Ziploc Zip N Steam bag recipes

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Sabine_Stroehm
Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
in Recipes
My work schedule is hectic-er this semester and when I *can* eat, the student union is over run.
I was pondering trying some ziplock steamer bag recipes. This idea appeals to me because I can make a week's worth and freeze them, though I'm not thrilled about cooking in plastic....but am willing to try for a few months.

Prefer: lots of vegetables, lean protein and a sauce thats neither sugary or too salty.

Anyone have any favorites?

TIA

(a search pulled a few very old threads)

Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    Bumping my own thread.

    In the end I bought some bags. I made a week's worth of lunches, but ended up heating my lunch in a microwavable dish.
    The other four lunches are frozen and waiting for me.

    In the end I made:
    1 chicken breast cubed with broccoli and a soy sauce and chili garlic paste (it was yummy)
    1 with salmon and green beans with a garlic butter
    1 with shrimp and green beans with soy sauce and chili garlic paste
    1 with tempeh and broccoli with soy sauce and chili garlic paste
    1 with tempeh and green beans with soy sauce and chili garlic paste

    Now that I know how easy it is to both prepare them, and heat them, I think I'll add firm tofu, and also cauliflower, edamame and a few other vegetables.
  • 4rita
    4rita Posts: 20 Member
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    I have some of these bags, but have only use them a few times to put some fish into them with maybe a little seasoning and then had a salad with my fish. I never tried creating the entire meal in one, but your ideas sound like a great idea and I just may have to give it a try.
  • JenHuedy
    JenHuedy Posts: 611 Member
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    Thanks for the ideas! I've done similar with plastic containers, but I got some steamer bags to use for the next batch. I like being able to control the calories and macros. Most frozen meals are too low in protein and don't have nearly enough veggies.

    To keep it simple I used frozen veg, pre-cooked seasoned quinoa/kale blend from the freezer section, edamame spagetti that I batch cooked, rotisserie chicken from Costco, frozen fish fillets, shrimp and meatballs, jarred sauces.

    Edamame spaghetti and meatballs with marinara and broccoli
    Shrimp & chicken lo mein with edamame noodles, stir fry veggies, kung pao sauce
    Fish filet with quinoa and normandy blend veggies
    Chicken alfredo with edamame spaghetti & broccoli

    I labeled each with calories and macros and saved in MFP as meals so I can just grab the one that fits my macros for the day and log with just a click. Super handy for those days when I don't have leftovers or time to pack something fresh!
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    JenHuedy wrote: »
    Thanks for the ideas! I've done similar with plastic containers, but I got some steamer bags to use for the next batch. I like being able to control the calories and macros. Most frozen meals are too low in protein and don't have nearly enough veggies.

    To keep it simple I used frozen veg, pre-cooked seasoned quinoa/kale blend from the freezer section, edamame spagetti that I batch cooked, rotisserie chicken from Costco, frozen fish fillets, shrimp and meatballs, jarred sauces.

    Edamame spaghetti and meatballs with marinara and broccoli
    Shrimp & chicken lo mein with edamame noodles, stir fry veggies, kung pao sauce
    Fish filet with quinoa and normandy blend veggies
    Chicken alfredo with edamame spaghetti & broccoli

    I labeled each with calories and macros and saved in MFP as meals so I can just grab the one that fits my macros for the day and log with just a click. Super handy for those days when I don't have leftovers or time to pack something fresh!

    I love the idea of the quinoa/kale blend. I have that on hand even!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
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    OOOH! I love these! I'm not too creative with them, though. Always afraid that having items that cook at different times in the same bag would ruin the meal, so I only used them for single items so far, mostly Italian seasoning olive oil potatoes.
  • niclodn
    niclodn Posts: 17 Member
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    I'm not creative at all with coming up with a whole meal, but I do chicken breasts all the time in steam bags. Paired with some steam in the bag veggies and voila! So quick and easy.
  • JenHuedy
    JenHuedy Posts: 611 Member
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    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    OOOH! I love these! I'm not too creative with them, though. Always afraid that having items that cook at different times in the same bag would ruin the meal, so I only used them for single items so far, mostly Italian seasoning olive oil potatoes.

    I think as long as the meat is precooked, or something like fish that cooks quickly, everything works out. I do let it sit on my desk to thaw before lunchtime, but that's mainly because we only have two microwaves in the break room where I work so I want to get my lunch warmed up as quickly as possible so others don't have to wait. I've always been able to get everything piping hot in around 5 minutes without overcooking the veg .
  • MomReborn
    MomReborn Posts: 145 Member
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    Hello, all! I recently started following the YouTube channel "Cheap Lazy Vegan", and the blogger does a great job discussing ways of creating dishes for the week. I'm sure the recipes can be modified to add meat. Glad I found this post so I could share. I hope you find it useful :)
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    MomReborn wrote: »
    Hello, all! I recently started following the YouTube channel "Cheap Lazy Vegan", and the blogger does a great job discussing ways of creating dishes for the week. I'm sure the recipes can be modified to add meat. Glad I found this post so I could share. I hope you find it useful :)

    I'll be looking for this. I'm a plant heavy eater and hubs is a vegetarian. Thanks!

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