Amanda’s budget-friendly fakeaways for your family
When time is getting away with you, but you don’t want to settle for a takeaway, try these affordable, healthier alternatives.
They’re convenient and delicious, but the cost of takeaway meals can blow out the weekly food budget – and your diet. These clever fakeaways are the answer to those food cravings. We’ve got healthier burgers and souvlaki, as well as easy pad thai and classic sushi. Best of all, they’ll feed a family of four for under $5 per serve!
“I love to cook at home, but, like most people, there are times when I’m short on time and energy, especially after a big day at work. That’s when I’m most likely to succumb to the temptation of fast food. Of course, that’s fine occasionally – we all deserve a break and a treat! – but there are plenty of ways to dish up an alternative that’s just as good as takeaway. By tweaking a few ingredients and following some simple recipes, you can rustle up fakeaways that will keep the whole family happy and healthy, and your budget on track. Here are some of my favourites.”
- Amanda.
01
Tuna & avocado sushi
This fakeaway recipe could leave you with more time on your hands than you’d expect – it won’t take much to persuade the kids to do some sushi-rolling! I find the trick to these simple sushi rolls is to have all the ingredients prepped and ready to go once the rice has cooled down. Add the vinegar mixture to the rice in stages to get the consistency right; the rice needs to be sticky enough to hold together, but not too gluggy. Have some fun and get the kids involved, too!
02
Healthier burgers
Wholemeal bread rolls, lean beef mince and some hidden grated carrot and onion to ramp up the veggies, and you’ve got some fabulous burgers. Not only that, but they take 20 minutes from start to finish – quicker than reading a menu! I often serve these with sweet potato chips, but they’re great on their own stacked with lettuce, tomato, red onion and a bit of juicy beetroot.
03
Spicy popcorn chicken
Is there anything better than relaxing in front of the TV with a bowl of crunchy bite-sized snacks? This easy, budget-friendly version of a takeaway favourite, popcorn chicken, will be ready by the time the family’s finished arguing over whose turn it is to be in charge of the TV remote. You can reduce the amount of chilli heat in the dipping sauce by swapping the ¼ cup of sriracha with tomato sauce. It’ll still taste great and have a lovely rosy colour.
04
Easy pad thai
Pad thai is always a winner in our household, and this fakeaway version is much easier to make than you’d think. The trick to any stir-fry is to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to pop in the wok before you start cooking. Just line up all the items in the order you’ll be cooking them, and it’ll be a breeze. If you don’t have palm sugar, brown sugar makes a great substitute.
05
Healthier air-fryer fish & chips
There’s a reason we all love our air-fryers – they’re so versatile, and you need farless oil or other fats to cook food to crispy perfection. This recipe for healthier fish and chips is proof of the pudding. Adding chopped parsley and lemon zest to the breadcrumbs coating adds extra fresh, zingy flavour to the fish, and the sweet potato chips make a tasty change from regular fries. I also like to make a healthier tartare sauce to dollop on the fish and to dunk chips into. It only takes five minutes and tastes delicious.
06
Healthier souvlaki
Tender chargrilled lamb souvlaki with all the accompaniments is a takeaway classic. This version cuts down on the fat, but makes up for it big time in texture and flavour with Sweet Solanato® tomatoes, cucumber and fresh mint. It’s delicious just as it is, but I’ll often whip up some gluten-free quinoa tabouli to add as an extra topping to the wraps. It’s well worth the 10 minutes it takes to make.
07
Healthier satay chicken
Satay chicken rates highly on most people’s takeaway lists, so why not give this healthier version a try? It takes just 30 minutes to serve up, so it’s a no-brainer for weeknight dinners or a relaxed Sunday evening meal. Add some steamed rice and your favourite green veggies, and you’re done. To give it even more takeaway appeal, I’ll also often serve this with some easy healthier Thai fish cakes, too.
*The cost per serve is calculated by dividing the approximate cost of the ingredients (excluding ingredients marked as "extra to serve") by the number of serves in the recipe. Ingredient prices are based on standard shelf prices in NSW Woolworths Supermarkets as at [23/11/22]. Prices and products may vary by State and may not be available in all Supermarkets, Woolworths Metro, MetroGo, Woolworths Online (including Everyday Market) and Ampol Woolworths Metro. Where a specific brand is not listed for an ingredient, calculations are based on the price of the Woolworths own brand version of the ingredient or the next cheapest alternative.