Classic recipes see resurgence as Aussies seek affordable meals

Everything from beef stroganoff to rice pudding is on the menu again as Australians go back to the future with their cooking.

Aussies are going back to the future with their cooking.

Aussies are serving up a retro revival in the kitchen, turning to old-fashioned dishes that are cheap and nostalgic to beat the cost of living crunch.

May data from recipe site Taste.com.au revealed old-school recipes like braised steak and onions, beef stroganoff, pumpkin soup and rice pudding were seeing a resurgence, using affordable secondary cuts of meat, vegetables and inexpensive grains.

Amira Georgy, digital food director at Taste, said affordability had become a major driving factor in how people approached meal time.

“During challenging economic times, many of us instinctively gravitate towards these familiar dishes that not only stretch the food budget but also provide a comforting sense of security,” she said.

“Additionally, these retro recipes typically feature basic, affordable ingredients that were designed to feed families economically.”

According to the data, cheap beef brisket was topping the menu for many households, with searches to cook the protein in the slow cooker up a whopping 9,862 per cent from the same time last year; while others were turning to the equally affordable beef cheek, with recipe searches skyrocketing by 349 per cent from 12 months prior.

Ultra economical soup was another trend, with pumpkin, chicken, and potato and leek versions the most sought after, alongside miso, which had a massive 152 per cent increase year on year.

“People are becoming much more conscious about their grocery budgets, and this translates directly into what they put on their plates,” Ms Georgy said.

“We’re seeing a return to more budget-friendly ingredients, such as legumes, in-season produce, and less expensive cuts of meat, or even a greater emphasis on plant-based meals to stretch the budget further.”

Social media cooking influencer Jasmin Weston makes affordable Aussie classic meals. Picture Thomas Lisson

Cookbook author of Everyday Eats and food blogger Jasmin Weston said she had noticed similar trends, with her recipes for retro eats like tuna mornay and fish patties booming.

“Whenever I dive into my childhood and always talk about meals that are really nostalgic for me, that’s the type of content that people really adore,” Ms Weston said.

“Most of the retro meals involve really cheap, budget-friendly, pantry or fridge staples that we can all keep on hand for long periods of time and then you just need to know how to make it work in different ways.”

Pork sales are also up, as people turn to the protein as a cheaper alternative to lamb, fish and some cuts of chicken.

Circana data revealed pork mince and chops were proving the most popular, up 16 and eight per cent, respectively, since last year; while stir-fry/diced pork was seeing the biggest rate of growth up 18 per cent in 12 months.

Originally published as Classic recipes see resurgence as Aussies seek affordable meals