After a long and exhausting shift, the thought of cooking a meal from scratch can feel like an impossible task. For many, it leads straight to the freezer or the takeaway menu. However, one NHS employee has shared a brilliantly simple solution: a delicious Chinese-style beef curry that needs just five ingredients and mere minutes of preparation.
The Five-Minute Prep Solution
The recipe, shared by TikTok user @amysmith1809, is a masterclass in minimal effort cooking. The key is using a slow cooker and forgoing all the usual pre-cooking steps. Everything goes into the pot raw, saving precious time and washing up.
In a video posted on 20 January 2026, Amy demonstrated her method. She quickly sliced two peppers and one white onion into chunks and placed them in the slow cooker. To this, she added 500g of diced beef. The entire process, accompanied by the cheerful sounds of her children in the background, was completed in under five minutes.
Simple Ingredients, Maximum Flavour
The magic, according to Amy, is in the sauce. She mixed five tablespoons of Mayflower curry powder with 500ml of water until smooth, then poured it over the meat and vegetables. A final handful of frozen garden peas completed the dish before the lid went on.
"Ideally you want to cover the ingredients you've got in the slow cooker [with water]," Amy advised. She then set the cooker to low, leaving it to work its magic while she returned to her NHS duties, planning to serve it at around 5pm.
Overwhelmingly Positive Response
Seven and a half hours later, Amy posted a follow-up video showing the finished curry ready to be served. The result looked hearty and inviting, prompting a flood of positive comments from viewers.
One follower exclaimed it looked "amazing", while another vowed to try it themselves, writing: "Looks fab fellow welshy, I might just give that a try." The recipe proved a hit, with one user confirming they had already made it: "Made this today after seeing your TikTok's, absolutely lush!" A third simply praised the core ingredient: "Looks lovely, can't beat Mayflower curry."
For anyone struggling to find the energy to cook after work, this recipe offers a genuine lifeline. It proves that a homemade, tasty meal doesn't require complex skills or hours in the kitchen. With a slow cooker and five simple ingredients, a satisfying dinner is just a few minutes of prep away.
