At Albert Ménès, we've tried our hand at batch cooking. In this article, we give you all our secrets and recipe ideas for diving into the deep end! Let's start with the basics...

What is batch cooking? 

Batch cooking is an English term that means ‘cooking in batches’. 

It's a method of preparing several meals in a single cooking session that has been popularised on social networks. 

Batch cooking offers a number of advantages to those who practise it :

• It is an organization that offers a considerable time-saving advantage by allowing the preparation and cooking tasks to be grouped together at once, thus freeing up time for other daily activities.
• By organizing your meals in advance, batch cooking simplifies menu management and reduces the stress of last-minute meal preparation.
• This method also contributes to reducing food waste by enabling you to plan and consume appropriate portions, while optimizing the use of ingredients.
• Every little saving counts, and batch cooking won’t leave your wallet indifferent. Indeed, by planning your grocery shopping with specific meals in mind, you limit impulsive purchases and optimize your budget by getting into the habit of buying just the right quantity of ingredients.
• Preparing your own dishes also ensures that you are eating a more balanced meal than that processed dish bought during your lunch break !

In short, batch cooking promotes a more organized, healthy, and responsible diet, while bringing practicality and efficiency to the management of daily meals."

Our tips for a successful batch cooking week

To approach batch cooking successfully, here are the three golden rules we always follow:

• PLAN: Scheduling your batch cooking session in your calendar is essential. For example, many people like to do it on Sunday evenings, a time when you’re often at home and relaxed. For us, it’s the perfect time to do some cooking and start the upcoming week on the right foot, but it’s up to you to choose the time that suits you best!
• BE EFFICIENT: The goal isn’t to spend your entire day on it! If you’ve done your grocery shopping in advance, it should take you 1 to 2 hours, depending on the recipes you choose.
• USE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT: Opt for airtight containers like Tupperware or glass jars. They have the advantage of being easy to reheat and will keep your meals fresh.

Our recipe ideas for the week

To save you time, here are our easy-to-go recipe ideas, perfect for your next batch cooking session!

For starters:

• Sardine rillettes
• Beetroot hummus (vegetarian)
• Marinated halloumi with spices (vegetarian)

For mains:

• Red chicken curry
• Wild garlic gnocchi (vegetarian)
• Harissa roasted cauliflower (vegetarian)
• Parmigiana(vegetarian)
• Tuna bricks
• Yellow curry lentil dahl (vegetarian)
• Artichoke cream croque monsieur
• Provence herb quiche(vegetarian)
• Frittata with persaillotte (vegetarian)

For dessert:

• Tonka bean madeleine
• Caramel-filled muffins

Albert Ménès essentials for batch cooking

Let yourself be guided by our recipe book to never run out of inspiration, and so that spices in the kitchen will no longer be a mystery to you!

Here is our TOP 5 Albert Ménès products to have in your pantry for everyday cooking:

Our must-have spices:

• Herbes de Provence
• The iconic Persaillote
• Fish seasoning blend in a grinder

Our condiments, classic staples to enhance a dish:

• Yellow curry paste
• Garlic confit from Drôme