Frugal living can sometimes mean great tasting food. Here are my three favourite recipes that will feed 6 people well for under or about £1.00 (less than $2.00)
Soul Food
This is an old student staple! Fry an onion in a little oil, add sufficient rice for everyone, and a tin of tomatoes. Add extra water to cover the rice by the width of your index finger. Add apices to taste, we use mixed herbs, chilli and black pepper usually. Bring to the boil, cover and turn off the heat. When the rice has cooked, add a tin of tuna, or for a vegetarian version an ounce of cheese. Stir and serve. Its really filling and everyone loves it. If you have any extra vegetables like mushrooms to hand, those go well in it too.
Dahl
There are lots of ways to make dahl, this is a quick and simple way that is very cheap. Soften 2 chopped onions and some garlic in vegetable oil and add curry spices. It's nicest if you blend your own, but if you have paste or powder that works too. Add 2 cups of lentils (any kind) and enough water to cover. A vegetable stock cube is an optional extra. Cook slowly, stirring frequently until the lentils fall apart giving a thick creamy dahl. A little lemon juice finishes it well if you have it to hand. Serve with rice or bread.
Vegetable Pasta Bake
Cook plenty of pasta until it is barely cooked. Separately fry an onion and some garlic and add a tin of tomatoes. Cook this out into a sauce, adding plenty of herbs and pepper. Chop a couple of mushrooms or a courgette or some green beans and add to the sauce, just a few vegetables adds texture and interest. Stir in the pasta, tip into an oven dish and sprinkle a tiny bit of cheese on top. Pop in the oven until the top browns and the vegetables have cooked. Enjoy!
