$10 dinner meals

Australia’s Best Recipes have a winning formula for $10 budget meals that’s as easy as 1,2,3!

Three essential ingredients for the $10 meal formula.

#1 Cheap protein

The cheap protein could include chicken drumsticks, chicken wings, beef mince, pork mince, rolled pork roast, gravy beef, beef brisket or frozen fish. Eggs are also a cheap form of protein, as is tofu and legumes.

#2 Vegetables

There is a great a selection of vegetable choices for meals. It’s usually more economical to choose vegetables that are in season and more available. Frozen vegetables are also a great idea and economical.

#3 Pantry staples

Fill out your protein and vegies with some rice, pasta, couscous, barley or quinoa. If you have rice, grains and pasta in your cupboard, you will never be short of meal ideas.

The $10 dinner formula

To use this formula, simply combine 1 + 2 + 3. This could mean roast chicken drumsticks with asparagus and quinoa. Or it could mean a beef and broccolini stir-fry served with steamed rice. Maybe a frozen vegetable frittata with a pasta salad. Even a casserole made with cheaper cuts of beef and served with rice. There are so many combinations to choose from! Here are some meal ideas using this formula.

Sausage casserole

10 beef sausages

1 carrot

1 onion sliced

2 tbsp sugar to taste

1 tbsp brown malt vinegar

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp self-raising flour

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

Preheat oven to 180C.

Use a medium-sized casserole dish. Scatter onion and carrot evenly over base then add sausages.

In a medium jug, mix sugar, malt vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and self-raising flour. Add the water and whisk until smooth.

Pour over the sausages.

Bake in oven until sausages are browned on top and sauce has thickened, approximately for one hour.

Serve with mashed potatoes and green vegetables.

Five-spice chicken with broccolini

1kg chicken drumsticks

2 tbs kecap manis

1/2 tsp ginger, grated

1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder

Large bunch broccolini, steamed

Rice to serve

In a glass bowl, combine the kecap manis, ginger and five-spice powder.

Using a sharp knife, remove the skin from the chicken drumsticks and then cut away the thigh meat. You may end up with more than one piece from each drumstick.

Coat the chicken in kecap manis mixture and allow to marinate for at least one hour.

Cook on a hot BBQ grill or bake in the oven for around 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve with steamed broccolini and rice.

Vegetable and bacon slice

3 cups mixed vegetables, grated

1 cup cheese

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup self-raising flour

2 bacon rashers

4 eggs

Preheat oven to 200C.

Beat eggs and milk together. Add vegetables, cheese and flour and mix well.

Place in a well-greased lamington tin or baking dish.

Sprinkle over bacon (or ham) and some pepper.

Bake at 200C for 30-35 minutes or until set and golden brown.

Serve hot or cold.

Chop suey chow mein

500 g beef or pork mince

1 carrot grated

3 celery stalks finely chopped

1/4 cabbage shredded

2 onions sliced

3 tbsp rice

1 tsp curry powder levelled

45g chicken noodle instant soup

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil in a pan and brown mince, celery, and onion.

Make up the chicken noodle soup according to packet directions in a large saucepan.

Add the mince mixture, rice, curry powder, pepper and salt into the soup.

Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid catching on pan.

Add carrot and cabbage and simmer for a further 8 minutes, or until carrot and cabbage are cooked.

Chickpea and lentil curry

1 onion finely chopped

2 garlic cloves crushed large

1 tbsp oil

1/2 – 1 tsp chilli powder to taste

1 pinch black pepper to taste

1 tsp ground turmeric

1/2 – 1 tsp hot paprika

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tbsp ground cumin

880g canned chickpeas drained rinsed

880g canned chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup red lentils (optional)

1 tsp garam masala

1 tbsp fresh coriander to decorate

Heat oil in a medium pan.

Add onion and garlic, and sauté until onion is transparent, stirring constantly.

Then add chilli powder, salt, turmeric, paprika, cumin and coriander, and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add chickpeas and undrained tomatoes, and lentils if using, stir until combined. Simmer covered over low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add garam masala and simmer covered for 10 more minutes.

Garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves. Serve as is or with rice.

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