Many of us might want to save money or eat a little healthier this summer. We completely understand that the temptation to reach for your favourite takeaway menu is real. Try our easy and delicious fakeaway recipes for a healthier and cheaper alternative.

 

1 Tablespoon Cornflour

3 Tablespoons light soy sauce

3 tablespoons of oyster sauce

Pinch of salt

Pinch of black pepper

2 tablespoons of sesame oil or peanut oil

500g diced chicken breast

1 diced onion

1 carrot, chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely diced

1 green belle pepper

8 button mushrooms, halved

1 small tin of water chestnuts

1 cup of unsalted cashew nuts

 

Mix cornflour and soy sauce until there are no lumps. Add the oyster sauce, salt and black pepper, and mix. Add the chicken and leave to marinate for 10 minutes.

Heat oil in a pan, and add the chicken. When the chicken seals, add onion, carrot and garlic, and stir fry until the veggies have softened. Add the belle pepper and mushroom, and fry for a further 2-3 minutes. 

Add the remaining sauce from the chicken marinade and bring to a simmer. Add the water chestnuts and cashews and cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring. 

Serve with your preferred rice. 

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Ingredients - serves 4

Peanut or sesame oil

500g lean mince beef

2 carrots, sliced

1 brown onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

2 cloves of garlic, diced

Teaspoon of grated or powdered ginger

Teaspoon of Chinese 5 spice

100g of button mushrooms, sliced

6 Tbsp of light soy sauce

4 Tbsp of oyster sauce

100g Vermicelli noodles

 

Method

Prepare noodles according to packet instructions, then set aside. 

Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Add mince and brown.

Add carrots and stir fry for five minutes or until they begin to soften. Add onion and stir fry for two minutes. Add pepper, garlic, ginger, and five spice. Combine ingredients and stir fry for 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms and continue to stir-fry. 

Once all veg in softened, add the soy sauce and oyster sauce, stir through, and simmer for around 5 minutes. 

Add cooked noodles and mix everything together.

Serve and enjoy!

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3. Healthier fried rice

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Ingredients (to serve 4)

1 cup quinoa

1 veggie stock cube

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 white onion, chopped

4 chicken breasts, diced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

 1 handful broccoli, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 eggs, broken into a bowl an beaten

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Method

Rinse quinoa a few times in cold water.

Bring quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan with the veggie stock cube, and then reduce to a simmer. Season with salt.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes until quinoa is fluffy and cooked through. Remove from heat and let set for five minutes or so. Fluff with a fork.

Heat the sesame oil in a large sauté pan over a high heat. Add onion and carrot, cook about two minutes then add chicken and cook until sealed.

Add remaining veg and cook until it starts to soften. 

Add the quinoa and stir-fry about two minutes.

Add soy sauce and mix through. Make a well in the centre of the quinoa, pour eggs in and stir them until scrambled, then mix everything together thoroughly. Sprinkle with some sesame seeds to serve!