13 Aug Recipe: Mongolian noodles from under $5.00 per serve!
A quick, family-friendly noodle dinner made with mince, vegetables and a sweet-savoury sauce. Using cheaper vegetables and a little less meat helps keep the cost down without making the meal feel skimpy.
Ingredients
- 450g ramen or other Asian-style noodles
- 750g beef, chicken or turkey mince
- Salt and cracked black pepper
- 2 medium carrots, grated
- 1 red capsicum, diced
- 1½ cups shredded cabbage, frozen peas or green beans
- 6 cloves garlic, crushed
- 4 spring onions, chopped, white and green parts separated
Sauce
- ½ cup (120ml) reduced-salt soy sauce
- ½ cup (120ml) hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup (60ml) water
- 2 teaspoons cornflour
- 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- Pinch of chilli flakes, optional
Method
- Cook the noodles according to packet instructions. Drain and set aside.
- To make the sauce, combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, water, cornflour, ginger, honey, sesame oil and chilli flakes, if using. Set aside.
- Season the mince with salt and pepper. Heat a large wok or frying pan over medium-high heat and cook the mince, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain off excess fat if needed.
- Add the carrots, capsicum, cabbage or other vegetables and the white parts of the spring onions. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until just tender.
- Add the garlic and cook briefly, then stir through the mince.
- Add the cooked noodles and sauce and toss well until everything is coated and heated through.
- Divide between bowls and scatter over the remaining spring onions.
Serves 6
Make it cheaper
- Use 750g mince instead of 900g. The noodles and vegetables make this a substantial meal, so the smaller amount of meat should still comfortably serve six.
- Choose whichever mince is on special. Beef, chicken or turkey all work.
- Swap snap peas for cheaper vegetables. Shredded cabbage, frozen peas, frozen beans or extra carrot are all good options.
- Use supermarket-brand noodles. Plain Asian noodles are often much cheaper than individual ramen packets.
- Add extra vegetables to stretch it further. Cabbage and carrot are particularly economical and work well with the sauce.
- Leave out the chilli for younger children and add chilli sauce at the table for anyone who wants extra heat.
Budget guide: With budget mince and lower-cost vegetables, this should come in at roughly $4–$4.50 per serve, depending on supermarket prices and specials.
Adapted from a Tastes Better From Scratch recipe.
A quick, family-friendly noodle dinner made with mince, vegetables and a sweet-savoury sauce. Using cheaper vegetables and a little less meat helps keep the cost down without making the meal feel skimpy.
