Get your 5-a-day Beef Stir Fry

Beef Stir Fry

This super quick stir fry is healthy, cheap and easy. For students, it's perfect. Chicken is also an option if you're not a big red meat fan, but alternatively, beef is a nice change from Chicken! Also, If you do enough Veggies with it, you don't need the noodles. This recipe doubles as a no carb, low fat, light dinner.

Things you'll need:

Serves 2

• Thin Cut Sirloin Steak (Chopped into thin slices)
• Tenderstem Broccoli 
• 1 Pepper
• 1 Onion
• Stir-Fry Sauce (Optional)*
• 1 x Noodle Portion (Optional)

Price per serving: £2.85/£3.40 with Optional Items.

As with any Stir Fry, you can add other vegetables to get your 5-a-day such as Carrot, Pak Choi, Asparagus or Mushrooms.

*WATCH OUT when using ready-made Stir Fry sauces, check the nutritional information as some are high in salt or sugar (such as Chinese sauce or Sweet Chilli). 

Instructions:

1. Gently fry the Chopped Onions for 1-2 minutes
2. Add the Beef strips and continue to fry on a low heat to avoid the beef going too dry. Fry for a further 2-3 minutes until beef is coloured.
3. Turn up the heat slightly and add the remaining Vegetables and toss in the pan continuously until soft. Then stir in the ready made sauce (Optional).
4. Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to packet instructions (Optional) and then add to the stir fry and mix together.

A Stir Fry should be a staple student meal, as you can pack in as much Veg as you want and it's so easy and quick. Another option (which can sometimes turn out cheaper but not always) is buying the ready prepared stir fry vegetables, which saves time on prepping the food!

Somerset Stew and Mash (Veggie Option too!)

I have literally just put my empty bowl in the dishwasher and immediately felt the need to blog this recipe. A recipe I found on BBC Good Food (here) with my own studenty spin on it. This recipe cooks for 3-4 people so it's great to save and freeze for a day when you're in a rush! This is actually a Vegetarian dish, but as I have a bit of a soft spot for meat, I did add Chorizo to this one - although it would still be delicious without.

Things you'll need:

(Serves 4)

• 1 Onion Chopped Finely
• 1 Garlic Clove (Optional)
• 1 Leek Chopped
• 1 Carrot Chopped
• 1 Can of Butter beans
• 1 Can of Cannelloni Beans
• 1 x Tinned Chopped Tomatoes
• 1 x Vegetable Stock Cube dissolved in 250ml Boiling Water
• Splash of Oil
• 30g Chorizo Chopped (Optional)

(1 x Potato per person for Mash, also Optional)

Price per serving: 64p

Including Chorizo and Mash: £1.05

Cooking Instructions:

1. Fry the Onion, Garlic, Leek and Carrot in Oil in a Frying Pan on a low heat until tender but not coloured. 
2. Add all the other ingredients and simmer for 20-25 minutes until sauce has thickened.
3. (Optional) Boil potato(es) under tender, then add butter and mash with a splash of milk.

A super quick, easy, winter warming and my cheapest recipe I've blogged to date!! Totally student friendly and delicious.