With Energy Bills Set To Rise Again, Here’s How To Cook Dinner Without Getting Burned

4 days ago

Come April, power bills are going up – again. Ofgem’s latest hike intends a “typical” family will beryllium forking retired an other £111 a twelvemonth for state and electricity, conscionable arsenic h2o rates and assembly taxation travel suit. It’s nan 3rd emergence successful a row, and while wages are yet inching up, nan costs of a basking meal is inching higher too.

So what if you could still eat good – really good – and shave up to 80 per cent disconnected your cooking power costs while you’re astatine it?

That’s nan thought down a caller Energy-Saving Recipe Book from Belling, who’ve been making cookers since earlier rationing was a thing. It’s afloat of smart tweaks to classical meals that trim power usage dramatically, usually by shortening cooking times, slashing oven dependency aliases stretching ingredients that return longer to cook. None of it feels stingy – rather nan opposite. The recipes are warming, clever and family-friendly, built astir elemental swaps and common-sense techniques.

There’s a Sunday roast traybake that does distant pinch nan faff of a full chickenhearted and delivers crisp tegument and aureate veg successful nether 40 minutes – utilizing 62 per cent little power than nan accepted spread. A Moroccan sausage and chickpea tagine bulked retired pinch pulses alternatively of pricier meatballs uses 80 per cent less, while a spiced shepherdess pie, vanished nether nan grill alternatively than baked everlastingly successful nan oven, clocks successful pinch a 71 per cent saving.

Even nan midweek classics get a glow-up: a rescued rootlike and turkey ragu – cleanable for batch cooking aliases clearing retired nan fridge drawer – halves your power usage and your nutrient waste. And for fakeaway night, a chickenhearted tikka kebab crockery grills successful nether 10 minutes, cutting 64 per cent of nan accustomed power cost, pinch nary of nan grease aliases guilt.

Each look saves time, money and accent – and if each family cooked conscionable a fewer of them regularly, nan nationalist savings could beryllium successful nan millions.

Here are 5 to get started with.

Sunday roast traybake

Belling’s ‘Energy-Saving Recipe Book’ offers clever ways to trim cooking costs without sacrificing flavour

Chicken thighs are succulent, economical and navigator successful little clip than a full chicken. This traybake look is packed pinch flavours by rubbing thyme, ail and lemon-infused lipid complete nan chickenhearted skin. Cooked up successful 1 tray, this Sunday roast traybake saves connected time, energy, and washing up.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

For nan lemon, thyme and ail roast chicken:

8 chickenhearted thighs, tegument on, bony in

Salt and achromatic pepper

1 mini citrus

1 tsp dried thyme

2 cloves garlic, grated

1 tbsp rootlike oil

For nan roast vegetables:

700g mini caller potatoes, scrubbed and halved lengthways

300g carrots, peeled and trim into batons

300g parsnips, peeled and trim into batons

1 mean reddish onion, halved, peeled and trim into wedges pinch nan guidelines intact

1½ tbsp rootlike oil

125g stiff plot peas, defrosted

For nan stuffing:

170g pkt sage and bulb stuffing

20g butter, optional

To serve:

Homemade chickenhearted gravy

Method:

Heat nan oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas people 7. Meanwhile, spot nan chickenhearted thighs connected a plate, pat barren pinch room insubstantial and play pinch brackish and achromatic pepper. Zest nan lemon, past adhd nan citrus zest to a vessel pinch nan thyme, ail and oil, and operation good until combined.
Put nan prepared chicken, tegument broadside up, into a ample roasting tin past swipe nan citrus thyme lipid evenly complete nan tegument of each chickenhearted thigh, utilizing your hands.
Wash your hands, past flip nan potatoes, carrots, parsnips and reddish bulb successful a ample vessel pinch 1 tbsp rootlike lipid and play pinch brackish and achromatic pepper. Place nan vegetables into nan gaps astir nan chickenhearted thighs, past roast connected nan mediate support for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, to make nan stuffing balls, quiet nan sachet of sage and bulb stuffing into a bowl, adhd boiling h2o arsenic directed connected nan packet instructions, and food if desired, past operation well. Leave to guidelines for 5 minutes, past rotation into 12 evenly sized stuffing balls. Wet your hands to forestall nan stuffing from sticking.
When nan chickenhearted and vegetables person been cooking for 15 minutes, popular nan stuffing balls into nan tray and proceed to navigator for a further 25 minutes, until nan chickenhearted tegument is crisp and aureate and nan vegetables tender and roasted. When nan traybake has astir 3 minutes near to cook, adhd nan peas to nan roasting tray. Return to nan oven for 2-3 minutes until nan peas are hot.
Serve nan traybake connected lukewarm plates, pinch a drizzle of your favourite homemade chickenhearted gravy.

Tip: Try wrapping nan chickenhearted thighs successful bacon, arsenic an replacement to nan citrus and thyme.

Savings: 1 hr 4 minutes; 61p

Savings

Chicken tikka kebabs

These speedy chickenhearted tikka skewers present large flavour and fakeaway vibes pinch minimal power use

Swap your takeaway for this delicious and amazingly elemental chickenhearted tikka kebab recipe, served connected skewers pinch naan breads and a speedy mint raita. After marinating nan chickenhearted successful shop cupboard spices, you tin dive into this delicious fakeaway which is connected nan array successful little than 15 minutes.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes positive 2 hours to marinade | Cook time: 9 minutes

Ingredients:

600g chickenhearted thighs, skinless and boneless

1 mean lemon

For nan tikka marinade:

5 tbsp earthy yoghurt

2 cloves garlic, finely grated

1 tbsp mean curry powder

2 tsp crushed cumin

2 tsp crushed coriander

½ tbsp crushed turmeric

½ tsp mean chilli powder

1 tbsp herb purée

1 tbsp rootlike oil

Salt and achromatic pepper

For nan mint raita:

150g earthy yoghurt

A mini fistful of mint leaves, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

For nan bulb salad:

1 mean reddish onion, halved and thinly sliced

4 crockery tomatoes, trim into wedges

Small bunch of coriander, chopped

To serve:

1 lemon, trim into wedges

4 naan breads

Method:

Cut nan chickenhearted into wound sized pieces and put into a mixing vessel pinch nan juice of half a citrus (the different half of nan citrus will beryllium utilized for nan salad). Next, spot each of nan marinade ingredients into nan vessel pinch nan chicken, play pinch brackish and capsicum and operation until nan chickenhearted is mixed successful nan marinade. Cover nan vessel and spot successful nan fridge to marinate for astatine slightest 2 hours, aliases overnight if possible.
When fresh to cook, preheat nan grill to high. Meanwhile, thread nan chickenhearted evenly onto 8 x 20cm metallic skewers and spot connected a ample baking tray lined pinch foil. Grill nan chickenhearted for 8-9 minutes, keeping an oculus connected them whilst they cook. At nan aforesaid clip put nan naan breads connected nan support beneath and they will lukewarm from nan residual power successful nan oven cavity.
If you want to, you tin cautiously move nan kebabs halfway through, if you for illustration them charred connected some sides. Check that nan chickenhearted is piping basking earlier removing nan kebabs from nan grill.
While nan chickenhearted cooks, hole nan sides; spot nan raita ingredients into a vessel and play to taste. Then for nan salad, compression nan remaining citrus juice into a mixing bowl, play pinch brackish and capsicum and flip nan onion, herb and coriander into nan bowl.
Serve nan tikka kebabs pinch lukewarm naan breads, herb and bulb crockery and a generous drizzle of mint raita.

Tip: If you do not person immoderate caller mint, usage a spoonful of mint condiment from a jar.

Savings: 16 minutes; 15p

Rescued rootlike and turkey ragu

A batch-cook-friendly ragu made pinch lentils and fridge leftovers to agelong your nutrient shop further

This look includes thin turkey mince bulked retired pinch lentils, on pinch vegetables rescued from nan fridge. Try half of nan condiment served pinch pasta, past frost nan remainder and usage later arsenic nan guidelines of a lasagne, successful wraps, aliases connected a overgarment potato; redeeming yourself some clip and power costs!

Serves: 4 x 2 meals

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oliva oil

1 mean onion, finely diced

1 instrumentality celery, finely chopped

1 mean carrot, peeled and finely diced

1 mean greenish pepper, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

500g thin turkey mince

2 tsps dried oregano

4 tbsp herb purée

400g tin chopped tomatoes

½ tsp sugar

300ml basking chickenhearted stock, made pinch 1 banal cube

1½ tbsps Worcestershire sauce, optional

Salt and achromatic capsicum

400g tin greenish aliases brownish lentils, drained and rinsed

1 tbsp cornflour, mixed pinch 2 tbsps acold water

To serve:

300g linguine aliases tagliatelle

40g Parmesan shavings

Method:

Heat nan lipid successful a ample saucepan, adhd nan onion, celery, carrot and capsicum and fry mildly for 4 minutes until nan bulb has softened. Add nan ail and navigator for different minute.
Next, adhd nan turkey mince and fry for 5-6 minutes, stirring until nan nutrient has browned. Break up nan mince pinch a woody spoon to debar immoderate clumps.
Sprinkle complete nan dried oregano past operation successful nan herb purée, chopped tomatoes, sugar, chickenhearted banal and Worcestershire sauce, if using. Season pinch brackish and achromatic pepper, bring to nan boil, past screen and simmer for 15 minutes.
Next, operation successful nan lentils and nan cornflour mixture, and simmer for an further 5 minutes until nan condiment thickens.
When nan ragu has astir 12 minutes remaining, boil a kettle, move nan boiled h2o into a saucepan, past adhd nan pasta and navigator for 9-10 minutes until tender. Drain successful a colander and return to nan cookware pinch a drizzle of lipid to forestall nan pasta from sticking.
Check that nan turkey is tender and that nan ragu has thickened sufficiently, past sensation and adhd much seasoning if required.
To serve, adhd nan pasta to lukewarm serving bowls past apical pinch a information of turkey ragu and sprinkle complete nan parmesan shaving.
Put nan remaining ragu into a suitable instrumentality and shop successful nan fridge aliases freezer to usage later.

Tip: This look will besides activity good pinch thin minced beef and conscionable move nan banal cube from chickenhearted to beef.

Savings: 1 hr 12 minutes; 69p

Spiced shepherdess pie

This meat-free twist connected a classical shepherd’s pastry grills alternatively of bakes, cutting power usage by 71%

This classical wintertime warming look is transformed into a nutrient free shepherdess pastry pinch nan summation of a lightly spiced herb sauce, on pinch vegetables and lentils. It is speedy and easy to hole connected nan hob, past nan delicious saccharine murphy mash is vanished disconnected nether nan grill.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 23 minutes

Ingredients:

1 tbsp rootlike oil

1 ample carrot, peeled and finely diced

1 mean onion, finely diced

2 sticks celery, finely diced

200g chestnut mushrooms, washed and quartered

1 clove garlic, crushed

½ tsp chilli powder

2 tsp crushed cumin

2 tbsps herb purée

400g tin finely chopped tomatoes

300g rootlike stock, made pinch 1 banal cube

Salt and achromatic pepper

400g tin greenish lentils, rinsed and drained

1 tbsp cornflour, mixed pinch 2 tbsps acold water

For nan topping:

1kg sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 2cm chunks

30g vegan spread

To serve:

4 portions of reddish cabbage, aliases immoderate seasonal vegetables

Method:

Heat nan lipid successful a ample ovenproof casserole cookware (if you don't person one, past you tin conscionable transportation nan shepherdess pastry filling to an ovenproof crockery later) past adhd nan carrot, bulb and celery. Gently fry nan vegetables for 5 minutes. Add nan mushrooms and fry for a further 2-3 minutes, until nan vegetables person softened.
Stir successful nan ail and spices and operation good to overgarment everything successful nan spices. Cook for a further minute.
Add nan herb purée, chopped tomatoes and rootlike stock. Season pinch brackish and achromatic capsicum past bring nan substance to nan boil, screen and simmer mildly for 10 minutes, until nan vegetables are tender.
Meanwhile, boil nan saccharine potatoes for 10-12 minutes until tender, past drain successful a colander. Add nan vegan dispersed and mash until smooth, past play to taste.
Next, adhd nan lentils and cornflour substance to nan vegetables and simmer for 3 minutes, until nan condiment has thickened.
When nan filling and saccharine murphy mash are ready, preheat nan grill to high. Meanwhile, dispersed nan mashed saccharine murphy evenly complete nan lentil substance and unsmooth up pinch a fork. Place nan crockery nether nan grill for 6-7 minutes, until nan condiment is bubbling and nan potatoes are golden.
Serve nan shepherdess pastry connected lukewarm plates pinch reddish cabbage aliases seasonal vegetables of your prime connected nan side.

Tip: For a change, apical nan pastry pinch mashed potatoes and greenish cabbage.

Savings: 57 minutes; 54p

Moroccan sausage and chickpea tagine pinch couscous

A hearty tagine utilizing sausages and chickpeas to prevention money and navigator successful conscionable 25 minutes

Stretching retired nutrient pinch pulses is an economical and nutritious measurement to trim nutrient costs. This accepted tagine look is cooked connected nan hob and utilises shop cupboard spices, including cinnamon and cumin, on pinch juicy apricots to thicken and sweeten nan sauce.

Serves: 4

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

For nan meatballs:

8 reduced fat pork sausages

Salt and achromatic pepper

20g dried breadcrumbs

2 tsp crushed cumin

1 tsp basking smoked paprika

1 tbsp rootlike oil

For nan sauce:

Drizzle of oil

1 mean onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced

1 mean carrot, peeled and thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp crushed cumin

1 tbsp crushed coriander

½ tsp basking smoked paprika

400g tin finely chopped tomatoes

3 tbsps herb purée

1 cinnamon stick, surgery successful half, aliases ¼ tsp crushed cinnamon

100g dried apricots, chopped

400ml basking chickenhearted stock, made pinch 1 banal cube

400g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed

To serve:

180g greenish beans, trimmed

200g couscous

400ml basking rootlike stock, made pinch 1 banal cube

1 mini bunch of mint, leaves chopped

1 mini bunch of level leafage parsley, chopped

Method:

Make a slit successful nan sausages pinch a crisp knife, past region and discard nan skins. Pop nan sausage nutrient into a bowl, play pinch brackish and capsicum and operation pinch nan breadcrumbs and spices. Shape into 20 adjacent sized balls and if you find nan substance a small sticky, past bedewed your hands pinch acold h2o which will thief you to style nan meatballs.
Heat a tbsp of lipid successful a ample non-stick saucepan, adhd nan meatballs and fry connected a mean power for 3-4 minutes until nan meatballs are browned connected each sides, region from nan cookware pinch a slotted spoon onto a plate.
Next adhd a drizzle of much lipid to nan saucepan and power complete a mean heat, past adhd nan sliced bulb and fry for 3 minutes until nan bulb softens and is golden. Stir successful nan carrots and fry for a further 3 minutes.
Add nan ail and sprinkle complete nan dried spices, past navigator for a minute. Stir successful nan chopped tomatoes, herb purée, cinnamon stick, apricots and chickenhearted stock. Return nan meatballs to nan cookware on pinch nan chickpeas, past operation to combine. Bring nan condiment mildly to nan boil, screen pinch a lid and simmer for 15 minutes, until nan condiment has thickened and nan carrots are tender.
If you person a steamer, spot it complete nan saucepan, adhd nan greenish beans and screen pinch a lid to navigator nan greenish beans complete nan tagine for nan past 10 minutes, until nan beans are tender. (If you don’t person a steamer, boil nan greenish beans for 5-6 minutes successful a mini saucepan).
Meanwhile, spot nan couscous successful a vessel and move complete nan basking stock, screen pinch cling movie and group speech for 5 minutes, past break up nan grains pinch a fork, operation successful ¾ of nan chopped herbs and play pinch brackish and achromatic pepper.
When nan condiment has thickened, region nan cinnamon instrumentality and cheque nan seasoning. Serve nan couscous successful lukewarm bowls topped pinch nan meatball tagine and a sprinkling of nan remaining chopped herbs.

Tip: The tagine could besides beryllium served pinch flatbreads and immoderate homemade hummus.

Savings: 1 hr 39 minutes; 94p

These recipes are from Belling’s free Energy-Saving Recipe Book. For much tips and to download nan afloat collection, sojourn www.belling.co.uk/en-gb/energy-saving-recipes