Cheap meals with what I've got in

[FaithLoveandHope]

Hi All,

Having a broke introduction to the year and therefore having to make do with mostly what's in my cupboard. Currently have numerous spices and then:
Half a pack dried chickpeas
Pack dried green lentils and pack dried red lentils
Pasta
Rice
Fajita pack (but nothing to put in)
Half a block of cheese
Jar of curry sauce
2 tins chopped tomatoes

Obviously I need to buy other things to go with it. I guess simple recipes with lentils / chickpeas would be good.

[LeotardoDaVinci]

Fried rice with some curry sauce (no need to use the whole jar on this) plus chickpeas. (and a tin of chopped tomatoes)

Dahl made with lentils

Pasta with grated cheese

[lavendersun]

I made something similar to this the other day, it was amazing and really filling. I used squash, sweet potato, carrots and spinach. Carrots and sweet potatoes are cheaper than squash and spinach, add some frozen peas perhaps?

www.thekitchn.com/slow-cooker-recipe-curried-vegetable-and-chickpea-stew-67520.

I made it on the hob.

I like lentil soup - just onion, lentils, stock and a herb/some garlic.

Make a tomato sauce with a tin of tomatoes, add garlic and oregano and just let it simmer on the hob - pasta with tomato sauce.

[FaithLoveandHope]

Thanks both, they're great ideas.
Leotardo the curry sauce idea is great!
lavendersun your curry sounds great too! Love a bit of curry :)

[mrspremise]

Chickpea Fajitas are really good, get them soaking now , cook them tomorrow and combine with the kit.

Baked Tomato Rice: Put 200g rice and a tin of chopped tomatoes in an ovenproof dish. Make a stock cube up to 600ml with water from the kettle. Use a little bit to rinse out the tomato tin and pour all the liquid into the dish. Stir well, then bake for 30 minutes at 190ºc. Scatter with grated cheese.

Red Lentil Dhal with rice (half pack of red lentils)

Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Cheese

Green Lentil Curry and Rice (half pack of green lentils)

Mixed Lentil Soup (remaining lentils)

[Pantah630]

Homemade falafels are delicious, I use a recipe from Honey & Co. Will look for a link for you.

[Pantah630]

here you go I use the Jerusalem one, best falafels ever

[LovelyFriend]

kale and lentil soup is one of my standards - and not just when I'm skint, it's delicious & very easy & you get greens too.

Soften 1 or 2 chopped onions (and garlic if you like) in some olive oil (or vege oil) in a large pot for a while.
Add half your pack of lentils (I like green or brown lentils for this), and some stock & simmer gently for 30 minutes or so until lentils are soft.

Add a bag of chopped kale (£1 or less), and the juice of a couple of lemons to taste. Salt, pepper etc. Cook for few more minutes and serve.

This will make quite a large pot of hearty soup, so plenty for 2 x 2 meals, or leftovers for lunch etc.

OPTIONS: you can also add the grated peel of unwaxed lemons for a more lemony taste.
Can make with chicken or veggie stock.

SERVE: add a slug of olive oil, or grated cheese or plain yogurt to serve, or just serve as is.

[lavendersun]

Wow, I love falafels - pantah, do you have to deep fry them? What about baking them in the oven sprayed with olive oil, do you reckon that would work. I don't do deep frying anything, the smell would make it that I didn't want to eat them afterwards.

Lovelyfriend, that is my sort of soup!

I made a tuscan bean/vegetable soup for dinner last night - so easy and cheap as the leeks and carrots needed using anyway - so a couple of leeks and carrots, chopped onion and garlic, tomato puree and tin of chopped tomatoes, tin of borlotti beans and a pint of stock. Fed three of us with two having double helpings with some bread from my bread maker.

[LovelyFriend]

yeah it's great - I really shouldn't describe it as "soup" as it really is a proper meal in a bowl. I usually eat if over 3 days :)

I made this with Puy lentils for the first time last night - which was delicious. I quite like lentils.
www.mynewroots.org/site/2010/06/the-best-lentil-salad-ever-2/

OP if you have lots of spices to hand then you can make it no prob.

[Pantah630]

lavender they are fried but only take a couple of minutes in the oil, done in batches takes about 10 mins tops. I don't have a deep fryer but just put a couple of inches of oil in my wok and fry them. Not sure if they'd work baked. I tried keftedes baked before Christmas for a family party and they weren't half as good as normal, i wouldn't usually fry either but these are very delicious.

[lavendersun]

Thanks Pantah, I can manage a bit of oil in my wok!

Do you use/need sunflower oil? I only buy rapeseed (by the big tin) and little bottles of olive and sesame for dressings.

[Pantah630]

Rapeseed would be fine, if you strain it afterwards you can reuse it too.

[PitPatKitKat]

Fry an onion/some garlic/a chopped pepper/chilli (if you have them) plus some spices add some red lentils and a tin of tomatoes plus some water, simmer. When they are tender and the sauce is reduced, stir in some grated cheese. Use either to fill fajitas or top with mash for a lentil shepherds pie.