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.

@Divebar2021 beef in beer sounds good! thanks for the other suggestions too

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo the pork ribs sound great will definitely have a search for a recipe, thanks.

Just thought of some others:

• A whole, roast chicken with veg. I get 3 meals out of this. Day 1 is the roast with veg and gravy. Day 2 chicken/lettuce sandwiches for lunch. I then turn the carcass and any remaining meat into either chicken soup, chicken noodle soup or my favourite is Chinese sweetcorn chicken soup. Its just like a chinese retaurant and really stretches the chicken out.

www.greedygourmet.com/recipes-for-diets/gluten-free/chinese-chicken-sweetcorn-soup/

• Turkey legs are much cheaper than steak and chops. I saw a Jamie Oliver show where he deboned and stuffed the leg. It looked impressive, and a turkey leg is about £2.50 and would feed 2 with veg. This isn't the recipe I wanted, but I liked the pic and gives you the idea of how impressive it can look! You could make your own stuffing with sausage mince, or just breadcrumbs and fresh herbs.

www.foodandwine.com/recipes/turkey-leg-roulade

• Would he eat lambs liver (very cheap), mash, onions, bacon and gravy?

• Haggis? Delicious and unless you told him what it was, tastes like a very savoury, tasty mince.

• Have you looked up cream based pastas?

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/creamy-pasta-recipes

Aldi sell meal kits and they are the cheapest I've found. Some places, a similar blue dragon kit is £3+, Aldi have them for £1.59! All of them I've tried are really tasty and handy for a quick meal- if you don't want to buy all the ingredients from scratch, they are so handy.

Each kit is supposed to serve 2 and IMO, a bit on the small side. I normally use 2 packs, make double and either freeze the rest or have left overs the next day. Their pad thai is lovely and their Thai curries are delicious too. They also do Indian curries. I tried their Goan curry last week. I can tolerate chilli to a high level but it was actually rather spicy! Its also tomato based for no good for your partner! I've made these with a single chicken breast chopped up and veg, or a small bag of prawns so they do stretch things out.

What about a chicken stew with jacket potatoes?

In terms of budget chicken thighs are a good bet. Good in a curry or simply pan fried with some herbs/garlic.

I'd also consider going "posh" on potatoes so things like hassleback potatoes and potato dauphinois.

Would he eat something like cauliflower cheese?

What about Swedish meatballs with mashed potato?

Or slow braised lamb shanks?

What about pies/pasty's? Just buy ready made pastry and they are really easy. Fill with chicken and ham or traditional Cornish, minced beef (or pretty much anything you like).

Would he like corned beef hash? Just par boil some diced potatoes. Add to a frying pan with cubes corned beef (you won't need fat as there is enough in the beef) . I add finely diced onion but you can omit. Cook until it gets "crispy" bits. Serve with a fried egg on top (it's one of DH's favourite meals).

Steak pie and mash.
Buy some tinned stewed steak and ready made pastry. Easy.

Baked potatoes