Budget recipes
On a budget? Whether you’re after cheap family meals, no frills or simply good value, we’ve got ideas for you. Yes, jacket potatoes and pasta feature, but also ways to stretch those more expensive ingredients that bit further to give you bags of flavour for your buck. Step forward chorizo, smoked fish and bacon. We’ve also included some fakeaways, to help you save money when the takeaway urge bites.
If you’re looking for budget meals that are filling and comforting too, check out all our budget pasta recipes, and also find ways to use up leftover chicken.
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30-minute meal recipes
Umami bomb spaghetti
Ready in the time it takes to boil the pasta, this speedy umami bomb spaghetti is packed with olives, anchovies, capers, parmesan and parsley for a joyful tapenade-like flavour.
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Weekly pasta recipes
Creamy sweetcorn and Tajín pasta
Tajín is a Mexican seasoning that combines lime and chilli, and when paired with sweetcorn it makes a wonderful sauce for pasta.
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Weeknight recipes
Sausage casserole with braised celery and chickpeas
Braising celery is something you need to try. This easy, hands-off sausage stew combines it with sausages, creamy chickpeas and chilli.
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Leftover lunch recipes
Leftover pasta frittata
Leftover spaghetti is the carb hero of this robust omelette. This versatile frittata is the perfect vehicle for any leftover pasta and veg.
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Paneer recipes
Paneer, tomato and pea curry
This speedy vegetarian curry combines tinned tomatoes and frozen peas with plenty of spices and sticks of paneer cheese.
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Baking recipes
Honey flapjacks
These simple honey flapjacks are the perfect vehicle for showcasing the complex floral flavours of a good-quality honey.
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Fermented food recipes
Fermented hot sauce
Learn how to make fermented hot sauce with James Read's easy recipe. All you need are chillies, salt, a sterlised jar... and time.
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One-pot recipes
Braised sausages, lentils and fennel
Georgina Hayden's braised sausages with fennel and lentils is a weeknight winner. A one-pot family dinner that doesn't skimp on flavour.
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Pressure cooker recipes
Pressure cooker pea, mint and parmesan risotto
Silky pea risotto in 20 minutes?! You heard us right. Pressure cookers cook risotto rice super quickly, saving you time and energy.
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Lemon cake recipes
Stovetop lemon curd cake
This easy stovetop cake has a soft but dense texture topped with lashings of lemon curd. Using the hob instead of your oven saves energy.
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Rice recipes
Egg zosui (Japanese rice porridge)
Use up leftover rice in this traditional egg zosui recipe. The Japanese rice porridge makes a thrifty, nourishing supper for cold nights.
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Lentil recipes
Dal dhokli
Dal dhokli is a traditional Gujarati dish of dal with dumplings. Nisha Parmar shares her thrifty recipe, which makes smart use leftover dal.
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Dinner inspiration in 20 minutes
Spiced kipper fried rice
Fragrant turmeric, smoky tinned kippers and a lick of chilli take fried rice to a new level in this simple, speedy dish for busy nights.
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Risotto recipes
Potato risotto
This double-carb delight combines two comfort dishes: the simplicity of a fluffy jacket potato and the soothing process of a creamy risotto.
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30-minute meal recipes
Colcannon with mustard-fried eggs
It doesn’t get more comforting than colcannon – cheesy mashed potato threaded with cabbage or leeks. Top with a fried egg for an easy supper.
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Macaroni cheese recipes
Green mac and cheese with bacon crumb
The cavolo nero leaves in green mac and cheese are whizzed while the stems are quick pickled, to provide brightness against the cheese sauce.
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