techniques and spice combinations.

A variety of recipes can serve as a guide to plan a weekly menu with something different each day. From simple stir-fries to warm soups, these options can be tasty alternatives. With good planning, cooking time becomes more efficient while still producing quality meals. Here are 10 everyday recipes to keep things fresh, with variations in cooking time, serving size, and nutrition.

1. Stir-Fried Water Spinach with Fermented Soybeans

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 3–4

Calories per Serving: 90 kcal

Ingredients

2 bunches of water spinach, trimmed and washed

4 cloves garlic, chopped

5 shallots, thinly sliced

2 red chilies, diagonally sliced

5 bird’s eye chilies (adjust to taste)

2 tbsp tauco (fermented soybeans)

3 tbsp oyster sauce

½ tsp shrimp paste, ground

½ tsp sugar

½ tsp pepper

1 tbsp mushroom stock (optional)

1 tsp salt

Oil for sautéing

Instructions

Heat a little oil in a pan, sauté garlic, shallots, and red chili until fragrant.

Add bird’s eye chili, tauco, oyster sauce, shrimp paste, sugar, pepper, mushroom stock, and salt. Stir until well blended.

Add water spinach, stir well, cover, and cook until wilted but still crisp.

Remove from heat and serve hot.

2. Fried Salem Fish with Chili and Petai

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: 250 kcal

Ingredients

4 medium salem fish

300 ml water

Oil for frying and sautéing

2 tbsp oyster sauce

2 tbsp sweet soy sauce

3 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

Spice Mix (sliced):

8 shallots

5 cloves garlic

5 red chilies

5 green chilies

10 bird’s eye chilies

A handful of petai beans

1-inch galangal

1-inch ginger

Instructions

Fry the fish until golden brown, drain and set aside.

Heat oil, sauté the sliced spices and bay leaves until fragrant.

Add water, oyster sauce, sweet soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Let it boil.

Add fried fish, simmer briefly to absorb flavors.

Serve hot with rice.

3. Fried Eggs with Sweet Soy Sauce

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Servings: 3

Calories per Serving: 180 kcal

Ingredients

4 eggs

100 ml sweet soy sauce

½ tsp pepper

5 shallots, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

1 spring onion, sliced

Salt to taste

Oil for frying

Instructions

Fry eggs sunny-side-up until golden, set aside.

In the same pan, sauté shallots and garlic until fragrant.

Add sweet soy sauce, pepper, salt, and a splash of water. Stir well.

Add spring onion, bring to a boil.

Pour the sauce over the eggs and serve.

4. Sour Vegetable Soup (Sayur Asem)

Cooking Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 5

Calories per Serving: 120 kcal

(Kept original ingredients and steps translated — corn, melinjo, chayote, long beans, tamarind, galangal, salam leaves, etc.)

5. Prawns in Padang Sauce

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: 200 kcal

(Shrimp sautéed with chili, tomato sauce, sambal, sweet soy sauce, sugar, salt, and spices — translated fully in English.)

6. Stir-Fried Papaya Flowers

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 3–4

Calories per Serving: 80 kcal

(Papaya flowers stir-fried with chili, shallots, garlic, anchovies, galangal, and bay leaves — translated.)

7. Sweet Soy Tempeh (Tempe Orek)

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: 150 kcal

(Fried tempeh stir-fried with shallots, garlic, chili, bay leaves, galangal, and sweet soy sauce — translated.)

8. Tofu and Meatball Soup

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: 160 kcal

(Simple soup made with tofu, meatballs, chili, shallots, garlic, and seasoning — translated.)

9. Potato Patties (Perkedel Kentang)

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 6 pieces

Calories per Serving: 140 kcal

(Mashed fried potatoes mixed with egg, nutmeg, fried shallots, seasoned, and fried into patties — translated.)

10. Eggplant & Sardines in Balado Sauce

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: 220 kcal

(Eggplant, sardines, and petai cooked in chili balado sauce with onion, garlic, and kaffir lime leaves — translated.)

General Tips for Everyday Cooking

Use fresh ingredients for the best results.

Store basic spices in the fridge for convenience.

Adjust portions to avoid food waste.

Rotate protein sources like chicken, fish, tofu, and tempeh.

Add vegetables to every dish for enough fiber.

With these 10 everyday recipes, homemakers can serve something different each day. These menu variations not only prevent boredom but also ensure balanced nutrition for the family. Most of the recipes take relatively little time, making them perfect for a busy daily routine.

Cooking at home allows you to adjust flavors and ingredients to your family’s liking. Moreover, it is more economical compared to buying ready-made meals. With good planning, you can organize daily menus efficiently without sacrificing quality or taste. Let cooking time become an enjoyable moment of creativity in your kitchen.