Eating Well On A Budget: How To Create Your Favourite Takeaway At Home
Eating Well On A Budget: How To Create Your Favourite Takeaway At Home
In the UK, the cost of living has risen sharply in recent times, and with the outbreak of the Ukrainian war, prices are expected to keep increasing.
In February, the retail price annual inflation increased to 1.8% – up from 1.5% in January. This is the highest level of inflation seen since 2011.
However, food inflation sits at 2.7% – the highest it has been since 2013, and is expected to rise for a few more months yet.
The foods hit hardest by inflation in recent months have been oils and fats, followed by fruit, and then hot beverages such as tea, coffee, and cocoa. Meanwhile, the overall price of food and alcohol has risen by 4.3% according to figures released by the ONS – the biggest increase since 2013.
When food prices skyrocket, treats are usually the first things to go. But we shouldn’t be limited to just jacket potato and beans when finances are a stretch.
Here are some homemade versions of your takeaway favourites, so you can get more bang for your buck and learn some quick and easy shortcuts at the same time!
Basic Sauces
Ask any chef and they will tell you that the sauce is one of, if not the most, important components of a dish. The sauce ties all the ingredients together, adds depth of flavour and richness, and builds the character of the dish. There are very few dishes without any sauce at all: we even put dressing – which is arguably a form of sauce – on salad, and sweet sauces on our desserts.
The sauce is essential to building a flavour profile and defining the dish’s personality. If you can learn some quick and cheap ways to make basic sauces at home, you can make almost any meal!
So let’s take a look at some quick and easy sauces you can create on a budget.
Basic Sweet And Sour Sauce
Sweet and sour sauce is a great option if you are on a budget, because all you really need is ketchup, vinegar, and sugar – all of which are basic household staples. If you have a can of tinned pineapple around the house that you can use, that’s a great addition too, but not essential.
Serves 16
Ingredients:
150g white sugar
80ml vinegar 160ml water
60ml soy sauce
1 tbsp ketchup
2 tbsp cornflour
1 can pineapple & juice (optional)
Add all the ingredients to a pan and bring to the boil, stirring continuously, until thickened. Remove from the heat and serve.
‘Satay’ Sauce
Serves 4
Satay is traditionally made with lime juice, ginger, and fish sauce, but in the interests of keeping the cost down, this three-ingredient peanut sauce recipe is a cheap and very tasty alternative, while also being totally vegan!
Ingredients:
8 tbsp peanut butter
8 tbsp soy sauce
8 tbsp plant-based syrup (we use carob)
Mix all the ingredients together. Add more honey or soy if needed according to taste.
Curries
Quick Aloo
While Indian cooking is typically a lengthier process than the flash-frying methods used in Chinese cooking, there are some dishes which can be made quickly, easily, and with minimal expense.
Aloo curry is a great option for everyone because it is quick and easy to make, satisfying, and can be used as either a vegetarian main or a side dish for meat. This aloo takes only 20 minutes to cook, making it ideal if you are short on time.
Ingredients:
3 medium potatoes
3 tbsp oil
1 tbsp chopped garlic
1 tbsp chilli powder
1/2 tbsp turmeric
1/2 tbsp cumin
Vegetable stock cube
Salt
Instructions:
- Peel and chop the potatoes into small cubes.
- Warm the oil in a pan over a medium heat and add the potatoes and garlic. Cook until potatoes are beginning to soften, and then add the spices. Stir the spices through, then add two cups of water and the stock cube.
- Cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are beginning to break down and the curry thickens. Serve with rice and fresh coriander.
Super Speedy Chickpea Curry
This chickpea curry only takes ten minutes to make and provides plenty of vegetarian protein for minimal cost. If you want to keep the expenses even lower, skip the coconut milk and exchange it for water. This curry will be a great addition to a jacket sweet potato.
Ingredients:
1 can of chickpeas
1 can of chopped tomatoes
1 can coconut milk or 240ml of water
1 tbsp curry powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 onion
2 tsp chopped garlic
2 tbsp oil
Fry the onion and garlic in the oil until translucent. Add the other ingredients and cook until the curry thickens to the desired consistency. Serve.
