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.
As much hate as we have for LLMs, I’ve had a lot of luck using them to figure out meals for whatever weird food is on special. It’s led to all sorts of interesting meals for fairly cheap.
Generally, I’ll go grab whatever cheap protein is out there from a large market, then hit up my local grocers, see what’s on special and ask an LLM to come out with 4 suggestions based on the foods I give it, choose one, ask for 3 - 4 variations in ascending difficulty, then select one and I’m good to go. Not all have been 10/10 but a lot have been great!