A family of seven can enjoy a hearty and delicious meal for just £26.28, as demonstrated by a savvy shopper at Sainsbury's Local. The total cost per person came to approximately £3.75, proving that feeding a large family on a budget is achievable with careful planning and smart choices.
The Challenge of Feeding a Large Family
Keeping mealtimes affordable is a challenge for any household, but it can feel nearly impossible when catering for a large family. Due to circumstances beyond her control, Shania King-Soyza found herself sharing a home with nine people. Aside from two fussy eaters, everyone tends to eat the same meals, though those dishes are often either costly or unhealthy.
For their monthly shop, the family typically visits Asda, Iceland, or Lidl. However, they often end up at Sainsbury's for dinner when the fridge is bare, simply because it is their nearest store. Sainsbury's is not known as a budget supermarket, yet with a keen eye for deals and the right recipe, it is surprisingly straightforward to keep costs down.
Choosing the Right Meal
The first hurdle was finding a meal that was tasty, satisfying, and nutritious. King-Soyza did not want to fall back on something plain and predictable, such as spaghetti bolognese or bangers and mash. Instead, she opted for something slightly more ambitious yet still simple to prepare and serve to a crowd: lasagne.
Lasagne is a beloved Italian baked pasta dish, created by layering flat pasta sheets with meat sauce, a creamy white sauce, and cheese. It is far more affordable to make than one might expect. The priciest ingredient is the minced meat.
Ingredient Costs and Savings
King-Soyza visited a local store rather than a larger supermarket, so the choice was somewhat limited. She purchased three packets of Sainsbury's 5% Fat Beef Mince 500g for £5.19 each, totalling £15.57. Typically, she would buy two 750g packs for £7.15 each (£14.30 altogether), but they were unavailable in the shop.
For the other ingredients, she selected the most affordable options or suitable alternatives to minimise expenses. Instead of using a ready-made pasta sauce, she bought two tins of plum tomatoes for 47p each to prepare the meat sauce from scratch. She prefers making her own sauce to enhance the lasagne's taste and nutritional value, though a jar of tomato and herb sauce (500g) at Sainsbury's costs 69p each.
One pre-prepared item she retained was a jar of cheese or white sauce. This ingredient can be somewhat expensive, but she discovered a jar of mac and cheese sauce for 69p. She then collected one box of dried lasagne sheets for 75p and the most economical packet of grated cheese for £2.80. In total, the essential ingredients for the lasagne came to £20.75.
To enhance the dish's flavour, she also bought a pack of four garlic bulbs (87p), fresh basil (90p), a pack of three large brown onions (95p), and dried Italian herb seasoning (£1.25). Finally, to incorporate some additional greens for a side dish, she acquired two bags of sweet leaf salad for 78p each. For an extra component, she suggests Sainsbury's frozen garlic bread, where two baguettes cost 85p.
Excluding the 40p for a plastic bag, the total reached £26.28, which is £3.75 per person for a family of seven.
How to Make Lasagne
Here is the recipe as shared by King-Soyza. The serving size is for a family of seven, but can be adjusted for a smaller group.
Ingredients
- Three packets of 500g beef mince (or two packets of 750g)
- One packet of lasagne sheets
- One jar of white sauce
- Two tins of plum tomatoes (chopped is better, but you can use both)
- Cheese (of your choice)
- Chopped fresh basil (to taste)
- Dried mixed Italian herb seasoning (to taste)
- Chopped fresh garlic (to taste)
- Chopped and diced brown onions (to taste)
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Oil (for cooking)
- Paprika (optional and to taste)
- All-purpose seasoning (optional and to taste)
To serve: sweet leaf salad and garlic bread (optional).
Method
Begin by heating oil in a pan and frying the chopped onions. Once they have browned, add the mince and season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Paprika and all-purpose seasoning can also be mixed in for added flavour if available. Once cooked through, stir in the tinned tomatoes. If using plum tomatoes, ensure they are chopped and reduced to a sauce-like consistency, avoiding any chunky texture. Next, add the fresh basil, Italian herb seasoning, and a little extra salt and pepper to taste.
Allow the mixture to simmer on a low to medium heat for a few minutes while the flavours meld together, then remove from the hob. Take a deep baking tray and add the first layer of mince. Layer lasagne sheets on top, followed by mince, white sauce, and further lasagne sheets, repeating the process until all ingredients are used up. The final layer before adding the cheese topping should consist of mince and white sauce.
Place in the oven and bake for approximately 25 to 30 minutes at 180°C. When ready, the top should be golden brown and crispy. Serve alongside a fresh salad and garlic bread.
