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An Australian mum has revealed exactly how she makes 20 dinners a week for less than $5 per person during the cost of living crisis – and it all comes down to one trick.
Jen Hanlon, from Hunter Valley, New South Wales, shared that she mainly shops at Aldi due to the low prices and good quality ingredients.
The 39-year-old mom recently challenged herself to make five meals for under $100, and her total bill only came to $93.07.
Jen was able to prepare meals with Butter Chicken and Rice, Dumpling Soup, Mexican Rice with Beef and Cheese, Steak and Broccoli with Mash, and Chicken Rosol for the week.
“With some of these you can produce a lot of food and you can easily feed six,” he said in a video.
An Australian mum has revealed exactly how she makes twenty dinners a week for less than $5 per person during the cost of living crisis.
The mother admitted that some of her recipes would use pantry staples such as salt and pepper, oil, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce.
However, he bought broth powder, tomato paste, and jarred garlic along with the rest of his ingredients.
In total, he bought: celery, zucchini, a bag of carrots, a head of broccoli, 2 kg of potatoes, two packages of pak choy, 1 kg of brown onions, a leek, as well as parsley and dill.
He also bought grated cheese, 2kg of chicken thighs, two chicken breasts and 1.8kg of minced meat, frozen pork and ginger meatballs, 500g of pasta spirals and a 1kg bag of rice.
Jen added canned foods like diced tomatoes, coconut milk, butter chicken base, tomato paste, minced garlic, chicken broth, and beef broth powder.
Jen uses Aldi’s Butter Chicken Recipe Pack because it’s only $3.99
How to make butter chicken on a budget?
‘I used Aldi’s butter chicken recipe pack for this one! At $3.99 each, it’s pretty good,” Jen said.
“I just cook this according to package directions, but I add a little garlic and onion powder to season my chicken when I add it to the pan.”
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts cut into small pieces
1 red onion chopped
1 carrot cut into cubes
1 package butter chicken recipe
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
400ml coconut milk (optional)
2 cups of rice
Parsley to decorate (optional)
Method:
Drizzle oil into a hot pan and cook the onion until softened before adding the diced carrot.
Add the herbs and seasoned chicken, but wait for it to cook before mixing it into the curry paste packet.
Stir and let it simmer for a few minutes before adding the base sauce packet.
Jen recommends adding coconut milk to butter chicken for a creamy flavor.
‘Then taste it, garnish with parsley and serve over rice.’ said the chef of the house.
Jen loves dumpling soup because it’s a ‘quick and easy one-pot meal’ she can make
How to make dumpling soup for $5 a serving?
Jen loves dumpling soup because it’s a “quick and easy mid-week meal” she can make.
Ingredients:
1 package frozen pork dumplings
1 carrot cut into thin sticks
1 red onion chopped
6 cups chicken broth
2 chopped chives
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon chopped ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 bunches baby bok choy
Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
In a pot add oil and cook the garlic, ginger, carrot, and the whites of the chives and cook for two minutes.
Add the broth and soy sauce, then bring to a boil before adding the dumplings and bok choy.
Let the soup simmer until the meatballs are cooked and tender.
Jen’s cheap beef curry and broccoli and mash recipe is a delicious winter warmer
Cheap Beef Curry and Broccoli Mash Recipe
“You could make this as salted mince, but I like to add curry powder,” Jen said.
Top chef Robbie Bell also previously revealed his secret to making the perfect mashed potatoes.
Ingredients:
500-750 g minced meat
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets
Broccoli stem cut into thin slices
1 kilo of potatoes
1 red onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1-2 tablespoons curry powder
Milk and butter for puree
½ cup beef broth
Method:
Add the chopped onion to a pan of hot oil and cook for a few minutes before adding the chopped garlic.
Add the tomato paste and curry powder before adding the minced meat.
Cook the meat until browned and then pour in the meat broth.
“Test the flavor, adjust the curry powder if necessary, and then add salt and pepper to taste,” Jen advised.
Then, add the broccoli and lower the heat to a simmer.
Once you are happy with the texture, you can serve the minced meat over the mashed potatoes.
Australian mom shared a recipe for Mexican rice with meat and cheese on a budget
Mom’s recipe for Mexican rice with meat and cheese and on a low budget
‘This is perfect for burrito filling or even enchilada filling if you don’t add cheese on top!’ Jen said.
“Just add some cheese to the mixture after the rice is cooked (for enchiladas).”
Ingredients:
1 red onion
1 zucchini cut into cubes
500 g minced meat
1.5 cups beef broth
1 cup of rice
1 cup mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 can of tomatoes
1 tablespoon mixed herbs
Method:
Preheat your oven to 180C while you cook the onion and garlic on the stove.
Add the tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce to the pot, then add the minced meat and cook until browned.
Place in the diced zucchini, canned tomatoes, beef broth and rice before boiling.
Cover the pot and let it cook for 20-22 minutes on the stove.
Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and stir.
“Top it with cheese and place it in the oven for about ten minutes or until the cheese is melted to your liking,” Jen said.
‘Then garnish with parsley and serve!’
