Easy student recipes to cook at home

When the weekend comes around and you’re enjoying a relaxing two days after a busy Uni week, there will be nights when the last thing you want to do is cook a meal from scratch. However, cooking doesn’t necessarily need to mean effort and expense, and here are three weekend favourites that are incredibly simple to cook, and don’t cost the earth when it comes to ingredients. 

Indian 

Now a more popular take away option than Fish and Chips, Indian curries are fast becoming a national dish within the UK. If you’re in the mood for a Chicken Jalfrezi though, you don’t need to get on the phone to the local curry house. For all the complex tastes and flavours present in the cuisine, a curry is surprisingly easy to make from scratch. 

For a simple chicken dish, seal and fry off chicken breast and onions to start. You may want to marinade these ingredients with Indian spices to provide an authentic flavour, and the likes of Turmeric and Garam Masala can be picked up with ease at the local supermarket. 

Once these ingredients are fried off and emitting a strong, spicy aroma, you’re ready to add chopped tomatoes and an optional serving of natural yoghurt. Don’t forget to add a couple of nice hot chillies to give the meal an added kick. 

Pizza 

A timeless classic when it comes to an easy and quick takeaway, pizza is a staple of many-a-student house. Dough can easily be made if you’re lucky enough to own a bread maker – all you need is flour, yeast, sugar, salt, butter and water. 

But if you really want to go the whole hog, dough can be made completely from scratch and tossed into shape with a bit of effort and dedication. If you want an easier option, then buy a pre-made base. From here, the fun begins as you get to create a custom-topped pizza. Just make sure you don’t overload it. It’s a lot healthier than a greasy takeaway, and comes in at a fraction of the price of a Dominos. 

Steak 

While a city centre steakhouse can charge you upwards of £20 for a generous cut of steak, you can easily prepare a nice juicy rib eye and chips at home for a fraction of the cost. 

Supermarkets offer a wide selection of quality cuts, from cheap to high-end, so there’s options for any budget. Make sure you season your chosen cut prior to flash frying, and ensure your pan is up to temperature before you begin to cook. The great thing about cooking steak is you can do it exactly to suit your own taste, and guides on cooking to temperature can be found everywhere. 

As a rough guide, cook for one and a half minutes if you like your meat rare, three minutes for a medium temperature and four for well done. Prepare some chunky chips as a side dish by boiling some potatoes before slicing them and oven baking until golden brown and crispy. Fried mushrooms and onions are also a classic accompaniment for this hearty British favourite.