Times are hard, the cost of living is rising, and so, like many people, I’m trying to cook cheaper meals for the family. I recently did the Piri-piri chicken wing, wedges and corn traybake from BBC Food.
Wings are cheap, potatoes are cheap, and corn isn’t crazy expensive. The limes were probably the most extravagent ingredient. Total price, probably £2-£3 per person.
It was great, and the family all enjoyed it. To the point where it would go on the regular rotation even if we had suitcases full of cash stashed around the place!
What are your best economical recipes that aren’t just beans, chickpeas, and rice? Meals you actively looks forward to, rather than just a budget way of getting calories inside you?
On my list for the coming week:
- Carbonara
- Sausage and mash with onion gravy
- Chicken Quesadillas
- Mac and Cheese with salad
- Spicy black bean tacos
- Stir-fried tofu
- Slow cooker leek and potato soup
I can supply recipes for any of these.
You can basically never go wrong with a curry/stew. Japanese curry/rioux cubes are amazing and people sleep on the jarred thai curry pastes. Excellent with frozen veggies although I try to still grab fresh carrots or some other root vegetable.
Aside from that? My go to (that I made probably a bit too much during the pandemic…) is a boxed rice mix (think zatarans or goya), some low sodium spam, and some varying quality chicken stock. Minimal effort, basically all stuff you can buy in bulk and keep in the pantry. and it usually makes 2-3 servings depending on your tolerance for sodium. Bonus points if you use half and half homemade stock (which is a lot less effort than people would think) and carton, but Better than Boullion is an expensive way to get close.