Cheap and easy curry

This curry can be made with whatever you have in the cupboards – even just potatoes and onions.

Ingredients

• 3tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 onion, finely sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2tbsp Balti curry paste
• 2 medium potatoes – around 225g (8oz) – peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1 small cauliflower, cut into large florets, smaller leaves roughly torn and reserved
• 2 medium carrots – around 175g (6oz) – peeled and cut into small cubes
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• 400g can chopped tomatoes, optional
• 75g (3oz) frozen peas, optional

Method

1. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan and add the onions. Fry over a medium heat for 10–15min until golden. Add the garlic, cook for 30sec, then the curry paste and cook for 1min, stirring regularly.
2. Add the potatoes and cauliflower and fry, stirring to coat in the oil, for 2min. Add carrots and cook for 1min. Pour 600ml (1 pint) boiling water into a jug and crumble in the stock cube. Add stock to the vegetables with tomatoes, if using. Season well.
3. Cover and simmer for 10min until the vegetables are almost tender. Add peas if using and cook for 2min. Add cauliflower leaves and cook for 30sec. Serve with bread, rice or on its own.

Curried vegetable rice

Method

1. Fry 1 small chopped onion in 1tbsp vegetable oil for 15min until tender,
2. then add ½tsp Balti curry paste and cook for a further 2–3min.
3. Add 1 large peeled and grated carrot,
4. then immediately add 150ml (¼ pint) rice and 300ml (½ pint) boiling water, a crumbled vegetable or chicken stock cube and plenty of seasoning.
5. Cover pan, bring to the boil and simmer for 10min.
6. Add a handful of broccoli or cauliflower florets and continue to cook for 5min. Serves 2.