Travelling can be expensive, especially if you find yourself eating out a lot. But cooking tasty meals doesn’t have to break the bank – why not use your self-catering facilities at your hostel and cook you and your fellow travellers a budget-friendly meal? To make it easier for you, we’ve listed some tasty cheap meal ideas which will save you some pennies.
Chicken and avocado pittas
Cheap meal ideas don’t have to be beans or cheese on toast. This tasty cheap meal idea is bound to get people talking in the kitchen. There are four key ingredients: chicken, avocado, grated cheese and pitta bread. The rest is up to you – add spices and sauces as you please. Nice and easy but nevertheless delicious.
Tortilla pizza
You can’t go wrong with pizza, and this cheat means that it’s easy and cheap to cook. Use tortillas instead of dough for your base, and top with grated cheese and tomato puree. It only takes 20 minutes to cook and you can add whatever toppings you fancy. Do you prefer pineapple or pepperoni on top? A great cheap meal idea to cook up in our self-catering kitchens.
Avocado, chorizo and egg
How do you like your eggs in the morning? I like mine baked in an avocado. Cut your avocado in half and remove the stone and some of the avocado, to create a hole where you can crack your egg into. Sprinkle a little grated cheese on top, and some diced chorizo and bake in the oven for 15 minutes until your cheese is golden. A cracking cheap meal idea if you’re on a budget.
Sausage stir fry
You’ll be sure to create a stir when you cook up this dish. You will need two sausages, one garlic clove, a handful of green peppers, a handful of sliced red onion, a handful of bean sprouts, soy sauce, and a teaspoon of oil. Chop up your sausage and add it to a frying pan on low heat with the oil and garlic. Once the sausage starts to turn brown, add the mixed vegetables and soy sauce and fry for 5-10 minutes. One of the most flavoursome and hearty cheap meal ideas that will leave you feeling full.
Tuna pasta bake
So maybe it’s not that imaginative, but it’s always a winner, and it’s great if you’re cooking for a crowd. Measurements will vary depending on how much you want to make, but the key ingredients are pasta shells of your choice, butter, flour, milk, cheese and tuna. Add sweetcorn or red onion in if you like the added crunch. Once you’ve made your sauce, add to cooked pasta and your tuna and bake in a dish for 20 minutes until the cheese on top has browned. You can’t go wrong with pasta bake- it’s one of our favourite cheap meal ideas, especially for the little ones.
Minute microwave mug brownie
Room for dessert? Of course, the option is a microwave mug brownie. Cheap and easy to make, this recipe will hit that sweet spot after your main meal. For one portion, you’ll need 4 tbsp of flour, 3 tbsp of sugar, 2 tbsp of cocoa powder, 2 tbsp melted butter and 2 tbsp of milk. Whisk all the brownie ingredients in your mug with a fork and heat in the microwave for approximately 2 minutes. Add ice-cream or cream to the top and enjoy. It’s a crowd pleaser!
Here are three quick, easy and healthy Springtime recipes, with vegetarian and vegan alternatives to cook up in our hostel’s self-catering kitchens. Enjoy!
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