Looking for ways to eat well, affordably? Whether you're saving up for something or dealing with increases in the cost of living, if you're looking for budget-friendly recipes, we've got some excellent ideas for you.
With global flavours, these recipes are perfect for quick and easy family dinners, and some even impressive enough to entertain guests with – without breaking the bank.
Simplify your week by making a fragrant dal and using it in two dishes. First, tomato coconut dal with baked fish. Subtly spiced, this nutrient-packed one-dish dinner from Nabula El Mourid makes an easy yet elegant evening meal. Any type of firm white fish will work; use what is available. The dal base, which can also be served on rice with a green leafy salad, can be made a few days ahead, or frozen. Whichever way you use it, set a little set aside to use on egg and tomato breakfast flatbreads. Make the flatbreads yourself for an even more budget-friendly meal.
This noodle and veg bowl, from Jamie Oliver's series Save With Jamie, is both frugal and fast – ready in less than 20 minutes, it gets heaps of flavour from a quick dressing. And it's a great way to use up whatever veg you have on hand.
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These chickpea burgers from Donal Skehan, which make the most of pantry ingredients, are a great alternative to meat. “Tins of chickpeas are great to have in your store cupboard. They're simple and they're cheap and you can use them for hummus, too,” he says.
Simon Toohey calls this a no-waste, "happy days" tomato sauce. It's a great way to cut kitchen waste by using up those wilty veg or little bits and pieces left over from other recipes. Use it on pizzas or with pasta or even eat as a soup. It can also be frozen to use down the track.
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"Essentially this is a dhal, but I’ve put my own stamp on it by bulking it out with cauliflower. You can use this as a base for other vegetables, too. I love to add leafy greens, such as kale and spinach, or zucchini and broccoli. Make it your own and take the opportunity to use up any veggies in the crisper so they don’t go to waste," says Justine Schofield.
Giving leftover bits and pieces new life is a good way to make the most of the food budget you've already spent. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover bacon, chorizo or salami, but you could also add cheese, or use cheese and spinach or herbs as a filling too.
Looking for an easy dessert? This comforting tart-meets-crumble from Donal Skehan uses kitchen staple ingredients and is very easy to assemble.
This recipe is great for using up any older tomatoes hanging around in your kitchen, or for making the most of a bargain at the supermarket or produce market. The sauce cooks in a tray in the oven, making this an easy recipe, too.
Budget-friendly comfort food that includes veg, and uses up leftovers? Absolutely, with this Donal Skehan recipe. "This uses an easy version of white sauce, is a great way to use up leftover bits of cheese from the fridge and adds vegies for extra nutrition. You can use any mixture of cheese for this - blue cheese, parmesan, cheddar, whatever you have. Just make sure it’s are grated fairly finely, so it melts in the sauce. You could also use leftover pasta from the fridge here too. Likewise, if you don't have wholegrain mustard, you could easily use Dijon or whatever mustard you have to hand.," he says.
It's easy, familiar AND uses up leftovers: we love a good fried rice dish. Grab leftover rice from the fridge, add things like carrot, capsicum, ham and/or eggs, and dinner is on the table in under half an hour. For more fried rice adventures, try kimchi fried rice, curried fried rice or mince and pea fried rice.
Less-expensive cuts of meat can be transformed with some low and slow cooking – such as the chuck steak in this beef stew from Adam Liaw. While the recipe uses bacon and mushrooms, you can leave either or both out. There's plenty of flavour from the slow-cooked meat, tomato paste and a special ingredient: Vegemite!
Silvia Colloca loves making bread, and alongside the satisfaction of creating your own loaves, it's budget-friendly too. "If you can learn to bake your own bread, it's very cost efficient,” she says. Try her no-knead overnight bread if you like a crusty loaf, or her onion focaccia for a pillowy bread.
'Bakery bankruptcy' is what Adam Liaw calls his delicious way of using up bread: a savoury bread pudding complete with ham, cheese and spinach. Eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
"I know tomato and egg might seem like an odd combination, but they go together so well in a stir-fry. Cheap, simple and full of nostalgia, this is a childhood dish that most Hong Kong mums cook at home," says ArChan Chan.
This tea loaf is hugely versatile, reduces waste and allows you to make something delicious with what you have. Throw in whatever grated fruit or veg you have on hand, and likewise ring the changes with nuts, seeds, choc chips and spices. Think combinations like beetroot, pear and choc chip, or pumpkin, apple, ginger and pumpkin seeds.
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