Budget Meals…

…that taste good and go far.

OSTRICH BURGER

This is one of the higher end budget meals but is a healthy alternative to your usual Red Meat meal as Ostrich is an extremely low fat meat. Make it healthier by using wholewheat rolls.

Main Ingredients

• 5 rolls
• 125 ml chakalaka
• 3 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 baby gem lettuces

Ostrich patties

• 1 glug olive oil, for frying
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 slices bread, blitzed into breadcrumbs, or ¼ cup oats
• 500 grams ostrich mince
• 2 tbsp coriander seeds, finely ground
• 1 tsp braai spice
• 3 tbsp basting sauce
• 3 tbsp chopped parsley, (optional)
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 pinch salt and milled pepper

Method

• Heat a glug of oil in a pan and fry onion until soft.
• Place on a plate in the fridge to cool quickly.
• Mix cooled onion with remaining patty ingredients.
• Season well and shape into 5 patties.
• Brush patties with oil.
• Heat a heavy-based or griddle pan until smoking.
• Fry patties for about 3-5 minutes a side, or until well browned and just cooked through.
• Halve rolls and top with chakalaka, tomato and lettuce.

Serves 5

View the recipe here: http://www.picknpay.co.za/picknpay/content/en/recipe-search-results?oid=138247&sn=Detail&pid=2393

TUNA AND LEEK PIE

I found this great budget meal by Sous Chef.

It looks great and the total price is…R24.63

For the base:

• 4 pkts cheddar biscuits, crushed
• 80g butter, melted   (keep 2 TBS of the crushed biscuits aside)

Mix the melted butter and the biscuits and press into a greased pie dish.
Put in the fridge to firm.

For the filling:  

• 1 tin of tuna, drained
• 1 onion, chopped – I only used half an onion because I added leeks
• 1 or 2 leeks, chopped (optional)
• A little oil
• Cheese, grated – I used about 1/3 of the cheese pictured in the first photo, so just over a 100g

While the base is firming, fry the onion & leeks gently until soft, in a little oil.
Sprinkle the tuna and cooked onion/leeks over the firmed base.

• ¼ cup of cake (plain) flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• Seasoning
• 2 jumbo eggs
• 1 cup milk

Place all of the above ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth then pour over the tuna mix.
Sprinkle grated cheese and the remaining crushed cheddar biscuits.

Place in a pre-heated oven at 175 degrees for 25/30 minutes. Allow to rest before serving.
Serves 4 – 6

View the recipe here: http://blogs.food24.com/sous-chef/2011/09/15/budget-meal-no-5-tuna-leek-pie

BUTTERNUT SOUP

Soup is always a great option for Budget Meals. It goes far and tastes great. In summer, you may wish to try a Cold Soup. I found a Budget Soup recipe on Simply Delicious.

Ingredients

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, finely chopped
• 500g (17.64 ounces) Butternut, peeled and diced
• 300g (10.58 ounces) Sweet potato, peeled and diced
• 1.5l Chicken Stock 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon 125ml (4.23 fluid ounces)
• Cream Salt & Pepper to taste

Method:

• If roasting the veg before hand, preheat the oven to 200°C (392 degrees Fahrenheit) and combine the butternut, sweet potato, carrots and onion in a roasting tray. Drizzle with 2tbsn Syrup or honey or 3 tbsn Sugar and some oil. Roast for 30 minutes until cooked. Combine the cooked veg in a pot with the stock and allow to simmer gently for 10 minutes. Puree the soup and add the cinnamon, cream (if using) and season to taste.
• If you won’t be roasting the veg, heat a large pot and fry the onion and carrots in some oil until soft and golden. Add the butternut and sweet potato and fry for another 3 minutes. Add the stock and allow to cook for 30 minutes until all the veg is soft. Puree the soup, add the cinnamon, cream (if using) and season to taste.

Serves 4

View the recipe here: http://simply-delicious.co.za/2010/07/27/budget-butternut-soup