what i cooked on exchange 👩🍳
here are some meals that i have cooked on exchange since it is sooo much cheaper to cook than to eat out
since cooking every meal is really time consuming so most meals can last me for about 2-3 meals
before exchange i barely touched the kitchen but here i am now cheffing it up most of the time when i am not travelling
1. pasta ❤️❤️
i really love pasta and its one of the easier dishes to cook in my opinion
bought pre made carbonara sauce from the supermarket so u just have to add in some ingredients like mushrooms and ham then add in sauce and pasta and itll be done in under 15 minutes
prawn aglio olio is another quick and delicious option its simple but so satisfying!
2. fried rice
ofc we cant miss out fried rice, simple and classic dish to cook
its perfect to clear out ingredients that are going to expire too 🤣 and great for meal prep so i can just reheat and eat it when i am rushing for my next class
i also made variations like tom yum fried rice and kimchi fried rice which turned out to be so good too
3. “reunion dinner” meals 🏘🇸🇬
call these reunion dinner meals because whenever my exchange uni friends cook together, we cook in larger batches with multiple dishes and rlly feels like we are having 团圆饭
mala and hotpot are must-haves! 😋especially since we buy ingredients in bulk its cheaper to eat in bigger groups
chicken rice sambal kang kong and onion egg rlly hits diff in another country
bak kut teh is also a comforting and warming meal during the cold winter months
4. noodles 🍜
next up, there will be days where everyone is lazy to cook, so instant noodles it is!
one pot soup noodles like tom yum ban mian and prawn noodles (bought the paste from asian mart) is so simple just throw all the ingredients into the pot and its done!
5. korean food 🇰🇷
miss me some korean food bc i love jiggaes 🥰
kimchi stew and soft tofu stew are also just one pot soup meals so just dump pork belly, enoki, tofu, onions in and ure done!
bibimbap and kimchi udon takes a bit more time and effort but still… i crave yummy korean food
6. japanese curry 🍛
one of the best dish to cook for meal prep because u can store for a few days and its so simple to cook and u get to add in any ingredients u want or need to clear
again, highly recommend to bring pastes from singapore, uniquely singaporean paste like laksa, prawn paste, curry chicken paste are quite hard to find and more expensive too
and i need tips to cook the perfect fried egg.. 🍳 i keep flopping 😭
Cooking on a student exchange can be challenging due to time constraints and unfamiliar ingredients, but I found it incredibly rewarding and budget-friendly. One key tip is to plan meals that can stretch over multiple days, like Japanese curry or fried rice, which I reheated for quick, nourishing meals between classes. I also learned that bringing specific pastes, such as laksa or curry chicken paste from Singapore, made a big difference in flavor and helped me recreate home comforts abroad. Group cooking with friends became a social event—bulk-buying ingredients for dishes like mala hotpot not only saved money but also offered a warm, communal experience reminiscent of reunion dinners back home. When it came to quick fixes, one-pot soups like tom yum ban mian were lifesavers on lazy days, requiring minimal cleanup and time. Though I struggled with frying the perfect egg, experimenting in the kitchen became a fun part of daily life. Overall, cooking while on exchange not only helped me manage expenses but also provided a creative outlet and a comforting connection to my roots. I highly recommend other exchange students try cooking simple, versatile dishes to enhance their travel experience and well-being.