The Steam Oven Meal Plan for real people #3

Or, what to cook in your combi steam oven, March 20-26, 2023

Welcome to the latest instalment of The Steam Oven Meal Plan for real people!

New to this blog series? Check out the first Steam Oven Meal Plan for notes about how I do my meal planning and cooking, or just dive on in and add this week’s ingredients to your shopping list!

I use my combi steam oven pretty much every day, but I also include links to other recipes I’m cooking, from all around the web. This is the closest you’ll get to actually being in my kitchen and having dinner with us!

A steam oven meal plan with lots of salad and lots of snacks

Today’s steam oven meal plan is mostly about salad-y and meat free dinners, and snacks I can make ahead of time. My kids love to snack and I’ve been finding myself buying a lot of pre-packaged stuff recently. I don’t mind some easy grab-and-go foods, but the mountain of packaging gets me down and it’s definitely more expensive than making your own.

Because of that, you’ll find a few lunchbox-friendly snacks thrown in this week; I’m hoping by double-batching I’ll have quick, filling and appealing snacks ready to go until the end of term in a few weeks time.

There’s not much meat in the mix this week. What can I say; sometimes we have it a few times in a week, sometimes barely at all! You’ll still find plenty of protein-rich dinner options, they just aren’t based around red meat this week.

Happy cooking, see you here again soon.

Monday

Leftover sausage rolls from the freezer tonight. These are our favourite vegetarian sausage rolls (the kids don’t even know they’re vegetarian, they’re just ‘the ones Mom makes’).

I’m also kicking off the week making some protein-packed snack balls for myself and the kids. I occasionally buy a peanut choc chip protein ball as a filling treat, but they run about $3 each, which is crazy considering I can make about two dozen of them for roughly $10. The recipes below are delicious and adaptable; the loose plan is that the oatmeal balls are mine and the apricot ones will be for the kids (they’re nut free so can go in lunchboxes).

Vegetarian Sausage Rolls

Flaky, filling and delicious, serve these for dinner with a green salad or roasted vegetables and everyone will be satisfied. They freeze and reheat exceptionally well, so make double for a future meal.

Check out this recipe

No Bake Oatmeal Energy Balls

Chewy and just a little sweet, oatmeal balls with chocolate chips are a great pick-me-up with a mid-morning coffee.

Check out this recipe

Apricot Raisin Balls (nut free)

Soft and chewy, these little fruit balls have loads of fiber and are sweetened with honey instead of sugar. They keep for ages in the freezer.

Check out this recipe

Would you like to save this post?

We'll email the post to you, so you can come back to it later!

Tuesday

I have sous vide chicken in the freezer, so a Caesar salad is a no-brainer dinner! I like to bump up the vegetable content of this salad, using cubed roasted pumpkin and steamed or roasted broccoli to play with the crunch of the lettuce and croutons.

Chicken Caesar Salad

Surprisingly, all my kids eat at least some of the components of this salad, making it a great dinner option. If you put all the separate ingredients out on a platter, and the dressing on the side, everyone can help themselves to the bits which most appeal.

Check out this recipe

Wednesday

A quick batch of muffins in the morning means the kids will have one of their favorite snacks at recess, plus there’ll be lots for the freezer.

Dinner is salty savory rice with fried eggs and lots of pickled vegetables.

Cheese and Bacon Muffins

Fast, easy and not filled with sugar; these muffins are welcome in kids and adults lunchboxes alike.

Check out this recipe

Seasoned Chinese Steamed Rice

You can change this seasoned rice to suit what's in your fridge. I say the eggs are non-negotiable, but the vegetables can just be steamed fresh veg (or even frozen), bought pickles or home made quick pickles if you've got time.

Check out this recipe

A zoomed in picture of seasoned rice topped with a seasoned fried egg, cucumber moons, pickled carrot and scallions

Do you want to use and love your steam oven more?

Steam Oven Insiders is a membership for steam oven cooks who’d like to know, use and love their combi steam ovens more.

In addition to an ad-free experience across the entire Steam & Bake website, Insiders also get exclusive access to a growing library of premium content, from recipes (always!) to downloadable cooking charts and guides, seasonal steam oven cooking ideas and more, delivered straight to your inbox in a helpful and inspiring twice-monthly newsletter.

As an Insider, you get the opportunity to shape the content published here, by requesting recipes and asking your curly steam oven cooking questions.

Not ready to become an Insider just yet? I hope you’ll still enjoy the hundreds of free recipes and articles across the Steam & Bake site, and that you’ll consider joining us in future.

Learn about Insiders

Thursday

I’m not sure what the kids will have tonight (probably last night’s rice leftovers), but I’ve been craving this cauliflower salad for weeks. Plus, we’ve been gifted a huge pomegranate that I can garnish it with, so it’ll be as pretty as the picture.

Cauliflower Salad with Pomegranate, Dates and Yoghurt Dressing

Frazzled, roasted cauliflower with sweet dates and a creamy/sharp yoghurt dressing. One of my very best vegetable based dinners or a seriously worthy side to grilled meats.

Check out this recipe

Cauliflower salad on a white scalloped edge plate garnished with mixed seeds

Friday

Friday fish! I don’t partake in Lent, but I’m happy to have fish anytime. A quick crumb topping and home made sweet potato fries should make everyone happy.

Lemon and Almond Crumbed Fish with Sweet Potato Chips

So long as your fish is fresh, it's hard to mess this meal up. It's golden and crispy and satisfying, and the sweet potato chips are optional but highly recommended as a side.

Check out this recipe

Weekend

We have a couple of families coming over this weekend, and my husband will be breaking out the smoker for barbecued pork or beef. That’ll take care of at least two meals, and we’ll supplement with soft and fluffy potato rolls, a huge garden salad and – wait for it – the most amazing baked brie and mushrooms from Smitten Kitchen. A big hunk of perfectly smoked meat and an oozy, melty baked cheese, friends, is what entertaining is all about.

Easy Potato Rolls

Even if you aren't a bread baker, you can make these. I promise. And you'll never, not once, regret giving them a try.

Check out this recipe