Jump directly to the content
A slap up meal for 86p!

Cook reveals how YOU can feed your family healthy meals for £18 a week in his FREE cookbook

Limahl Asmall, 31, became sick of his boring dinners when living on the breadline and began devising creative, tasty budget recipes

A COOK has revealed how you can feed your family healthy food for only £18 a week - with meals costing just 86p a pop.

Six years ago Limahl Asmall, from London, was living on the breadline paying sky high rent in the capital while working on the minimum wage.

Limahl Asmall and his girlfriend Tiphaine Cheveau have devised a budget cookbook
5
Limahl Asmall and his girlfriend Tiphaine Cheveau have devised a budget cookbookCredit: LIMAHL ASMALL

But after getting sick of his boring budget meals, the 31-year-old began devising creative, tasty recipes using mainly supermarket own brand products.

His frugal meal plans stretch ingredients out across a whole week - yet every dinner is different and costs just 86p per person.

Now Limahl has compiled his tasty recipes in a new cookbook, , which is FREE to download and has even been endorsed by TV chef Jamie Oliver.

One of Limahl Asmall's tasty creations
5
One of Limahl Asmall's tasty creationsCredit: LIMAHL ASMALL

Speaking about his decision not to charge for his book, Limahl told : "There are 13 million people in the UK that are living below the poverty line. That’s one in five people across the country.

"I’ve never felt like I was facing food poverty, even if on paper I have been.

"I think with a little know-how, a basic kitchen and the confidence to get cooking, you’ll never feel like you’re facing food poverty.

"That’s what this cookbook is all about – giving people the skills to make mouth-watering meals on any budget."


Limahl's five tips for keeping home-cooked meal costs down

  • When buying fresh fruit and veg, focus on what you need for that week only. It's so easy to look at all the amazing produce and before you know it your basket is full of things that you don't need, or that will go off before you get around to using them.

  • Try to build up a cupboard full of staples. Each week buy a new staple such as a packet of rice, beans, lentils, pasta, canned goods or a new spice.
  • Remember, Sunday to Thursday's dinner becomes the next day's packed lunch, saving you time during the busy week.
  • It sounds silly, but don’t go food shopping when hungry! How often do we find ourselves walking down the food aisles, drooling over the goods because we're shopping at the wrong time? Shopping when hungry is a sure-fire way to spend more on things you don't need (I have found myself buying snacks for the short journey home even though I have a bag full of great food to cook, when I get home). Listen to your body, and if you’re hungry, eat first.
  • Give late night shopping a go; discounted sell by date meats can be snapped up and frozen at home for later use. Search out the reduced aisle and if you find discounted meat with a day left, consider buying it and freezing it for up to three months. Just remember, once defrosted you’ve got to use it the same day.

    • Related Stories

    This is how to fill your kid's school lunchboxes with healthy, tasty meals for under a tenner A WEEK
    Bargain box

    This is how to fill your kid's school lunchboxes with healthy, tasty meals for under a tenner A WEEK

    Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown to get her own cooking show with runner-up Jane Beedle
    Dynamic duo

    Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown to get her own cooking show with runner-up Jane Beedle

    We cook for MasterChef: The Professionals judges Marcus and Monica... but was it a mis-steak?
    sauce of conflict

    We cook for MasterChef: The Professionals judges Marcus and Monica... but was it a mis-steak?

    Hunky TV chef sends the internet wild he hosts cookery show in pants
    THE NEARLY NAKED CHEF

    Hunky TV chef sends the internet wild he hosts cookery show in pants

    Limahl wanted his cookbook to be free as many people live under the poverty line in Britain
    5
    Limahl wanted his cookbook to be free as many people live under the poverty line in BritainCredit: limahl asmall
    All his delicious meals cost no more than 86p per person
    5
    All his delicious meals cost no more than 86p per personCredit: limahl asmall

    Limahl devised his recipe book over the past year with his French girlfriend Tiphaine Cheveau, 22, whom he said he fell in love with after she made him the "perfect chocolate fondant".

    Speaking about his recipes' incredible value for money, he said: "Budget chefs love to promote their cheap 'price per portion' but then don’t tell you what to do with the rest of the ingredients you’d have to buy to make the recipe.

    "Their pricing can seem a bit dishonest, so we developed a flexible meal plan that keeps to a budget, doesn’t waste food, saves you money and still tastes delicious."

    All Limahl's meal plans are flexible
    5
    All Limahl's meal plans are flexibleCredit: limahl asmall

    Limahl's £18 per person weekly meal plan

  • Sunday
    Breakfast: Banana pancakes with Madagascan vanilla yoghurt
    Lunch: Pan-fried Asian style rice cakes
    Dinner: Lucky chicken bake with Mediterranean roasted vegetables and cous cous

  • MondayBreakfast: Mighty omelette with sundried tomato and bacon
    Lunch: Leftover lucky chicken bake
    Dinner: Sammy T's dirty rice

  • TuesdayBreakfast: Pan-fried courgette on toast
    Lunch: Leftover Sammy T's dirty rice
    Dinner: Carrot and sweet potato soup with creme fraiche

  • Wednesday
    Breakfast: Simple bruschetta
    Lunch: Fresh frittata with bacon and courgette
    Dinner: Chick 'n' chorizo with lemon butter broccoli

  • Thursday
    Breakfast: Toasted egg and bacon sandwich
    Lunch: Leftover chick 'n' chorizo
    Dinner: Lentil and bacon hotpot with carrots

  • Friday
    Breakfast: Garlic butter mushrooms on toast
    Lunch: Leftover lentil and bacon hotpot
    Dinner: Spaghetti with creme fraiche spinach and chorizo sausage

  • Saturday
    Breakfast: Shakin' shakshuka
    Lunch: Spaghetti cake with carrot and courgette ribbon salad
    Dinner: The best marinated vegetables and rice

    • He pointed out how every one of his meal plans offers people the chance to swap out ingredients if they don't like them or have them to hand and replace it with something else.

    While he budgeted for free-range eggs, sadly his meat is not sustainably sourced, though Limahl encourages ethical shopping if people can afford it.

    Earlier this year we told how you can fill your kid’s school lunchboxes with healthy, tasty meals for under a tenner a week by shopping for own-brand products.

    Download Limahl's free cookbook .

    Topics
    YOU MIGHT LIKE
    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    MORE FOR YOU