The Cheapest Healthy Meal Ever!

moanymoany

I suddenly remembered this soup and logged back on to put in here. It is from the 'Covent Garden ' soup book and they say it is a Valentina Harris Italian recipe. I've made it exactly to the recipe but this quick version is nearly as good and much easier.

Florentine Bean Soup - 2 BIG helpings
1 can of value red kidney beans including the liquid
1 large onion peeled and chopped small
2 carrots chopped small
1 chopped garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon of yeast extract (I use Tesco's)
1 pint of water
1 tomato - chopped
about 2 mugs of dark green cabbage leaves, greens or any cabbage finely chopped (goes in last)

If you have it
1 celery stalk - chopped
small or half large leek - chopped

Most ingredients can be bought as value, it is cheap.

Into a large pan put all ingredients but NOT the cabbage. Bring to boil and simmer for 1/2 hour. Check the veg is soft.

Take out one cupful of the veg mix and blend the rest (I use a hand held cheapo blender) or mash with spud masher or fork. Put the cupful back stir and taste. Season to how you like it with yeast extract, stock cube or salt. If too strong a taste for you add some water. Add the cabbage and simmer for 10 mins. Serve with bread or pour over a jacket spud.

Beans and cabbage can be a bit antisocial, but it is lovely.

I am doing the layered potato, onion etc stuff tonight with home made beefburgers.

Love this thread.:rotfl:

sharonr

These sound good, but my OH can't eat dairy, wheat or rice amongst other things. You can get fake cheese but it's expensive!

Are there any other "restricted diet" people out there with any ideas? I haven't really got any money left for food or anything this month as I'm on maternity leave and very skint now Christmas is over so would really appreciate some feedback.

One I used to do was quite similar, sliced potatoes followed by a layer of sausagemeat (if you can bear the cheap stuff in a tube!), sliced onion, another layer of pototo and grated cheese on top. Bake until cooked. Fabulous and very cheap, I miss it!

calm2

Got this really cheap, lazy soup recipe from a Weightwatchers meeting.
Take 1 tin each of tomatoes, baked beans and carrots. Empty all of contents into saucepan (don't drain), heat and blend. Season to taste and eat with bread.
My daughter lived on this for 3 years at Uni but now never wants to eat it again!

newlywed

Mum always used to do a layer of rice in a greased casserole dish. Layer of sliced onion, layer of sliced potato. Pour stock over up to the level of the potato and cook in the oven till all the stock is gone (more or less) and all cooked. Cheap and yum with gravy poured over.

jojo3_2

I've done this layered dish using leftover slices of any cooked joint.
layer 1 - meat and branston pickle or similar
layer 2 - onions
layer 3 - sliced potato, marg/butter dotted on plus seasoning.
Cook for ages. Eat. Lovely!

Jennie_2

Hi everyone,

After months and months of reading herewith my first posting:j

I just wanted to say a big heartfelt "thank you" for all the scrummy recipes! I can't wait to try them out over the next few days!!

I will endeavour to try and make sense of my own "bitsa" recipes and post them here. That's the trouble when you make it up as you go along...

Thanks again everyone!

Jen :wave:

samsampotts

Hello all!

This may be a bit late to use up leftover turkey (unless you've frozen it) but you can use any leftover meat really and its a really cheap and tasty dish. I usually have it with a jacket spud or some rice. Chilli mixes are often on 3 for 2 offers and such like which makes it even cheaper!

Mexicano Turkey (serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cooking oil
225g (8oz) onions, peeled and sliced
335g (12oz) cold, cooked turkey, cut into chunks
1 packet of Chilli Con Carne mix
1 tin chopped tomatoes
1 tin baked beans
¼ pint (142ml) stock
¼ pint (142ml) natural yoghurt (optional)

Method:

Fry the onions in the oil until soft. Stir in all the remaining ingredients except the yoghurt. Bring to the boil then cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes. The yoghurt can be swirled in at the end of cooking if you want a less spicy dish. Serve with jacket potatoes, crusty bread or rice, what could be simpler?

esthomizzy

Fantastic thread. I've meal planned for this week already but I can see a lot of layer food on the cards for next week. Thank you everyone

I_Keepgettinglockedoutof

Buying Bacon Bits should keep costs down even more.


I am a vegan (allergic to cheese and dairy and tomatoes) so am wondering what to use as substitutes. soya mince with some other veg might work!
Though for me potatoes and onions would be delicious, maybe using soya mince with some chilli powder!!!!! Even Hubby might eat it!
will try it on Saturday and post back results for any other vegans in same boat as me!
Happy New Year.
Debt free except for Mortgage which is Husbands responsibility though my name is on it too!!

spanielsmum

newlywed wrote:

Mum always used to do a layer of rice in a greased casserole dish. Layer of sliced onion, layer of sliced potato. Pour stock over up to the level of the potato and cook in the oven till all the stock is gone (more or less) and all cooked. Cheap and yum with gravy poured over.

Is the rice precooked or raw? This would be ideal on a slimming World green day....all free food, just a fraction of a syn for the stock cube.:T