Cooking can be fun, especially if you're making a meal for several people, but paying for food isn't always great.
Here are 10 simple recipes that shouldn't break the bank.
American Style Burgers
- Estimated Budget per Person: $5
- Potential Allergens: Eggs, Gluten (in burgers and fries), soy (in barbecue sauce), Sulfites (in some sauces), and possibly Milk (depending on the type of burger used).
This classic American-style burger is juicy, flavourful, and easy to prepare. You can make the burger patties with paprika and barbecue sauce before pan-frying them and serving them with fries.
These American-style Burgers are not just for family dinners or barbecues; they can also be a quick and creative weeknight meal option.
You could always consider getting cheap cooking lessons even if you struggle with them.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 30 minutes
- Active Cooking: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 3 Beef Burgers (500g)
- 1kg Frozen Fries
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 Onion
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika
- 1 Tablespoon Barbecue Sauce
- 10ml oil
Recipe for serving four people:
- In a mixing bowl, crush the burger patties and mix in the paprika, ground onion, egg, barbecue sauce, and oil.
- Let the mixture stand for 15 minutes.
- Form four patties from the mixture.
- Fry the patties in a frying pan for two minutes without any oil.
- Serve the burgers with fries, which can be fried, baked, or roasted. You can also add a side salad or some coleslaw for a complete meal.
Asparagus and Parmesan Puff Pie
- Estimated Budget per Person: $5
- Potential Allergens: Eggs, Milk (in Parmesan and cream), gluten (in puff pastry), Sulfites (in some puff pastries), and possibly soy (depending on the lardons used).
This creamy and savoury pie is inspired by French dishes. You can either make it with lardons or use a vegetarian alternative.
This is a fresh meal and great in the spring or at dinner parties, especially if you opt for fresh seasonal ingredients.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 45 minutes
- Active Cooking: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 Sheet Puff Pastry
- 300g Green Asparagus
- 60g Grated Parmesan
- 100g Lardons (or mushrooms/spinach for a vegetarian option)
- 3 Eggs
- 400g Cooking Cream
- Nutmeg
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Cut the asparagus into 2cm pieces.
- Place the puff pastry in a pie dish, pierce with a fork, and spread the asparagus and lardons (or alternative vegetables).
- In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, cream, salt, and nutmeg.
- Pour the mixture onto the pastry.
- Add the grated Parmesan.
- Cook in the oven at 190°C for 35 minutes.
Chicken, Coconut, and Lemon Macaroni
- Estimated Budget per Person: $6
- Potential Allergens: Gluten (in pasta), milk (in some types of macaroni), Sulfites (in some curry powders), and possibly soy (depending on the curry powder used).
This fusion dish is a breeze to prepare, blending Indian and Western cuisines with a lovely combination of creamy coconut and zesty lemon. Comfort food meets the exotic and is perfect for weeknight dinners and quick and easy to make.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 25 minutes
- Active Cooking: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 350g Macaroni
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 100ml Coconut Cream (thicker than coconut milk)
- 1/2 Lime
- 10 Strands Coriander
- 50ml Olive Oil
- Curry Powder
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water, then strain it.
- Cut the chicken into pieces and cook with olive oil, salt, and curry powder in a pot.
- Add the coconut cream, lime juice, and ground coriander to the pot and reduce it for a minute.
- Mix the cooked macaroni into the sauce.
Cured Ham and Rocket Pizza
- Estimated Budget per Person: $5
- Potential Allergens: Gluten (in pizza dough), milk (in mozzarella), and possibly Sulfites (in cured ham).
This Italian classic is great for casual gatherings or pizza nights, as almost everybody loves pizza.
As it uses cured ham and rocket, it also feels surprisingly light while making a satisfying meal.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 30 minutes
- Active Cooking: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- Pizza Dough or Pizza Base
- 3 Slices Cured Ham
- 1 Handful Rocket
- 2 Tomatoes
- 1 Ball Mozzarella
- 3 Tablespoons Tomato Purée
- 20ml Olive Oil
- Oregano
Recipe for serving four people:
- Coat a baking tray with olive oil and place the pizza dough on it.
- Spread the tomato purée and add the sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and oregano.
- Cook in the oven at 210°C for 20 minutes.
- Add the cured ham and large pieces of rocket after cooking.
Indian Rice Salad
- Estimated Budget per Person: $5
- Potential Allergens: Sulphites (in some curry powders and raisins) and possibly milk (in some curry powders).
This Indian-inspired dish takes flavours from the subcontinent and makes a dish that you can serve cold on hot summer days. It is great for picnics, potlucks, or simply as a light lunch to take to work.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 2 hours and 20 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Active Cooking: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 300g Rice
- 2 Cooked Chicken Breasts
- 1 Tomato
- 1 Lemon
- 30g Raisins
- 2 Shallots
- 1 Tablespoon Ground Coriander
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 2 Pinches Curry Powder
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Cook the rice in boiling water, strain it, and let it cool.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the rice, olive oil, curry powder, lemon juice, diced chicken, fresh coriander, chopped shallots, diced tomato, raisins, and salt.
- Let the salad stand in the fridge for 2 hours before serving.
Lemon, Garlic, and Basil Calamari
- Estimated Budget per Person: $4
- Potential Allergens: Shellfish (calamari), Gluten (if served with pasta), and possibly Sulphites (in some preserved lemon juices).
This light and tasty dish is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. It features calamari cooked with lemon, garlic, and fresh basil. Served with spaghetti, it's a great option for people who love seafood pasta.
And with most ingredients readily available in the pantry, it makes a low-cost recipe to learn to cook.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 20 minutes
- Active Cooking: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 500g Fresh or Frozen Calamari Rings
- 1/2 Lemon
- 1 Garlic Clove
- 8 Basil Leaves
- 350g Spaghetti
- 70ml Olive Oil
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Mix the ground garlic, chopped basil, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt in a bowl and set aside.
- Heat up a griddle, add some olive oil, and cook the calamari for 5 minutes.
- Pour the sauce onto the calamari and cook for another minute.
- Serve with cooked spaghetti.
Roast Olive Chicken
- Estimated Budget per Person: $7
- Potential Allergens: None commonly associated, but check for possible traces of soy or gluten in ras el hanout and olives.
This dish is inspired by Middle Eastern cuisine. The chicken is tender with crispy skin and served with green olives and crispy diced potatoes.
This is great for a family dinner or special occasion.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 1 hour
- Active Cooking: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 Ready-to-Cook Chicken (1.5kg)
- 100g Green Olives
- 700g Diced Potatoes
- 50ml Olive Oil
- 2 Pinches Ras El Hanout
- 2 Pinches oregano
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Pour the olive oil, oregano, ras el hanout, and salt into a bowl.
- Baste the chicken with the marinade and place it on a dish.
- Roast the chicken for 40 minutes at 210°C.
- Add the green olives once the chicken is cooked.
- Serve with sautéed diced potatoes.
Steamed Almond and Pear Trout Fillets
- Estimated Budget per Person: $7
- Potential Allergens: Fish (trout), Tree Nuts (almonds), gluten (in flour), Milk (in butter), and possibly Sulphites (in preserved lemon juice).
Despite the price tag, this dish is definitely gourmet, though you can't really put a price on learning to cook, can you?
You'll make steamed trout fillets topped with toasted almond flakes.
This delicious fish dish is served with lemon and buttery steamed potatoes. It is an excellent option for a date night, a special family meal, or a sophisticated dinner.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 45 minutes
- Active Cooking: 30 minutes
- Ingredients:
- 4 Trout Fillets
- 50g Almond Flakes
- 1kg Potatoes
- 1 Lemon
- 50g Butter
- 30g Flour
- 20ml oil
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Peel and steam the potatoes.
- Roll the trout fillets in flour and fry each side for three minutes in a frying pan with oil, butter, and salt.
- In another warm pan, quickly brown the almond flakes.
- Serve the trout fillets with lemon juice, almonds, and potatoes with some butter.
Tuna and Tomato Cottage Pie
- Estimated Budget per Person: $5
- Potential Allergens: Fish (tuna), Milk (in butter and Parmesan), gluten (in flour if used for thickening), and possibly Sulphites (in some tomato sauces).
This dish is a twist on the traditional British cottage pie. It uses tuna instead of minced beef and is complete with tomato sauce, creamy mashed potatoes, and Parmesan cheese.
Consider making this when you want something as hearty as a cottage pie but feel like mixing things up.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 55 minutes
- Active Cooking: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
- 700g Potatoes
- 300g Canned Tuna
- 80ml Tomato Sauce
- 1 Onion
- 40g Parmesan
- 40g Butter
- 100ml Milk
- 30ml Olive Oil
- Nutmeg
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Steam and mash the potatoes.
- Add warm milk, butter, salt, and nutmeg to the mashed potatoes.
- Chop the onion and fry it in a frying pan with olive oil.
- Add the strained tuna and tomato sauce to the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
- Place the tuna mixture in an oven dish and cover with the mashed potatoes and grated Parmesan.
- Cook in the oven at 180°C for 20 minutes.
Tomato and Gorgonzola Spaghetti
- Estimated Budget per Person: $4
- Potential Allergens: Milk (in gorgonzola and cream), gluten (in pasta), and possibly Sulphites (in some preserved tomatoes or cooking creams).
This spaghetti dish features a tangy gorgonzola cheese sauce with fresh tomatoes. It's elegant, Italian-inspired, and surprisingly easy to make as you don't need many ingredients or cooking utensils.
Preparation Time:
- Total: 20 minutes
- Active Cooking: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
- 350g Spaghetti
- 70g Gorgonzola
- 2 Tomatoes
- 100ml Cooking Cream
- 20ml Olive Oil
- A pinch of oregano
- Salt
Recipe for serving four people:
- Dice the flesh of the tomatoes.
- Sweat them in a saucepan with olive oil, oregano, and salt.
- Add the cooking cream and reduce for 3 minutes.
- Add the gorgonzola and mix until it melts.
- Cook the spaghetti for 10 minutes in a pan of boiling salted water.
- Strain the pasta and pour the sauce on before serving.
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