Recipes: Cheap eats making a comeback as cost of living bites

Chow mein, bread and dripping, rissoles and even tripe could be making a comeback as the cost of living bites. How many of these old favourites do you remember?

A potato and sausage casserole is among the meals that won’t break the bank.

Many people have fond – and not so fond – memories of the meals their grandparents used to serve in years gone by.

Back when times were tough and there was no Uber Eats, the options on the dinner table were often limited.

From beef stews, to bread and dipping, and even tripe, here are some cheap and cheerful dishes that could be making a comeback as the cost of living bites again.

CASSEROLES/BANGERS AND MASH/STEWS

Bangers and mash.

As winter hits, there’s no better time for a hearty stew or casserole. Back in the day, it may have been rabbit on the menu, although now beef or sausages are more popular.

Check out some recipes here.

SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE

The humble spaghetti bol has been a family favourite for years.

You can’t go past pasta for a quick, cheap and delicious meal.

Check out recipes here.

CORNED BEEF

A homemade Reuben sandwich with corned beef and sauerkraut.

The humble corned beef with three vegies was another popular dish on the dinner table in years gone by. It’s now often also enjoyed in a toasted sandwich.

Check out more slow cooker recipes here.

CHOW MEIN

Healthy beef chow mein tray bake.

Another Aussie family favourite, easy to make with mince and cabbage, and often served with rice. Adding some sweet and sour sauce will also give it some more flavour.

Check out some other Asian-inspired recipes here.

BREAD AND DRIPPING

In the days before artisan loaves, many people remember dipping bread into some lard on the stove.

Many people remember dipping a slice of bread into some lard on the stove as a tasty snack.

RISSOLES

Darryl Kerrigan (played by Michael Caton) was famously a fan of his wife Sal’s rissoles.

The beef patties, often made with mince meat and again served with vegies, are another Aussie favourite. The dish was made famous in the hit film The Castle, when Darryl Kerrigan was suitably impressed when they were served at the dinner table.

Check out a Thai sweet chilli rissole recipe here.

TRIPE

Could you stomach eating tripe?

Tripe – the edible lining from the stomachs of farm animals – was often a cheap option for meals, but it’s fair to say many won’t be rushing back to try the dish.

APRICOT CHICKEN

Apricot chicken is another family favourite.

Another delicious option is apricot chicken, which never fails to disappoint and doesn’t require many ingredients. Simply grab some chicken drumsticks or thighs and a tin of apricots and you will soon have a yummy meal simmering away.

Check out recipes here.

What old school meals do you remember from your childhood? Tell us in the comments below.