3 Easy Recipes That You Can Make Cheaply

Who says that home cooking needs to be expensive? There’s plenty of tasty and cheap recipes out there that you can make without spending a fortune. Here are a few favourites.

Carrot and parsnip soup

This cheap, delicious, and healthy soup is a great way to get some servings of vegetables into your diet.

Ingredients:

2x tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1x brown onion, chopped finely

3x cloves of garlic, crushed

1x 4cm piece of ginger, fresh and finely grated

1x green chilli, chopped

2x carrots (250g), chopped

2x parsnips (250g), peeled then chopped

2x teaspoons of ground coriander

1x teaspoon of ground cumin

1x half cup of dried red lentils, rinsed and drained

1x vegetable stock

1x 1/3 cup Greek yogurt (plain)

1x 1/3 cup fresh coriander, chopped

1x wedged slices of lime

Method:

1. Use a large saucepan to heat the oil on medium-high heat setting. Add ginger, garlic, onion, carrot, parsnip, potato, and chilli. Cook with occasional stirring for up to 8 minutes, or until the onion is softened.
2. Add in coriander, lentils, and cumin. Stir for 1 minute then add the vegetable stock with 2 cups of water. Bring the broth to boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for around 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat when vegetables and lentils are tender.
3. Blend the soup to smoothness using a stick blender. Return the soup to boil on medium heat and season accordingly. Top with coriander and Greek yogurt. Serve alongside the wedges of lime.

Collared greens with jerk seasoning

This is a flavourful and hearty dish that can be served as a side or eaten on its own. This is just one of many quick recipes that are nutritious, as well as incredibly tasty.

Ingredients:

1 x yellow onion

1 x garlic clove

1 x teaspoon of cooking oil

2 x teaspoons of jerk seasoning

1x half cup of orange juice

3 x cups of chicken broth

1x pound of collard greens

Method:

1. Mince garlic and slice onions. Add cooking oil, garlic, and onions to a large pot and sauté over medium heat setting. Continue for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent and soft.
2. Add orange juice, collard greens, chicken broth, and jerk seasoning to the pot. Stir to combine all the flavours and then put the lid over the pot. Turn up the heat to medium-high, then allow it to come to a boil.
3. When it reaches boiling, turn down the heat to the medium-low setting and allow the collard green to simmer. Stir occasionally and cook until they are tender and keep the lid over the top when you are not stirring. Serve them hot!

Sausage and tomato risotto

This dish is super tasty and easy to make! The Italian sausages give it a real kick that blends perfectly with the tomato.

Ingredients:

8 x Italian sausages

1x finely chopped onion

1x teaspoon of crushed garlic

1x quarter cup of olive oil

1x 50 grams of parmesan cheese, grated finely

1 x cup of chicken stock

1x crushed tomatoes (400 grams)

1x half cup of risotto rice

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Using a heavy-based saucepan (oven proof), heat the olive oil and cook the garlic and onion until they are tender.
2. Add your rice and cook until it is coated.
3. Add tomatoes and stock. Place a lid over the saucepan and bake for around 30 minutes.
4. Pan fry sausages until they are cooked through. Chop up the cooked sausages, then add them to the saucepan mixture. Begin to stir the parsley and cheese. Serve!