FOODWORLD
Healthy family meals on a budget!
New Zealand's Easiest Family Recipes
Serving healthy food to your family is challenging, especially when you are on a low budget. We have low cost meals for people on a budget with cost saving ideas and budget recipes. They are all healthy eating ideas and are cheap to prepare. Change the recipes to suit your family's tastes and the ingredients you have. Cutting costs on food doesn't mean you have to cut on quality. It's still possible to prepare meals that not only taste great, but are also good for you.
Mince Recipes NZ - easy mince recipes!

Store mince in the coldest part of the fridge (usually the bottom shelf) and use within two days. If you know you won’t use it within two days, freeze it as soon you buy it. Mince can be frozen for up to two months without any loss of quality. Just make sure it’s wrapped well enough to prevent freezer burn. When you want to cook the mince, defrost it in the fridge (not on the bench). To kill bacteria, mince needs to be well cooked. Meatballs and hamburger patties should be cooked right through.

BEEF PATTIES
650g mince
4 tbsp oatmeal - 4 tbsp milk
¾ tsp salt and black pepper to season
1 large egg - 1 tbsp chopped capers
3 gherkins, finely chopped - a little oil
Thoroughly mix all ingredients except oil. Shape into patties. Grill 4 mins each side. 
HAMBURGERS
Pattie options:
Meat pattie, Fish pattie, Grilled bacon, Cooked chicken
Bread options: :
Burger rolls, Sliced toast bread, French Bread, Focaccia bread
Spread options:
Tomato sauce - Mustard - Chutney - Mayonnaise   
Meat Patties
Have about 100g mince for each burger.
Roll mince into a ball with wet hands.
Heat oil in a pan. Put pattie in and flatten with a fish slice.
Cook on high heat until brown on both sides and in the middle.
This should take about 2 minutes each side.
BURRITO'S - NOCHO'S - TACO'S 
500 grams lean mince
1 onion, finely chopped
1 tin baked beans or chilli beans(420 gram tin)
1 tin chopped tomatoes (410 gram tin)
2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs
1 teaspoon chilli powder/paste/sauce to taste
1 packet nachos, burritos or tacos
3 carrots, grated or sliced
1 lettuce, shredded, 1 avocado
Cook mince in non-stick fry pan until brown.
Add onion and cook until tender.
Add tomatoes, beans, mixed herbs and chilli.
Simmer on low to medium heat for 15 minutes
Warm the tacos, nachos or burritos in oven.
Serve while hot with grated carrot, lettuce, avocado and a little light sour cream. 
MEAT LOAF RECIPE
500g lean mince
1 ½ cups breadcrumbs
¼ cup tomato sauce
1 egg
1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs or
1 tablespoon fresh herbs
1 cup grated carrot
Press mixture into a loaf tin, or oven-proof dish.
Cook at 180ºC for 40-45 minutes, or until juices run clear.
MEAT LOAF RECIPE
1 kg mince
2 tsp dried marjoram
1 lge onion finely chopped
2 cups breadcrumbs
dash of Worcester sauce
2 tbsp tomato sauce
2 tsp beef stock
2 eggs beaten
2 eggs hardboiled
pinch of thyme
Mix all ingredients except hardboiled egg.
Place hardboiled eggs in middle and form a loaf shape round eggs.
Bake at 180C for 1 ½ hours.
MINCE BASKETS
350g mince
1 Tbsp oil
1 tsp mixed Italian-style dried herbs
2 Tbsp tomato paste
425g jar bolognaise sauce
8 slices fresh bread, crusts removed
8 slices tomato
1/3 cup grated cheese  
Brown mince in oil.
Drain off excess liquid.
Add herbs, tomato paste and pasta sauce.
Simmer gently for 20-30 minutes until thick.
Line a greased muffin tin with slices of fresh bread and fill with mince mixture.
Top with a slice of tomato and some grated cheese.
Bake at 200? C for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.to serve. 
MINCE DELIGHT
2 tablespoons oil
400g lean mince
2 cups chopped vegetables, e.g. onion, celery, carrot, mushrooms, frozen vegetables, pumpkin
½ teaspoon mixed herbs
¼ cup tomato paste, 1 ½ cups water
2 medium potatoes, sliced    
Heat the oil in a saucepan.
Brown mince, stirring to break up, add the chopped onions.
Add tomato paste, herbs, water and vegetables.
Pour into an oven dish.
Peel and slice the potatoes and cover over the meat.
Bake for 45 minutes or until potatoes on top are soft and brown. 
SAVOURY MINCE
500g beef mince
2 tablespoons oil
1 onion, finely chopped
salt, pepper
1 sweet potato, diced
1 cup frozen peas and corn
2 cups beef stock
Heat oil in a large pan.
Add finely chopped onion and cook until transparent.
Add mince and generous sprinkle of salt.
When mince is browned, add diced sweet potatoes.
Stir for a few minutes.
Add peas and corn and season with salt and pepper.
Add the beef stock to the pan - this should cover everything.
Cook on low heat with lid on, stirring periodically.
Once the sweet potato is soft, taste and season accordingly.
Healthy family meals on a budget!