In our previous post we shared our savvy little budgeting tips and tricks that can help you avoid compromising on nutrition, while still shopping inexpensively. In this post we have shared our favourite budget friendly recipes that apply some of these tips and trick.

Scroll down to see Feel Fresh Nutritions go to budget friendly recipes:

Classic bolognese meat sauce

Recipe from NZ heart foundation
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. oil

• 2 medium onions, chopped

• 2 medium carrots, grated

• 500g beef mince

• 2 x 400g can chopped tomatoes

• ½ cup water

Method

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan

• Gently cook the onion until soft

• Add the mince and brown

• Add the carrot to the mince and stir well

• Add the chopped tomatoes and water

• Cook gently until the sauce has thickened; about ½ hour

Serve with pasta, or as a base for cottage pie (top with mashed potato and then bake), or in a wrap with salad veggies!

Lamb and vegetable soup

Recipe from NZ heart foundation
Serves 4

Ingredients

• 200g lamb, mutton or hogget, diced

• 1L water

• 1 medium carrot, grated

• 1 small kumara, grated

• 1 medium onion; diced

• 400g can chopped tomatoes

Method

• Place all ingredients into a large pot and gently simmer with a lid on until the meat is tender

Chinese Chicken Nibbles

Recipe from: “Feed a family of six for under $20” - Jas McPhee

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2kg of chicken nibbles

• ½ cup soya sauce

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 2 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tsp crushed fresh ginger (optional)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.

• Combine marinade ingredients in a large bowl, add chicken pieces, mix well and    then marinade for 15-30 minutes

• Place chicken in an oven proof dish and cook in the marinade until golden and cooked through – approximately 35-45 minutes, depending on your oven.

Easy Tuna Mac n’ Cheese

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• ½ packet of macaroni

• 3 cups milk

• 3 tbsp cornflour

• 1 cup Edam grated cheese

• 400g tined tuna, drained

• 1 kg mixed frozen veggies/peas and corn

Method:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees celsius.

• Boil macaroni until soft, then drain and set aside.

• Heat milk in saucepan

• Wet the cornflour with a little water and then gradually add to the simmering milk, stirring constantly.

• Add the cheese to the sauce and stir through to melt

• Add the tinned tuna, parsley and vegetables and mix well

• Place in a large roasting dish and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until hot through and golden on top.

Vegetarian Chili

Recipe from Healthy Always

Serves 4-5

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp oil

• 1 brown onion

• 4 garlic cloves

• 1 1/2 tbsp chili seasoning (not chilli powder - chilli seasoning is blend of several spices including paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and more)

• 1/2 tbsp ground cumin

• 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1 red capsicum/pepper

• 1 carrot

• 2x 400g tin diced tomatoes

• 1x 400g tin kidney beans

• 1x 400g  tin black beans

• 1x 400g tin corn kernels

• 1 tsp salt, or to taste

Method:

• Prepare your veggies - peel onion and chop finely, peel garlic and chop finely/crush, dice capsicum and grate carrot.

• Heat oil over a medium-low heat in a large deep fry-pan. Saute onions and garlic for ten minutes or until onions are soft.

• Add chili seasoning, cumin and dried oregano, and saute for one minute or until fragrant.

• Add capsicum and carrot, mix well and then saute for a few minutes.

• Add tins of tomatoes and mix well. Open tins of beans and corn and drain any excess liquid, before giving them a good rinse in a sieve under running water. Add to fry-pan, along with the salt and mix well.

• Now let the magic happen! Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes to soften veggies and develop the flavour. Mix occasionally throughout the 30 minutes.

This blog was especially created for our friends at southern cross while we help them out on there health journey.

We hope you enjoy these budget friendly recipes.

Thanks from the team at Feel Fresh Nutrition!