Favourite budget recipes

Tuna and pasta bake - nice and cheap and filling!

Beans on toast!! Actually, my OH has banned this from the menu.

I find any pasta dish to be a winner - make your own tomato sauce and just chuck in whatever's in the fridge.

Chilli-con-carne is also cheap, and you can make enough to freeze for nights when you're too lazy to cook and the takeaway is calling.

Rice & Fishcakes. Sounds quite Dull but is yummy.

Uncle Bens Microwave Rice (on offer 3 for £3.50), 1/2 broccoli stem, Four Fishcakes (£2 from Morrisons), break up the fishcakes and mush into everything else, add a little bit of cream if you have it, otherwise just a few herbs, pepper etc. Quick, nutricious and costs about £4 and serves, hubby, me, LO and lunch for the next day for me.

Chilli Con Carne

Spag Bol

Homemade burgers and homemade wedges

homemade curries

toad in the hole

corned beef hash/stew/casseroles

Isn't that a crazy expensive way to buy rice though?

V. cheap fish pie:

1 tin pilchards in tomato sauce - tip into pyrex dish, remove big bones, mash up and add vinegar and black pepper.

Boil and mash potatoes, place atop fish - make patterns in potato with fork (optional).

Place in oven or under grill to brown potato and heat through.

Serve with baked beans (peas if you're a bit posh) or bread and butter if you're really skint.

It's yummy, honest.

Yes. (And it sounds utterly vile tbh!)

Anything egg-based - omelettes, quiches, scrambled egg on toast etc

Anything with pulses - you can make a fab sausage casserole with loads of veg and chickpeas/lentils/beans - use diff types of sausage eg chorizo, frankfurters etc and diff beans to ring the changes

Chicken livers and other offal are incredibly cheap and very delicious

If you live in the cuntricide you can get game for next to nothing

Pasta bake with loads of veg and a little tuna/chorizo/bacon

Mackerel - it's so delicious it really feels like a treat but is dead cheap. Ditto sardines.

Jamie Oliver's pasta recipes are quick, easy & cheap. This week we're having his mini shell pasta with creamy bacon & pea sauce.

I like Nigella's meatballs, her recipe feeds 4 adults so I make a huge batch and then freeze the left-overs.

I quite often do lamb shanks when I'm skint, if you find a recipe where they're in sauce 2 shanks can stretch to 2 meals if you bulk it all out with veg.

Tuna fish quiche made with tinned tuna is filling if you serve it with a baked potato.

I've started eating veggie meals a couple of times a week in order to cut down on the amount we spend on meat. Quite often its a veggie curry but my son likes vegetable rice. Its just a big pan of rice with whatever veggies I have chopped up, sauteed and stirred in. He sometimes stirs a sachet of Blue Dragon sauce through the veggies before adding it to the rice but I prefer it with a bit of butter and a spring onion!

Buy frozen veg - frozen brocolli isn't as nice as fresh but it will get you through the dark days of Jan. Failing that shop in Lidl.

Egg Fried Rice is really easy - wafer thin ham, cooked chicken, egg, onion, frozen peas, boiled rice =yom

I forgot to mention tortilla wraps. I do chicken ones, sometimes with plain chicken or sometimes I marinade the meat in a hot'n'spicy marinade I get from my butcher (its a pwder and sounds & looks vile but really tenderises the meat!) I chop the chicken quite small and pan-fry it until its cooked through and a tiny bit golden & crispy.

Meanwhile, I chop some salad (iceburg, cucumber, tomatoes, spring onions, avacado & whatever else I have) and warm some tortilla wraps in the microwave. Then all you do is pile the salad and chicken into the wrap, roll it into a sausage shape and eat. I like mayo in mine too so I just spread it on the wrap before piling the filling in.

These are really filling, I cannever eat more than 1 and my husband only just manages to eat 2.

Eating stuff that's in season will always be cheaper - that means roots and more roots at the moment! You can make a lovely slow-cooked stew with a little stewing lamb or beef, loads of veg again, and some barley/spelt/soup mix to add texture/interest. Slow-cooking is your friend.

I bought loads of frozen veg the other day, if I buy it fresh I worry it will go off.

I want to get my veggie intake up as I don't eat enough. What low fat sauce can I serve it with? Is there such a thing as making a low fat cheese sauce ?

Last night I had loads of steamed veggies and poured stilton & broccoli soup over it ?

I was givena slow cooker for christmas and despite being uncertain I'm a total convert. It is the cheapest way to make food ever. I am currently eating a yummy tomato and butter bean soup I made last night and for about £1 I have enough for 4 portions. I've also made a spiced winter veg and barley stew which was lovely and dirt cheap. I've meal planned for two weeks and the shopping cost £20! bargain city.

totally agree with Soph re seasonal veg- I get a veg box and am usually horrifed by the price of veg in the supermarket but I noticed sainsbuggers and doing a fairly large winter veg pack for £1. Their basics beans and pulses are just as good as any brand.

porridge is great for breakfast and oats and cheap. Then you could make soups for lunch and for dinners, how about vegtable curries, bean stews, tangines are pretty cheap with scrag end of lamb, chicken casseroles made with thighs etc....

would also second chilli con carne. Mushroom straganoff is good too- I find mushrooms are meaty enough that one doesn't miss meat.

I feel like a total scummy student compared to some of your ideas of cheap though <peter kay> iceberg lettuce? iceberg lettuce? <peter kay>

Well, you can use skimmed milk and cornflour with a teaspoon or two of parmesan - that might work. Nothing beats cheese sauce made with cream and cheddar though!!!

What frozen veg have you bought, Sparks? I find the thing about them is you're pretty much stuck with steaming/nuking them; because they're already cooked there's not a lot you can do with them that won't end up turning them to mush.

Pulses are your friends to bulk things out and add protein. As has been said, not eating meat help lots, and using whatever veg is in season.

Would makng soups 'chunky' help. I would hate the idea of a tin of heinz myself, but make my own soups and blend them quite thickly, adding pasta or barley or whatever to make them a bit more substantial.

Its also amazing how quickly your tastes change: I felt a bit sick after a roast at the inlaws on Sunday: my system just isn't all the heavy, rich food anymore!

Don't forget to go through your cupboards/fridge/freeze and use what you find in there. Go to the market for fruit and veg and buy whats in season. Find when your supermarket reduces things about to go out of date and shop then. Reduce how much meat you eat both how much for a meal and how often. Would your H accept soup as a starter and then have a smaller plate of grub for main course?

I got a big bag of brocolli & cauliflower and I also have another bag which is a mixture - peas, carrots, baby corn (I think), I don't think I have ever tried a recipe with root veg. Are root veg turnips? I have never tried one. I love carrot & swede!

We find meat cheaper from the butcher by far, so maybe buying butchers homemade sausages and doing toad in the hole or sausages in onion gravy and mash etc. Butchers sausages tend to be higher in meat and less in fat so they don't shrink and are generally more filling.

I made a huge pot of butternut squash soup yesterday - we had it for lunch with a crust each for dunking and have enough for 2 more meals each. Easily.

It's a very thick & filling soup - made only from squash, leek, vegetable stock and skimmed milk (recipe says double cream but I use milk to be healthier).

My H is nearly 6'4" and likes proper grub but he'll happily eat a bowl of chunky soup with a couple of slices of bread as his dinner.

Slow cookers are brilliant if you're on a budget. Lamb shanks or cheap cuts of meat done with loads of veggies and stock (Campells condensed soups make a fab base) are yum cooked long and slow. Ditto sausages of any kind (incluing quorn) with lentils, various beans, onions, garlic, chilli if you want it hot.

I really like loads of chopped white cabbage, diced onion and garlic all cooked in the wokor frying pan with diced bacon pieces (or sliced up slices IYSWIM) all cooked together. Quick, chepa and very tasty.

I also buy frozen veggies from tiem to time - they are ace steamed or microwaved and not at all mushy if you don't over cook them. THeh yare fine in the slow cooker too.

Beetroot risotto is another favourite - 500g of diced beetroot, one carrot, one onion (or some chopped spring onions), some sliced mushrooms if you like, chopped garlic, one chopped chilli. Saute the onions, garlic and mushrooms. Add in the diced carrot and beetroot, and chilli. Make up some stock (I use chuicken bovril but you can use ordinary stock cubes or whatever), and pour some in. Add in enough risotto rice for however many people you're feeding. Stir frequently on medium heat. As liquid is absorbed, gradually add more, letting the rice absorb it each time. Keepo going unti rice is cooked. Toward end of cooking time, if preferred stir in chopped chives. Yum! Also nice with dollop of fromage frais or natural yog on the top.

Root veg are carrot, swede, parsnip, celeriac, turnip and the like. They're great roast together with a bit of olive oil and some spices - I'd far rather have that than a dreary cheese sauce tbh.

Ummm... sorry Sparks, the stuff you've bought is dreadfully dull and I can't think of any way to make it nice.

Re soup - my sister's bf used to refuse to eat soup, but through her persistence He Has Learned. Try cutting up chorizo or bacon, throwing it in a pan with an onion while you chop and/or grate a load of celery, courgette, carrot, pumpkin, sweet potato, pepper, mushrooms - whatever you have handy. Once the fat from the bacon/sausage has renedered down a bit, add the rest of the veg and cook for 10 minutes. Add tinned tomato, water and veg or chicken stock (powder or cube is fine - I use Marigold). Also add a head of garlic which you've wrapped in foil and roasted. Also add lentils, yellow split peas, barley or soup mix. Cook until everythnig is done. Serve with bread, grated cheese, more cheese on the side and fruit - I guarantee he will find it filling. It's more like a sloppy stew than soup.

Lentil curry with eggs - can green lentils/can chopped toms/curry paste or spices. Simmer until thickened.

Hard boil eggs - half and put on top.

Very filling and lovely!

I'm not sure if it still is as cheap but neck of lamb used to be very reasonable and makes a lovely stew.

Sparks if you go on to weight loss or post on the weightwatchers forums i'm sure there's a recipe for cheese sauce using light philadelphia but I can't remember exactly how it goes. I tend to just make a cheese sauce with skimmed milk and low fat marg if I want to cut down and then add a little of a very strong cheddar.

Recipes (many of these are picked up off Hitchers)

Sausage and autumn rosti, with gravy: get sausage from butcher for low cost and quality. For rosti, parboil any potatoes and root veg you fancy; swede, carrot, parsnip. When they are just half cooked, drain and cool for a bit, grate them and mix in a little melted butter. Shape into patties and bake.

Sausage and lentil casserole: http://offthespork.blogspot.com/2007/08/sausage-and-lentil-casserole.html

Smoked salmon pasta: add a pack of smoked salmon offcuts (about 90p) to pasta shapes. Stir in a few spoons of cream cheese and some peas (I add spinach too). Add cracked black pepper and a teeny bit of nutmeg. A lot tastier than it sounds!

Mackerel roast: you can pick up a pair of fresh mackerel in Asda for less than £3 at the mo (less if you have a fishmonger) and it's a cheap, healthy alternative to a Sunday roast. Parboil potatoes and carrots. Pop your mackerel in a roasting tray and stuff the cavity with lemon or lime, and whichever herbs you fancy. Add the parboiled veg, slosh with a little olive oil and salt and pepper. While it bakes, saute or steam some sliced green beans. A really posh looking meal for about £4.50 for two.

Turkey meatballs and rice: turkey mince is also very cheap - about £1.50 for 500g - and healthy, too. I make meatballs with a pack (or half pack) of mince, a few breadcrumbs and a beaten egg. I shape and pop them into a pan with a little oil. Once they have browned, I add a tin of tomatoes (sometimes two), some tomato puree, bay leaves, pepper, paprika and tumeric (I also add spinach - this is a good recipe for hiding it from my husband ?). I serve it with brown rice and a little grated cheese.

Chorizo and bean stew: http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/baconandsausagesteww_87183.shtml (you really don't need the bacon and chorizo is cheap).

Scraping a roast chicken for all it's worth:

1) Chicken and bacon pies: pastry is a bit of plain flour and butter. For the filling, saute chicken, a rasher or two of good quality butcher's bacon, and leek. Add a white sauce and plenty of fresh parsley. These are also good with the autumn rosti, or if you can't be arsed with pastry, just top with mashed potato and serve with veg.

2) Ginger and lemon chicken noodles: finely chop an inch of fresh ginger (about 40p), a clove of garlic and a bunch of spring onions. Lightly fry them and then add your chicken, and any veg you're using (beansprouts are very cheap, a pepper is good, as are mushrooms). Add some fresh or ground coriander and a good splash of soy sauce. Boil your noodles and add these, tossing everything well together. Finish with the juice of a lemon. (this is also really nice with prawns).

3) Stuffed chicken pittas: garlic and coriander pitta bread is about 50p for a pack of 6. Stir fry chicken, peppers, onions, mushrooms and anything else you fancy with some smoked paprika and chilli (if you like it). Stuff into pittas with salad, and a bit of cheese if you like.

Don't forget to boil the carcass for stock.

Jacket potatos - I had forgotten just how good these are, even with beans.

Other tip: make your own cakes/biscuits/flapjacks for lunch. Much cheaper and probably healthier, too.

Oh, and don't forget that a batch of pancakes or a baked rice pudding are great ways to use up eggs and milk. They also make you very popular ?

Chilli - cheap as chips and can be bulked out by adding lots of different kinds of beans rather than all mince. You can do it with rice, wedges, tortilla chips to make different meals and can be made on mass and frozen.

Spag Bol - another favourite in our house

Stews

My cheap meals are:

Spag bol ( I buy decent mince but use value tinned tomatoes, I add whatever leftover veg I have or frozen and lentils sometimes - mushrooms, onions and carrots are all cheap and tasty to add)

Chilli (Again decent mince and cheap toms. Then I bulk out with loads and loads of pulses)

Lasagne, meat or veggie

Cottage pie

You can use the spag bol sauce to make both of these.

Sausage, leek and potato hash. ust those 3 ingredients with a dollop of cream of horseradish.

Savoury rice (rice with whatever veg, meat/fish or seafood, eggs etc you have leftover flavoured with soy sauce)

Pasta with either a tomato sauce made from value chopped tomatoes, creme fraiche or a cheese sauce then again add any veg/meat/fish/seafood you have.

Stir frys with beansprouts and rice/noodles. Use little meat and lots of veg.

Thinks I use to flavour my meals are chilli, garlic, black pepper, mixed value herbs, ginger, wholegrain mustard, blue cheese, chorizo and bacon. All have strong flavours so your meals aren't too bland.

I grow my own veg to make it cheap and stock up on tinned/frozen stuff when on offer.

For frozen veg I find peas and broad beans are my favourites and don't go soggy.

Slow cooked casseroles are good too with lots of veg and pulses. Also curry bulked out with lentils, chickpeas or mushtooms.

Homemade burgers with veg mixed into the mince to bulk out

Spanish style omlettes with again lots of veg chucked in.

Risotto with mainly veg

Jacket potatoes with leftover chilli/spag bol or curry

Make use of the supermarket value ranges too

You could do a pasta bake with the cauliflower and broccoli. Cheese sauce would work best. I would add wholegrain mustard and blue cheese if you have any.

Blue cheese seems expensive but you need so little to give flavour and it lasts for ages in the fridge.