Rob Shaw/Bauersyndication.com.au
Sometimes our love of cooking can mean a pretty hefty bill when we get to the supermarket checkout.
But whether you’re watching your pennies because it’s a little too close to payday or simply because you’re trying to stretch your money that bit further, it is still possible to shop deliciously.
In fact, indulging your champagne tastes on a beer budget could be as simple as being a bit sneaky with some less expensive ingredients.
Berries
Swap berries for seasonal fruit
We love berries, but even when they’re in season (and technically at their cheapest) you’d be lucky to get change from a tenner. Instead of sticking rigidly to berries for topping your cereal or for baking in to delicious tarts, pay more attention to what fruit is currently in season, like with this autumn fruit sponge pudding.
Another great alternative is to use frozen berries, which keep for longer and are easily added into any recipe calling for fresh berries. Try this chocolate and raspberry swiss roll for yourself and see how delicious frozen berries can be.
Seasonal fruit is a great alternative to berries, like in this autumn fruit sponge pudding
Spices
Swap saffron for turmeric.
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, and while it adds a beautiful colour to paella and aioli, its subtle flavourings don’t always justify the expensive price tag.
Turmeric will give a similar golden glow to your cooking while benefiting your health, like in this tumeric and coconut poached barramundi
It is more potent than saffron, though; add a little less to avoid overpowering the other flavours.
Turmeric will give a similar golden glow to your cooking as saffron, without the price tag.
Avocado
Swap avocado for hummus.
Alas, avocados have gone the same way as the sun – not to be enjoyed again until summer. The ones that have lingered around the supermarket shelves are so expensive you practically need to take out a mortgage to proceed to the check out.
A cheap, delicious and equally healthy alternative is hummus. Spread on your toast, dipped with veggie sticks or added to a sandwich, hummus is a great substitute to tide you over during the unfortunate avocado drought.
But if you’re really missing the green goodness of avo, this peas and white bean mash looks just as green and creamy as the real deal, and it tastes pretty good too.
A cheap, delicious and equally healthy alternative to avocado is hummus
Chicken
Swap chicken breast for chicken thigh.
Don’t be afraid to make this swap; it really is a lot easier than you think.
Chicken thighs actually have a lot more flavour when cooked on the bone, but if you’re not quite ready to give up the bone-less life, slicing it out before cooking takes no time at all. This classic sweet and sour chicken is a tasty, easy example of how you can use budget-friendly chicken thighs.
And at half the price, who could resist that saving?
Swap chicken breast for thighs, like in this classic sweet and sour chicken.
Capsicums
While it’s not strictly cheaper to plump for marinated capsicums over the fresh variety, a jar of the latter will keep for a significantly longer period of time.
Plus, the marinade adds an extra hit of flavour, so you can actually end up using less in the cooking process.
Stick to the fresh produce for salads, but when cooking, try swapping in the marinated versions for something a little different. Try making your own marinated mixed vegetables.
By Deirdre Fogarty
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