It’s no secret Christmas can be a costly time of year, with presents to buy, food to prepare and people to entertain. So, with the holidays right around the corner and household budgets under pressure, New World has partnered with Masterchef New Zealand 2022 winner and social media superstar, Sam Low, to give us some top tips to inspire Kiwis to create delicious food that won't break the bank.
Sam's top tip #1: Shop in-season
An effective way to reduce the grocery bill this summer is by planning meals that centre on seasonal produce. Shopping in-season – think lettuce, capsicum, cucumber, broccoli, asparagus and spring onions - can dramatically cut costs at the checkout.
"Produce is generally cheaper when it's in-season and there's lots of it around. You can buy it when it’s at its lowest price and freeze many fruits and vegetables to enjoy later in the year when the price is higher," Sam explains. "Produce also tastes better when bought in-season, when they’re freshly picked, and sun-ripened to perfection.
"When produce is out of season, often it has to be imported, and that adds to the shelf cost. "Also, if they can be grown in the open air, rather than in special conditions, like in a hot house - or needing artificial heat and light, that adds to the price. It can also keep the costs down for the grower, and this means that the-saving can get passed down the line to the customer."
Sam's top tip #2: Shop Everyday Low-Price items – Blue Ticket
New World's Everyday Low-Price initiative is a fresh way of helping Kiwis find value on the essentials. The bright blue ticket is on hundreds of products that customers buy week in and week out; the staple, everyday items that many families and whānau rely on for quick and easy meals. To help New Zealanders save their dollars, New World will be keeping these prices low and stable, so customers can have more certainty around the cost of their shop all year round.
"The cost of living has gone through the roof, so New World has come up with Everyday Low Price to help with that," Sam added. "When you go around your local New World store, or are shopping online, look out for the blue ticket that says 'Everyday Low Price' on it… that helps you find value on everyday essentials you're looking for."
Sam suggests basing your menus around blue-ticket items to secure the best savings, opting for simple, staple ingredients of good quality with consistently low prices. Think rice, flour, butter, bread, and canned tomatoes; low-cost everyday products that can be turned into a yummy rice salad or a bread pudding for the Christmas dessert, for example, to get more bang for your buck.
Sam's top tip #3: Make budget foods go further
To make your simple, staple ingredients go further, Low also recommends building on meals with inexpensive proteins, like beans or mince, to add bulk - for example, turning tasty, canned tomatoes into a bean or beef chilli for multiple meals.
"Add pulses like canned beans or lentils to mince to stretch it out and make two meals. This also boosts the nutritional value and helps you save money."
See how Sam Low made a meal to feed four people for under $25 using Everyday Low Price and In Season Products
Baked Spiced Chicken Wings with Tomato and Beans Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken wings – segmented
- 1 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 5 cloves garlic (minced)
- 20g ginger (minced)
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 3 tbsp oil
Spring Onion to garnish – optional
Method:
Chicken Wings
- Preheat oven to 190C
- In a bowl mix all the ingredients together and allow the chicken to marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Line a baking tray with foil and baking paper.
- Lay the wings on the tray spreading them out evenly (if possible, give them space in between each other). Reserve the marinade in the bowl.
- Bake for 40 min or until soft and cooked through. Halfway through the cook turn over the wings.
- Garnish with chopped spring onion (optional)
Tomato and Beans Casserole
Ingredients
- Value Long Grain Rice 1 1/2 cups raw rinsed rice
- 3 cups stock or water
- 1 Value Chopped Tomatoes in Juice 400g
- 1 diced capsicum
- 1 broccoli – chopped head and stalk
- 1 Pams Red Kidney Beans - drained and rinsed
- 1/2 brown onion (diced)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ c cooking oil/olive oil
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tbsp salt
- Pepper to taste
- 1 lemon wedge to garnish – optional
Method
- In a large pot with oil, garlic, onion, and paprika, fry on medium heat for 1 minute until aromatic.
- Add in the tomato and cook for 3 minutes.
- Add in the rice and stir through.
- Add in the capsicum, seasoning and stock (or water).
- Bring to a gentle simmer and reduce the heat to very low, covered and cook for 15 min until the rice is almost cooked through. Add in the chopped broccoli and beans, stir through.
- Cover and cook for a further 5-10 min or until the rice is fully cooked.
- Serve with chopped spring onion over the top and if using a wedge of lemon on side (optional)
Products and prices taken from New World Stonefield Dec 6, 2022. Product availability and prices may vary by store.
*Pantry staples. Excluded from total recipe cost.
Article created in partnership with New World.
