Cheap meals for fussy partner

[PrizePeach]

I really enjoy cooking but am finding cooking for my new partner a challenge!

He's a big active guy and eats larger portions, he likes to eat meat with every meal and admits himself that he is a fussy eater. He doesn't like any crisp textured vegetables (peppers etc need to be well cooked), doesn't like tomatoes or most dishes cooked with a tomato based sauce or like any condiments in general. He also doesn't eat any strongly flavoured cheeses so no stilton, goats or soft cheeses, also olives or extra virgin olive oil. He doesn't eat any type of bean, pulse or lentil either. So basically a real meat and potatoes situation.

He often cooks for me as he knows he's fussy but I'd really like to cook for him too!

Can anyone please give me some inspiration for meals that are cheap ( I'm on a tight budget), filling and delicious?!

Examples of meals I've made are chicken and veg fried noodles, fajitas, carbonara, meatballs with pasta but made with half tomato sauce half gravy, harissa chicken tray bake with cous cous and beef stew and potatoes.

What does he cook for you? Cook that?

I'd cook pork chops and serve with roast potatoes and veg. I cook pork chops in a bit of stock for an hour on low.

Would he eat curry?
Homemade hamburgers?
Stew?

Fish?

A few ideas…thinking about budget friendly meat based meals, perhaps mince or sausage;
Cottage pie
Giant Yorkshire pudding with savoury mince
Toad in the hole
Homemade sausage rolls
Good luck !

Is he allergic to lentils? If you hide them in the mince they help bulk it out a bit for a lasagne.

NeesAndToes that's what I've been doing so far

@Pegasussnail pork chops sound good thank you. I have done burgers for him before and he literally has just a beef patty in a bun with chips I guess for me it feels a but grim but I suppose if he likes it that's what matters. Yes he will eat curries and stew would appreciate any good recipes!

@NeesAndToes forgot to mention he doesn't eat fish at all. No allergies to lentils or anything else just very sensitive to mouth feel/texture of foods and I'd rather not make him throw up haha

@Oceancreature I forgot all about toad in the hole! definitely going on the list along with cottage pie and homemade sausage rolls, thank you!

Do you live together? Does he eat mince or does it NEED to be meat on the bone type thing? Mince is cheaper than whole cuts or meat and can be spread farther with hidden veg! I agree with finding out what does eat and tweaking it a bit. Just because he likes meat, doesnt mean it should be the focus of every, single meal!
TBH- how would he know if you'd used extra virgin olive oil, or just olive oil, or sunflower oil in a recipe???

• chilli con carne

• baked potatoes are cheap and filling. chilli con carne on top or tuna/sweet corn and mayonnaise coldslaw (maybe too crunchy for him?) or my favourite is bacon/pineapple/spring onions and cheese. I'd normally make up 2 or 3 of the above so you can have a different topping on each potato

• San choy bow. A chinese inpired mince meat in a salad cup. It can be made with pork, turkey or chicken mince which is cheaper than beef.

www.recipetineats.com/san-choy-bow-chinese-lettuce-wraps/

• Pasta bakes using tuna, salmon or bacon and instead of a tomato based sauce, use a creamy one

• Bacon/egg quiche with salad for the summer. You could serve with chicken drumsticks or wings if you NEED more meat

• Beef cheeks and oxtail make delicious stews, are filling, hearty and meaty. The meat is also cheaper that steak or chops!

• Chicken supreme type meal. Instead of whole chicken breast, I'd use chicken thighs which are cheaper and more flavoursome and chop into smaller pieces. Then bulk out with whatever veg he does eat.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/chicken_supreme_38559

Shepherd's pie
Grilled chicken and rice
Fish pie
Lamb chops and mash
Stovies
Sausage casserole
Beef stroganoff
Kebabs
Steamed fish and potatoes
Lamb/beef/pork/turkey meatballs

Sorry, cross post about him not eating fish!

• Sausages and mash, plus other veg

• would he eat shepherds pie or too tomatoey?

Bangers and mash
Gammon, colcannon and gravy
Giant yorkshires with roast beef, spuds and veg/gravy
Lancashire hotpot
Beef chilli with rice
Teryaki chicken stir fry with noodles

Fry up, sausage bacon mushroom Black pudding burger eggs chips

Christ leave him to sort his own meals out. I really couldn’t be arsed with this amount of fussiness from a grown man. Really unattractive trait.

I’m assuming he managed to feed himself before meeting you?

Does he ever cook for you?

Sausage mash and onion gravy
Sausage casserole (or pork or chicken etc)
Mince and tatties

Beef in beer or beef bourguignon would be cheap with rump steak ( classic Delia Smith recipes )
Chicken thighs cooked with chorizo and whatever veggies he’ll eat. ( use a stock not tomatoes and cook like a casserole)
Sausages and / or pork chops cooked with cider and root vegetables ( I use a Hugh Fearnly Whittinstall recipe)
Singapore noodles
Pad Thai
Burritos
Chilli
Ramen?

How I make stew is beef chunks, onion, carrot and a packet of oxtail soup on low in a slow cooker for 8 hours. Parsnips add a lovely sweetness.

@Hairyfriend wow lots of inspo I can use here thank you I love the sound of the san choy bow!!!

he claims he can taste when extra virgin olive oil has been used

@DebiNewberry1997 never heard of stovies before will definitely give it a try, thanks for the other ideas too

@sadpapercourtesan lancashire hot pot sounds delicious and I've never made one before, thanks.

@BigFatLiar I love black pudding so this could be a win!

@PrizePeach

Stovies are the bomb. I generally use sliced potatoes , leftover roast meat and gravy. You get recipes with corned beef and mash though.

My dad was like this, only wanted simple meat and 2 veg type meals.

Pork ribs roasted in the oven with jacket potato and corn on the cob
Gammon steak with pineapple ring or a fried egg on top and chips
Full English breakfast for dinner
Roasted chicken legs with boiled new potatoes, carrots and peas
Casserole with fresh crusty bread and a thick spreading of real butter

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy we don't live together and he cooks for me regularly, buys takeaways and takes me out for meals as he is well aware he is a pain with food but he's willing to do something about it so he's not all bad!

I love the man and would like to cook him food he can enjoy too