Mastering the Art of Dinner Assembly

We’re all looking for tasty meals that are ready in mere minutes! Assembly cooking, where you combine various flavourful ingredients to create a complete meal, checks all these boxes. Check out these basic ingredients and inspiring ideas that’ll save you time and be a hit with the whole family.

Assembly Kitchen

This aims to save you time in the kitchen by focusing on strongly flavoured elements. These meals are made using store-bought products, either ready-to-eat or semi-prepared, as well as fresh veggies that require little prep work. These ingredients are used to make simple but flavourful combinations. Some examples include a tuna pasta dish, Cajun shrimp salad, ham and cheese omelette, etc.

Featured Quick-Fix Ingredients

Giving the impression of a home-cooked meal but made with minimal effort is the secret behind assembly meals. Creativity and a few well-chosen ingredients are your best allies for these practical dinners you can turn to when you’re short on time in the evenings.

• Cold cuts or marinated meat
• Grated cheese
• Various condiments (olives, pickled vegetables, antipasto, etc.)
• Prepared cold sauces (mayonnaise, tzatziki)
• Pre-cut vegetables, frozen or canned (corn, mixed vegetables, green peas, etc.)
• Fresh vegetables (cucumber, cherry tomatoes, etc.)
• Canned legumes (chickpeas, lentils, red kidney beans, etc.)
• Cooked frozen shrimp
• Bagged lettuce or ready-to-eat salads
• Pre-cooked meats (beef, chicken)
• Canned tuna or salmon

Get Inspired with These Quick & Easy Ideas

1. Shred Any Leftover Meat

These are among the ingredients that come to mind when it comes to assembly cooking. Shredding leftover beef roast, sandwiching it between two slices of bread, and adding coleslaw to garnish will make everyone happy.

2. Add Condiments to Pasta

For an instant flavour boost, combine pasta with store-bought pesto or even add pickled eggplant. Complete each plate with cherry tomatoes and feta cheese.

3. Make a Quick Pizza

You can make some using naan bread or tortillas along with a basic sauce consisting of tomato paste, herbs, garlic and a bit of balsamic vinegar. For toppings, opt for bell peppers, mushrooms, smoked meat and, of course, shredded mozzarella.

4. Cook Couscous

Couscous cooks very quickly. Simply add sliced olives, arugula, herbs and leftover cooked chicken for a more filling version, and you’re good to go!

5. Load Up a Store-Bought Salad

To a store-bought quinoa salad, for example, you can add fresh tomatoes, bits of mango, chopped green onion and sliced avocado. Adding legumes like canned green lentils makes it an even more complete meal.

6. Add Flavour to Tofu

Tofu is a plant-based protein that can be pan-fried quickly and its neutral taste will benefit from any flavours you may add to it. Marinate it or add a flavourful ready-made sauce (such as General Tao). Make a sandwich with the tofu, add it to a salad, or just serve it with a side of leftover rice.

7. Make a Mezze-Inspired Dinner

Serve a container of hummus alongside pita bread, cheese, pickled or raw vegetables, and a mixed salad. To save you even more time, get your hands on some store-bought tabbouleh. Place everything at the centre of the table and everyone can help themselves.