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Save With Jamie
series • cooking
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Looking for ways to eat well, affordably? Whether you're saving up for something or dealing with increases in the , 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.
This noodle and veg bowl, from Jamie Oliver's series 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.
Super-easy veggie noodles. Credit: Jamie Oliver Enterprises
These 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.
Credit: Donal's Kitchen Hero
"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.
Credit: Plum Books / Jeremy Simons
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.
A super-easy way to use up leftover bacon, chorizo or salami. You could also add cheese. Credit: Secret Meat Business
Looking for an easy dessert? This comforting tart-meets-crumble from Donal Skehan uses kitchen staple ingredients and is very easy to assemble.
Credit: Donal's Kitchen Hero
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.
Credit: Jiwon Kim
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.
Credit: Donal's Kitchen Hero
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 , or .
Credit: Donal's Kitchen Hero
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!
Credit: Jiwon Kwon
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 if you like a crusty loaf, or her for a pillowy bread.
Overnight bread baked in a cast iron pot Credit: Cook like an Italian
'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.
Savoury bread pudding. Credit: Danielle Abou Karam
"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 tomato and egg dish is one of Asia's most well-known comfort foods. Credit: Alana Dimou
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.
Credit: Murdoch Books / Cath Muscat
