Feed your family for under $10

The cost of living in Australia is rising and it’s expected to keep rising through 2023, from day-to-day stuff at the supermarket to petrol and housing expenses — everything is going through the roof. That’s why I’m a massive believer that we need to keep an eye on our groceries.

I know we love eating a lot of protein in Australia. Some people prefer to support local butchers and fishmongers, while others prefer to buy from big supermarkets. But at the end of the day, the reality is that our eating habits need to adjust to our current economic situation. If you see your weekly budget getting tighter, this tip is for you!

This week, I went to one of the cheapest supermarkets in town and I saw a 1.3 kg whole chicken for $4.49 per kilo. While next to it, there was a tray of chicken thighs of 1.3 kg at $11.49 per kilo. That made me think? Wow, what a massive increase of price per kilo for just pieces of the same product. Do people check the price per kilo when they do their shopping?

For me it’s a no-brainer, that’s why today I choose to use the $4.49 per kilo whole bird to feed my family and I’ll be putting it in the oven for a quick and easy dinner.

Please don’t be intimidated by roasting a chicken at home! It’s one of the easiest things you can do in your kitchen. In fact, it is as easy as slapping a bit of olive oil on it, then any combination of herbs from your pantry, plus a good amount of seasoning, and you’ll get dinner for the family for less than $10.

But don’t I need a rotisserie as I see at the chicken shops or fancy charcoal places? No worries at all, in terms of kitchen equipment you just need an oven at 180 degrees Celsius, a frying pan and a piece of baking paper. Trust me! You don’t need fancy stuff for this. You just need to put the chicken in the oven and get on with your life. Just remember, to set an alarm on your phone and cook it for 45 minutes per kilogram, plus 20 additional minutes or until the juices from the inside of the chicken come clear.

If you like to play with food and have more time and more money? Put some plastic gloves on and give the chicken a massage with a little bit of olive oil and tandoori paste for a spicy bird. Or add heaps of lemon, fresh thyme and garlic for a Mediterranean touch. Whatever you do, try to marinate the chicken for at least four hours, although overnight is always best!

Now, how to serve it? Using a knife you can basically pull apart the bird in pieces and serve it on a plate, letting your family choose what part they like best. Accompanying it with a simple seasonal salad.

Or, you can put some gloves on and pull apart the chicken with your hands (like if it was pulled pork), and serve it with raw chopped veggies, herbs, avocado and wraps in order to make some healthy tacos.

Whatever you do… please keep the bones in order to make chicken stock so we can maximise the whole chicken for future preparations.