Acquacotta

This traditional Tuscan soup, which means ‘cooked water’, is served with a poached egg for extra richness – a perfect starter or light lunch

Bolognese-stuffed roast peppers

Pan-fry beef mince with onion, garlic, tomatoes and oregano and stuff into roasted bell peppers – top with melted mozzarella cheese

Vietnamese-style beef salad

Lighten up beef mince in this Asian inspired noodle salad with crunchy carrots, beansprouts, and crushed peanuts

Caribbean beef patties

Spice up beef mince with turmeric, thyme and hot pepper sauce before folding in shortcrust pastry for a tasty dinner or lunch

Aubergine katsu curry

Breadcrumb and shallow-fry aubergine slices for a Japanese style vegetarian dish – your new curry night favourite

Meatball stroganoff

Transform beef mince into a comforting Russian-style meatball stew with mushrooms, paprika and soured cream

Minty roast veg & hummus salad

Combine roasted vegetables with chickpeas and feta cheese in this Greek-inspired salad which provides an impressive 4 of your 5-a-day

Sicilian-style tuna lasagne

Swap mince for canned tuna in this budget lasagne recipe, made even easier with cream cheese instead of béchamel sauce

Sticky sesame chicken & corn with slaw

Roast cheap chicken wings and frozen corn cobs with honey, peanut butter and sesame seeds for perfect party food on a budget

Sweet chilli tofu with pineapple stir-fried noodles

Stir-fry chunks of firm tofu and serve over noodles and canned pineapple pieces for a budget-friendly homemade Chinese inspired dinner