10 Gourmet Meals Without The Restaurant Prices

Fine dining doesn't have to be extortionate.

1. Pea Risotto With Halibut, Chorizo, and Mint

Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine, author of FEASTING AT HOME / Via feastingathome.com

This delightful dish is a symphony of flavours upon your tongue and will no doubt make for very happy diners!

The recipe here calls for halibut, but any frozen white fish will work well, as well as prawns or scallops. Furthermore, keep costs down by using your trusty frozen peas as opposed to their fresh counterpart.

Find the recipe here.

2. Mustard-Crusted Salmon

Courtesy of Sylvia Fountaine, author of FEASTING AT HOME / Via feastingathome.com

Yes, salmon is not the cheapest of fish in the ocean, but buying frozen can dramatically reduce costs, without losing out on quality. Besides, the simple brush of mustard will rein back the price, without compromising on flavour. Served with your favourite vegetables, this meal is light, healthy, and tasty – perfect for a summer's evening.

Find the recipe here.

3. Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

Courtesy of 10th Kitchen / Via 10thkitchen.com

This delicious tart is sure to impress all those lucky enough to try it, without making a huge impression on your bank account. Delightful!

If goat's cheese is not quite to your taste, any other cheaper soft cheese, like mozzarella, will also go down a treat.

Lastly, though making homemade pastry costs virtually nothing, some of us out there may not have the necessary baking skills to achieve pastry perfection. If this is the case, fear not, for frozen pastry is only pennies more expensive but so, so, so, so, so, much easier.

Find the recipe here.

4. Chicken Tortilla Soup

Courtesy of 10th Kitchen / Via 10thkitchen.com

This gloriously simple recipe takes the everyday soup to new heights. You'll find the majority of ingredients in your kitchen cupboards, meaning you won't even bat an eyelid at the final total on your receipt.

This recipe will also make a fantastic, hearty vegetarian option – just bypass the chicken and opt for vegetable stock.

Find the recipe here.

5. Buffalo Bacon Cheeseburger With Avocado and Tomato

Nleachproffer / Getty Images / Via thinkstockphotos.co.uk

These aren't any old burgers. These are extremely fancy, especially delicious, surprisingly affordable, and exceptionally guest-pleasing buffalo burgers. You can garnish your patties with any combination of your choosing, so go forth and create your very own masterpiece.

Ingredients

- Buffalo burger patties

- Bacon rashers

- Brioche burger bun

- Cheddar cheese

- Tomato

- Avocado

- Mayonaise

- Tomato ketchup

Method

1. Cook burgers as per packets instructions.

2. Using a frying pan, cook the bacon over a medium heat for about 10 minutes or until crispy, turning once. Place on a kitchen towel-lined plate and leave to the side.

3. Slice the tomatoes and avocado for garnish.

4. About 3 minutes before the burgers are finished cooking, place the cheese on top and allow to melt slightly.

5. Once burgers are cooked, assemble the burger to your taste. Perfection.

6. Red Pepper Pasta With Mushrooms and Spinach

Courtesy of What's Gaby Cooking / Via whatsgabycooking.com

This is not your average pasta dish. The comforting, rich, and flavourful combination is an absolute winner. And the fact that it is so easy to whip up is just a lovely cherry on top.

Roasting your own peppers will help to further reduce the cost of this dish:

1. Preheat your oven to 250°C

2. rub a little olive oil on each of the peppers, and roast for 30 to 40 minutes, or at least till the skins are charred.

3. Remove from the oven and place in a sealed sandwich bag for approximately 30 minutes. The heat and condensation helps to soften the skins, making them easier to remove.

4. Peel, seed, slice, and voila: homemade roasted peppers.

Find the recipe here.

7. Chilli Lime Pork Loin

Courtesy of budgetbytes.com / Via budgetbytes.com

This recipe is so, so easy but so, so, SO delicious, soaring your meal to gourmet heights. #winning

This marinade costs pennies to make and would work wonderfully on all different cuts of meat or poultry – definitely one to store in your recipe bank!

Find the recipe here.

8. Sausages With Sweet Potato Mash, Caramelised Onions, and Wilted Spinach

Steve Brown Photography / Getty Images

There is nothing quite like a comforting portion of bangers and mash. Swapping in sweet potatoes adds a nice twist to this classic dish, whilst still keeping the price incredibly low – most of the ingredients can be found in your cupboards already!

Ingredients

-8 sausages (meat of your choosing)

For the mash

- 750g sweet potato - cubed and skinned

- 1 tsp cumin powder (optional)

- 2 cloves crushed garlic

- 3 Tbsp. oil

- salt and pepper to taste

For the onions

- 2 large onions (red or brown)

- 2 Tbsp. oil

- pinch of salt

- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar

- 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

For the spinach

- 500g spinach

- 4 cloves crushed garlic

- 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Method

1. Cook sausages according to packet instructions.

2. Pour boiling water from the kettle into a pan, add the sweet potato and bring back to the boil. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender.

3. Heat oil in a pan over a low heat and add onions. Cook very slowly for 15-20 minutes.

4. When onions are softened and golden, add sugar and balsamic - this will start the caramelisation process. Cook onion over low heat for a further 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sticky and caramelised. Remove from heat when finished.

5. Drain the sweet potato and place in a food blender with garlic, cumin and olive oil.

6. Blend until smooth. If you don't have a blender, mashing by hand will also work! Season with salt and pepper.

7. For the spinach, sauté the garlic and oil over a medium heat. Add the spinach gradually, making sure the leaves wilt before you add the next handful.

8. Assemble your delicious meal, you wonderful chef you.

9. Stacked Aubergine Parmesan

Courtesy of What's Gaby Cooking / Via whatsgabycooking.com

This recipe is sure to make people swoon. Be it discerning foodies, in-laws you need to impress, meat-lovers, or genuine Italians, this take on melanzane parmigiana is the dish to transport us to all to food heaven.

As you'll be wanting to make this dish over and over and over again, buying fresh basil each time will start to make a dent on your weekly budget. TOP TIP: buying a basil plant, splitting it into individual plantlets, and replanting them will not only make your basil stock last longer, but will create nice house plants too.

Find the recipe here.

10. Roasted Chicken With Root Vegetables

Courtesy of 10th Kitchen / Via 10thkitchen.com

The best things in life can be ever so simple – like the humble roast chicken. The roasted turnips are an interesting – but welcome – addition to this recipe, but any seasonal vegetables will work wonderfully, as well as keeping well within budget.

If caraway is not available, thyme or rosemary work just as well.

Find the recipe here.

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