All posts tagged: coconut milk

Chickpea and Aubergine Curry, 66p

Published by Jack

I love a rendang curry – the first time I ever made it, it was with slow roasted pork belly, finely sliced and slowly cooked in the sweet, sour, spicy sauce. It was so rich, so flavoursome, so fulsome and delightful, that I dared not attempt to recreate it again for many years. And then, moving my office (sounds fancy, it is also my dining room and general crap storage area), I came across a pile of old recipe notebooks, and started to pore through them in that classic way of procrastinating my any means possible. I found my pork belly rendang recipe, and scribbled down the component ingredients for the paste and sauce. I contemplated making it with jackfruit instead, but I decided to save that can for another day, and opted for slow-cooked creamy chickpeas and thinly sliced, meaty aubergine instead. Mrs J declared it one of the finest meals I had ever cooked – she says that a lot, so either my cookery improves on a daily basis, or she knows how …

South Indian Inspired Egg Curry, 57p

Published by Jack

This recipe is based on one I have eaten many times at a South Indian restaurant in my hometown of Southend on Sea. I have tweaked it a little, to simplify it, while trying to maintain the baseline of the original. I try not to tinker with other cuisines too much if I can help it – I did when I first started out as a food writer, I was young and more naive than I am now, and less tuned in to the politics of food outside of my own topics of poverty and austerity. This isn’t a conversation for now, as I am still trying to pin down my thoughts on the complexities of appropriation with regards to recipe writing – and I hope that my work falls on the right side of appreciation rather than riding roughshod over culturally important treasures. An essay for another time, however. For now, here’s my take on a South Indian inspired egg curry – for a more authentic recipe, I recommend you check out Swasthi Shreekanth’s …

Ping Porridge, 3p [Cooking On A Bootstrap]

Published by Jack

Ping porridge is so called because it can be made in a microwave, on the move, and is perfect in its portability. Grab a Tupperware-style container with a lid, a permanent marker and some oats, and you’re good to go. The adornments and accoutrements from there on are on are up to you. I find a taller container better for this, for accuracy, but if you don’t mind using a squat takeaway carton or similar, use whatever you prefer. I like to add apple and ground cinnamon to mine in the colder months, or grated dark chocolate and a few frozen berries, or tinned pears. Have fun with it – use it as a base and play with it as much or as little as you like. Serves 1, from 3p. This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All prices correct at …

Mushroom Mac ‘n’ Cheese, 42p [from ‘Veganish’]

Published by Jack

This is one of my favourite comfort meals, quick to assemble, using ingredients that I generally have kicking about the house, and can just be slung in the oven and forgotten about, left to slowly pull itself together in a haze of blissful creamy soft salty rich glorious goodness. I’ve just polished off my second bowl of it, and frankly, it’s too good not to share with you all, so here it is. It’s easy to make it vegan – replace the hard strong cheese and mozzarella with Violife or something similar, and the milk with coconut or almond or soya milk, depending on what you prefer. It’s easy to throw together, and the reward of a deep bowl of melting goodness far outweighs the minimal effort involved in making it. I consider this an essential part of my repertoire these days, and barely a week goes by without it. It freezes beautifully, too, so do double the recipe and sling some of it to one side for a lazy day. Serves three people, or …

Slow Cooker Bread, 2p

Published by Jack

I have been asked for this recipe incessantly on my social media since I started to make it a few days ago, so I made time today to sit down and type it up for my lovely, loyal readers. I hope you enjoy it – I am really loving my slow cooker adventures so far! Many of you have asked me if there is a slow cooker book in the pipeline; I am busy finalising Tin Can Cook at the moment and have started writing the Vegan one, but I always have my feelers out for what my next project is going to be, so if a slow cooker book would be of interest, do leave a comment below and let me know! Each compartment of my triple slow cooker is 1.3l, so to make matters simple, and after a little trial and error, I worked out that the optimum amount of flour to make a really good bread in it, is 260g. I started at 350g, and upon seeing how splendidly it rose, reduced …

Toad In The Hole, 18p

Published by Jack

A comforting classic that can be made easily with vegetarian sausages, if you like. My Small Boy loves this for his dinner, and so did I when I was his age! And now he makes it himself 🙂 Serves 4-6 from 18p each. (This post is not sponsored; I may earn a small commission if you click the links and purchase any products.) 25g butter or 2 tbsp cooking oil, 3p (£1.10/1l) 400g sausages, 70p (£1.19/681g) 100g plain flour, 3p (45p/1.5kg) pinch of salt, <1p 1 egg, 15p (89p/6 free range) 300ml milk, 17p (55p/1l) First grab a roasting dish, around 10 inches by 12 inches, or a deep round cake tin will do the same job. Pop the butter or oil, and sausages, into the tin. Cook at 200C for around 10 minutes, giving the tin a jostle halfway through to make sure they cook evenly. While the sausages are cooking, get a mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt and the egg, and half the milk. Beat them together to form a smooth batter. …

Nigella’s Lentil & Chestnut Soup, 48p

Published by Jack

This recipe is adapted from ‘How To Eat’ by Nigella Lawson, who in turn adapted it from ‘an aromatic, velvety, manilla-coloured soup at Le Caprice’ in the late 1980s. The bootstrap adjustments and pricing are my own. The original recipe includes half a leek, which I have omitted out of laziness; I didn’t have one in and didn’t want to take a trip to the shop especially, but if you want to stick more closely to the original, slice it and add it at the same time as the onion. If chestnuts are a step too far outside of your comfort zone, replace with peanut butter instead; this variation benefits from a hefty whack of chilli and lemon, turning it into an entirely different meal, but a delicious one. Serves 4-6 from 48p each. This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All …

Corn Muffins, 8p [Cooking On A Bootstrap]

Published by Jack

Not quite cornbread in the traditional sense, these joyous little bursts of bready sweetness are ideal for mopping up a chilli, topping with an egg and some greens for a speedy brunch, or packing in a picnic or lunchbox. I like to double the batch and pop some in the freezer for a lazy day. MAKES 8 GENEROUS MUFFINS from 8p each . This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. 50g softened butter or baking block, diced, or 50ml oil (if you’re totally brassic), plus extra for greasing, 11p (55p/250g) 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting, 8p (45p/1.5kg) ½ tsp salt, 1p (27p/750g) 2 tsp baking powder, 4p (£1.40/170g) 50g granulated sugar, 3p (69p/1kg) ¼ tsp chilli flakes or 2 pinches of cayenne pepper, <1p 70g tinned or …

Berry Bircher Pot, 24p [A Year In 120 Recipes]

Published by Jack

I made this imitation of a breakfast pot I saw in a high-street coffee shop, then worked out that it had cost me a sixth of the price it was selling for on the high street! I included a seeds-and-fruit adornment in homage to the original, and it works well with any mixture of dried fruit and nuts you have at your disposal, but if you don’t have any, that’s fine too, it’s just for show really. You can defrost the mixed berries by giving them a quick spritz under the cold tap. Serves 2 from 24p each – they look small but they’re incredibly filling! This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. 60g porridge oats, 5p (75p/1kg) 200g natural yoghurt, 16p (80p/1kg) 200ml milk, 11p (55p/1l) 50g frozen …

Peanut Butter Bread, 17p [A Year In 120 Recipes]

Published by Jack

I’m a massive fan of the humble peanut butter – almost obsessive, in fact. I’ve smuggled it into a sauce for chicken, celebrated it in a frozen yoghurt, and paired it with jam for cutesy thumbprint cookies. Now it’s peanut butter bread. A favourite in my household, it’s great toasted with butter or jam, dunked into soups, or eaten warm and cakey with a dollop of custard … Serves 6 from 17p each. This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. 60g baking block or butter, plus a little extra for greasing, 13p (55p/250g) 300g flour, 9p (45p/1.5kg) 1 tablespoon baking powder, 12p (£1.40/170g) 120g sugar, 8p (69p/1kg) 150g peanut butter, 31p (70p/340g) 250ml milk, 14p (55p/1l) 1 egg, 15p (89p/6 free range eggs) Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. …

Fluffy Berry Pancakes, 41p [Cooking On A Bootstrap]

Published by Jack

These are a favourite of my Small Boy, and something of a lazy Sunday morning tradition. We pop to the shop with our coats on over our pyjamas, grab a newspaper for me and a comic for him, and loaf around with all the breakfast we can possibly manage, reading, chatting and making up for a week of hastily bolted porridge and cartons of juice on the run to school. Breakfast rolls into lunch, into walks, into movies, into catching up with friends, but a Sunday isn’t a Sunday without a pancake in our house. Vegan readers, you can replace eggs with 2 over-ripe mashed bananas, and butter with a little oil. This recipe is easily multiplied for larger crowds, in which case pop a couple of baking trays in the oven as it preheats to around 140 ° C/ 275 ° F/ gas 1, and use them to keep the pancakes warm as you cook. It’s no fun being the person with the cold pancakes at the breakfast table. SERVES 2 from 41p each. …

Mac n Blue Cheese With Bacon, 54p

Published by Jack

This is an idea that has been kicking around in my head for a long time; combining the soft salty kick of a blue cheese sauce with a classic mac n cheese recipe. I made it for my colleagues for lunch today, and it went down an absolute storm. Simple, classy, comforting – and sure to become a quick staple for feeding a crowd. Veggie readers; replace the bacon with mushrooms tossed in a little paprika. Vegan readers, this ‘free from’ blue cheese and any plant milk of your choice would work here. Serves 4 from 54p each. This post is not sponsored; I provide links to the ingredients that I use so you can see how I calculate my recipe costs, and I may earn a small commission if you click the links or purchase any ingredients. All prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change. 3 tbsp butter or soft spread, 3p (75p/500g) 300g macaroni or other pasta, 29p (95p/1kg) 2 tbsp flour, 3p (45p/1.5kg) 500ml milk, 24p (£1.09/4 …

Humble Pie, 32p

Published by Jack

This is a very simple recipe for days when you really need some kind of warm comfort, but you’re absolutely flat broke and a bit….spent. It can be customised to use whatever you have in the cupboard; I happened to have tofu in at the time of testing this one, which you can see in the photo, and it wasn’t my fave iteration if I’m honest. Any cooked meat or a can of beans or a pile of mushrooms will do. A pie is a pie is a pie, at the end of the day. I am rather fastidious about the use of the term ‘pie’; it needs to have walls, a base and a lid in order to qualify, but if you are in a hurry, or less pernickety, a casserole-with-a-hat will just about pass muster. Making your own pastry is simple, you can dip a toe in with this for 75p/450g, or pick up a bag of flour for 45p/1.5kg and find a good recipe to make your own. But I shan’t pretend …

Mac n Swede, 19p

Published by Jack

The humble swede is a much misunderstood vegetable, and one I can truly empathise with. Misshapen, lumpy, outwardly tough, slightly bitter and difficult to get under the skin of, but once you get inside, it’s soft, delicate, sweet and surprisingly versatile. Asda have them for 20p each at the moment, and as the author of an ultra low budget cookery website, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up really getting to know the inscrutable rutabega once and for all. The cheese in this recipe can be substituted for any vegan cheese of your choice – I didn’t have any to hand, and am not going to pretend otherwise. (I made myself a separate cheese-free portion but my 8 year old would not have touched it without the cheesy element, and parenting is challenging enough at times without fighting over liquidised root vegetables). Can be made gluten free by using GF pasta of your choice. Serves 4 at 19p each 1 large swede, 20p (20p each, Asda) 2 tbsp cooking oil, 3p (98p/1l, Asda) …

Red Mushroom Curry, 40p

Published by Jack

This hot spicy little number is a favourite in my household for dealing with the dreaded cold and flu, or when feeling a little run down. The combination of garlic, ginger, chilli, tomatoes and a kick of citrus is a feisty relief for the symptoms of even the most grim winter germs. I make a double batch of the paste and pop it in the freezer for future use. Of course, you can use a jar of shop-bought curry paste too, if you are feeling really rough; I’ve been there and I absolutely sympathise. I blitz mine in a blender to get the paste super smooth, but it’s not essential, you can just throw it all in a pan for a similar effect, just with a little extra texture, which is fine. Serves 2-4 from 40p each 1 large onion, 9p (90p/1.5kg, Sainsburys Basics) 4 cloves of garlic, 6p (35p/2 bulbs of garlic, Sainsburys Basics) A small piece of ginger, 3p (30p/100g loose ginger, Sainsburys) ¼ tsp red chilli flakes, 1p (80p/100g, Natco or KTC …