You know those times when you have to get dinner on the table, and you wish you could wave a magic wand to make creative, satisfying dishes appear? EZ Meals are the next best solution. EZ Meals, the brainchild of Jonathan Speiser, owner of Dougie’s in Teaneck, are vacuum-sealed, frozen, pre-cooked delicious entrees and sides. Just take a pouch out of the freezer and put it in boiling water for 20 minutes. Remove, open and plate. Dinner is served.
Speiser thought of the idea when his son came home from college for a visit. Like all good parents, he and his wife wanted to send him back with healthy and tasty food. Speiser had been experimenting with a new vacuum sealer. He had a light-bulb moment when he realized he could cook individual portions of food, seal and freeze them, and send them off with his son to college. So easy, even a student whose cooking skills are limited to boiling water can make himself or herself good food.
There are so many times EZ Meals can solve the problem of what to have for dinner. EZ Meals are sized for one or two people, making them ideal for small households. More people? Add more packages.
Getting kosher food can be a problem when you travel, whether for business or vacation. Your double-wrapped EZ Meals can be heated up by the staff in a hotel kitchen. If you’re staying at a vacation rental home, you can heat up EZ Meals in any pot. Even when there are takeout places nearby, EZ Meals are the easier solution: they are right there in the freezer when you want them. No waiting for your order to be ready and delivered. If you’re flying to your destination, pack EZ Meals in a suitcase. With the frigid temps in baggage, meals stay perfectly cold.
The recipes come from Dougie’s restaurant kitchen and catering menus, so you know they’ll be good. The vacuum-sealing process makes the pouches look small. Don’t be fooled. When you open up a pouch and plate it, you’ll see fabulous looking dishes that look like you just spent hours making them.
Speiser said he chose items that could be fully cooked but hold up well in a gentle hot water bath, similar to sous vide cooking. The recipes are healthier than most takeout options: Nothing is fried. Many are gluten-free.
So what kinds of choices do you have with EZ Meals? I tested several items at my house with friends and family. Brisket, sliced thin with gravy, was one of our favorites. Tuscan salmon was amazingly soft and flavorful, with bold spices, onions and peppers. Tuscan chicken had similar ingredients but with a perfectly cooked and moist cutlet. Grilled wings tasted like they had just come off the grill. Balsamic-glazed perigot had a sweet savory profile, infused with rosemary. We even tried burgers and buns with fries, which heat up perfectly. The sides included nicely seasoned rice, fluffy mashed potatoes and tender sautéed spinach.
View all the available selections at ezmeals2go.com and visit https://www.instagram.com/ezmeals2go.
Order by phone: 844/339-6325 or email: cs@ezmealstogo.com
Delivery is available in selected locations or pick up at Dougie’s Bar-B-Que & Grill, 184 West Englewood Avenue, Teaneck.
