Many students begin to experience the early stages of adulthood when they go away for college and start living on their own. Most students live in on-campus housing, apartments, and/or rent out a house with their college friends. Regardless, students begin taking on responsibilities such as doing their own laundry, house chores, and most importantly, cooking. In this article, I’ll be recommending some Asian-inspired dishes that you and your housemates can cook together at home where, in the long run, will cost less than ordering takeout and delivery!

1. Kimchi Fried Rice

Need to use all your rice before it goes bad? Turn it into kimchi fried rice! Great with Spam and don’t forget to top it off with a sunny-side up egg! As Newton would say, “Don’t forget the… PARSLEYYY!” Many recipes for this Korean dish are similar, but below is one I would recommend. (convenient ingredients checklist and steps included).

You can find a recipe here.

2. Spam, Eggs, and Rice

This meal is a classic and all the ingredients are pretty much listed in its name! Get a can of Spam, fry some eggs whichever style you prefer, prepare rice and you’re all set! You can also substitute the Spam with Chinese Sausage (or have both). My favorite finishing touches are to drizzle some spicy mayo dressing as well as furikake on top for some ~~flavor~~.

3. Beef and Broccoli Stir-fried Noodles

Instead of eating instant ramen packs all the time, repurpose them into a tastier and healthier meal: beef and broccoli stir-fried noodles! If you want a thicker base, substitute the noodles with udon! Add the meat of your choice, some broccoli, extra veggies, make the simple sauce and VOILA, you got yourself a 5-star Michelin meal!

You can find a recipe here.

4. Sundubu-Jjigae (Korean Tofu Soup)

This dish might require a bit more prepping but can still be made under 30 minutes! You have the freedom to include whatever add-ons you would like into this comfort soup to make yourself feel at home. Will guarantee to make you feel warm inside and most importantly, don’t forget the egg!

You can find a recipe here.

5. Spam Musubi

This is a fan-favorite that is perfect for a quick, yet filling, snack. Grab your housemates or a couple friends and have some fun making these Spam musubis. Some recipes use different sauce ingredients so explore your options (oyster sauce is typically a common ingredient to marinate the Spam)! If you want to go above and beyond, add a layer of egg to your musubi!

You can find a recipe here.

6. Vietnamese Spring Rolls

If you’ve ever been to Vietnamese restaurants, most of the time these rolls are offered on the menu. The rolls may look difficult to assemble but are actually pretty easy to put together and typically does not require that many ingredients. The peanut sauce (allergen notice) is KEY to every delicious bite!

You can find a recipe here.