Simmered, Roasted, Baked, or Braised: The Simple Pleasures of Slow Cooking

So much in our world is designed to help us maintain the breakneck speed of modern life. From grocery delivery to AI-optimized workouts, there are numerous tools to help you do things ever-faster. At ZENB, we’re all about offering our community creative ways to prepare nutritious meals more efficiently — for example, we have quick-cooking products like Pasta Agile, Pasta Sides, and Pasta Bowls to minimize your time in the kitchen so you can get to the best part: gathering around the table with your friends and family.

That said, there is something lovely and luxurious about slowing things down in the kitchen. Every once in a while, perhaps on an evening when a club or meet-up gets canceled, or a weekend afternoon with no plans, practice the art of slow cooking and enjoy its simple pleasures. Instead of rushing to pull a meal together, try getting grounded and being present, fully tuning into the sensory experience of cooking. Set up your mise en place station, tie on your favorite apron, and sharpen your knife. Cue up a good playlist. Bring the fam for a more interactive experience! Breathe and enjoy the moment. 

Once you’re ready to begin, look for a recipe that uses slow cooking techniques, like braising, simmering, baking, and roasting. Taking your time to unlock new levels of flavor and texture is deeply rewarding. And, these time-honored slow cooking methods are wonderfully lo-fi: you don’t need any special equipment or special skills. You simply need time and heat.

Here are a few definitions to establish before we share some of our favorite slow-cooked dishes from the ZENB recipe collection.

Simmering: 

This term refers to cooking food in liquid on the stovetop at a temperature below the boiling point. Cooking meat in a slow-cooker is a great example of simmering! Slow and low is the name of the game.

Roasting:

Usually, roasting takes place in the oven. The ingredients are often tossed with oil or another fat, seasoned, and then cooked at a medium-to-high temperature. Roasting browns and caramelizes the sugars in food, creating complex flavors.

Baking:

Similar to roasting, baking is a cooking method that uses dry heat to cook food in an enclosed space (like an oven) at a medium temperature. Baking can be used for bread and pastries, but it can also be used for delicious, cheesy dishes like lasagna.

Braising:

This method combines two techniques: First, the ingredients are seared or browned over high heat, then liquid is added, the dish is covered, and everything simmers or bakes at a medium-to-low temperature. This dual process tenderizes food, and is great for tough cuts of meat and dense vegetables.

Ready to slow things down a bit? Try one of these delicious, plant-fueled ZENB recipes (bonus: slow-cooked dishes make amazing leftovers, perfect for your regularly-scheduled hectic routine!):

ZENB Rotini Italian Turkey Sugo 

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“Sugo” means sauce in Italian, a cuisine which takes slow-cooking very seriously. Many families are so invested in the not-rushed nature of the process, that a pot of sauce bubbles on the stovetop all day before being served at dinner!

Don’t worry — we don’t expect you to go quite that far. But our exceptionally rich, robust Turkey Sugo simmers for a full hour, allowing all of the ingredients’ flavors to meld together. We suggest serving the sauce with ZENB Rotini, as the little curves of its spiral shapes grab onto thick sauces perfectly.

ZENB Elbows Pasta with Roasted Mediterranean Vegetables & Feta 

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For many people, even adventurous foodies, eggplant can be a hard sell. If improperly prepared (which seems to happen a lot), it can be stringy, spongy, and unappetizing. This pretty, jewel-colored vegetable requires either intense heat or a long, slow cooking process to help it be its best self. In this recipe, we choose the former, with a high-temp roast in a 425-degree oven. After 20 or 25 minutes, the eggplant is nicely softened and flavorful; tossed with roasted tomatoes, feta cheese, herbs, and ZENB Elbows, it makes a light, tasty meal.

ZENB Rotini with Savory Slow Cooker Pork Ragu 

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You may already have great expectations for your trusty slow cooker this fall, but trust us, you’ll want to add this recipe into the mix. The pork, cooked low and slow, becomes incredibly tender, soaking up the rich flavors of the tomato-based sauce, garlic, and herbs. As the ragu simmers, it fills your home with a mouthwatering aroma, promising a meal that's both hearty and satisfying. Paired with the wholesome texture of ZENB Rotini, this recipe is perfect for those days when you want to set it and forget it, knowing a comforting, delicious dinner is waiting for you.

Classic Meat & Veggie ZENB Lasagna

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Baking at it's most savory best — this Classic Meat and Veggie ZENB Lasagna is the ultimate dish for a slow cooking night. Layered with rich tomato sauce, savory ground meat, and a medley of vegetables, this lasagna comes together beautifully as it bakes slowly in the oven. The extended cooking time allows the flavors to meld perfectly, creating a comforting, hearty meal that’s worth every minute of the wait. Paired with nutrient-packed ZENB Lasagna, this dish transforms a simple evening into a cozy, satisfying experience that’s sure to warm you up.

ZENB Penne with Braised Tuscan Kale & Oyster Mushrooms

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Kale’s vitamin-packed, nutrient-rich leaves can be a bit fibrous, and always benefit from the chance to soften up before eating. Braising this glorious green with vegetable stock makes it tender instead of tough; in this dish, the braised kale gets a savory, umami boost from oyster mushrooms, sauteed onions, a splash of soy sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. 

Tomato-Braised Cod with ZENB Rotini Pasta

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Delicate, flaky white fish like cod doesn’t need to braise for nearly as long as cuts of meat like short ribs or pork shoulder. In this recipe, it braises in tomato sauce for just under 10 minutes; just enough time to gently cook the fish to peak succulence. Paired with a unique mix of anchovies, golden raisins, and ZENB Rotini, this is a sophisticated dish inspired by Sicilian cuisine.

Whether you need dinner in a hurry, or have time to spare, ZENB’s yellow pea pasta, quick-cooking meals, and healthy snacks help you Eat Like it Matters! Use our store locator to find our products near you, and check out the ZENB recipe collection for plenty of kitchen inspiration. For daily wellness advice and tips on living a balanced lifestyle, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.