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Recipes designed for two people can be few and far between. We asked recipe writer Rachel Phipps for her tips when cooking for smaller households, whether it’s a midweek meal or special occasion…

“I love writing recipes for two people because there are not enough of them out there,” says Rachel Phipps. The food writer has become something of an expert on creating dishes for two and it’s partly been due to necessity: “When I'm following someone else’s recipe, I always find myself scaling it down to serve just me and my partner.”

“Family-style recipes that don't keep are almost inaccessible to couples and smaller households,” she explains, before adding: “I love that I can make a ‘serves two’ recipe without any adjustments, especially if it is for something that does not yield good leftovers, for example something with prawns.”

“Recipes for two were my go-to when I was living alone, because recipes for one usually leave too many pots and packets of things open, and meals for two created the right amount of leftovers for me to not get bored eating the same thing over and over.”

Phipps talks us through her favourite recipes for two, for every occasion…

Busy midweek nights

There are some key ingredients Phipps turns to when cooking something quick after a long day at work, “If you have eggs or tofu, and a stock of healthy carbs like rice, noodles, or even flour for quick flatbreads, you can make a meal out of anything,” she explains.

“You can add different sauces and fresh touches like herbs, kimchee and thinly sliced shallots or spring onions depending on what you've got open in the fridge,” adds the expert.

Her recipe for super speedy yoghurt flatbreads is topped with an egg fried in soy-butter and served with kimchi for extra flavour.

“A���ٱ���Բ��پ��������, air fryer halloumi is also good on top of a grain bowl if I'm looking for something lighter.”

Date night

There are two options for making a romantic meal without having to spend hours in the kitchen, says Phipps: “Either choose to make something that cooks long and slow, made earlier and reheated– like a lasagne, or something that comes together really quickly, like a pasta dish.”

If you’re going for low and slow, “if you take the time to prep absolutely everything in advance, doing all the chopping and measuring needed, you’re going to save time on your date,” says Phipps.

But if you’re going for a simple pasta dish, it could be just a case of boiling your pasta and you’re done – as Phipps highlights with her cacio e pepe (‘cheese and pepper’) recipe.

Cosy nights in

When it’s cold outside and you just want to hibernate, the food you snuggle down on the sofa with makes all the difference. “I love gnocchi for a cosy meal as their toothsome, pillowy bites deliver the same comfort hit as a good soup, but with the bonus you can eat it on the sofa without making a mess.”

Phipps’ recipe for simple creamy pea gnocchi sees her fry a banana shallot in a little oil before white wine is added and then double cream and lemon zest. Cooked gnocchi are added to the mix along with frozen peas and a little of the gnocchi cooking water.

Other cosy options include:

• Tomato, chickpea and pasta soup
• Satay sweet potato curry
• Potato hash with tomatoes, pepper and kale
• Curried butter beans with flatbreads

Special occasions

Whether it’s a birthday, celebrating a promotion or you’re just keen to impress, Phipps has advice for making a memorable meal for two: “Choose something simple, but focus on the little extra touches.”

“My spicy salmon bite rice bowls are really easy and tasty regardless of what you serve them with, but taking extra care by toasting the sesame seeds, chopping all the salad veggies evenly and perhaps adding some extra flourishes like fresh coriander or finely sliced spring onions will make it that little bit more special.”

Fakeaway

“This may seem counter-intuitive, but don't stress about trying to make a takeaway dish at home 'healthier',” says Phipps.

“By virtue of making it from scratch it will most likely be cheaper, healthier – and usually quicker – than ordering in, so don't skimp on things like hoisin sauce or sesame oil or be worried about added sugars and fats if the recipe calls for them. If you leave them out to try and go too 'healthy' you'll just make something that tastes sad… and then you'll go back to ordering the expensive takeaway the next time!”

Originally published November 2024

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