Life is getting more expensive, and you’re not the only one feeling the pinch. In a 2018 Nielsen survey 65% of participants indicated that they were cutting back on takeaway meals, and 55% had already switched to cheaper grocery brands.
Here are a few #winning tips for stretching your rands in the kitchen.
Winter hibernation budget
Cooking up a pot of delicious and hearty soup is an excellent way to elevate affordable vegetables and use up any leftover ingredients before they go to waste.
- Butternut soup: Butternut, leeks, onion, garlic, vegetable stock, thyme and salt and pepper.
- Tomato soup: Tomatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, vegetable stock, basil and salt and pepper.
- Potato and leek soup: Potatoes, leeks, onions, vegetable stock, parsley and salt and pepper.
- Lentil and bacon soup: Red lentils, bacon, onion, vegetable stock and salt and pepper.
Homemade fast food
Cutting back on fast food isn’t easy, but with a little bit of effort you can make your own version of your favourite takeaways for nearly half of what you’d pay at the drive-through.
- Burgers: Use beef mince or canned tuna to make patties and add grated carrot, sweet potato or bread chunks to stretch the mixture.
- Pizza: Make your own pizza dough or buy bread dough from your local bakery. Alternatively you can use frozen pastry to make a puff pastry pizza.
- Fried chicken: A simple coating of egg, breadcrumbs, flour and seasoning is all it takes to make your very own fried chicken.
The leftovers meal plan
Make a point of buying in bulk and cooking more than you can eat so that you always have leftovers. By reducing your ‘stove time’ you’ll also save on electricity. Bonus!
- Toasted sarmies and wraps: Leftover cottage pie and bolognaise make delicious wrap or toasty fillings. Top if off with cheese for extra flavour.
- Pasta: Use leftover meat or vegetables as pasta toppings and tie it all together with a simple tomato or cream sauce.
- Stir-fry: When all else fails, warm up leftover veggies in a wok and create a delicious stir-fry with noodles or sauce.
- Omelettes: Make your leftovers go even further by folding them into a scrumptious omelette.