Cooking Halal on a Budget: Tips and Tricks

Budget-Friendly Halal Meal Preparation

DITCH BORING LUNCHES WITH BUDGET-FRIENDLY HALAL MEAL PREP! GET COOKT'S BEST ADVICE ON HOW TO EXTEND FLAVOR AND SAVE MONEY.

We are aware that you have to balance meetings, deadlines, and the incessant want to take a sleep beneath your desk. You shouldn't add boring lunches to your list of things to do.

Prepare yourself for some quick and easy halal meal preparation tips and high protein meal plans that will save you money and save your taste buds from being monotonous. We're discussing methods to make those prepared meals incredibly delicious, as well as affordable items and clever buying strategies.

Let's begin! 

Plan Ahead for Affordable Halal Cooking

Although it may seem simple, a little weekly planning may save a lot of money. Choose three or four meals to prepare over the week before heading to the store. This compels you to carefully consider the ingredients, purchase only what you require, and avoid impulsive takeaway purchases that drastically exceed your spending limit.

For inspiration, look over the Getcookt meal plan menu. In addition to saving money, a few minutes of preparation will result in lunches that you truly like! 

Visit Cuisine-Specific Shops for Halal Ingredients

After you've wrapped up your planning, it's time to hit the stores for all the ingredients on your list. Avoid the big supermarket chains for your halal meal prep, though! Stores and markets that focus on specific regions. If you're looking for halal meats, rice, lentils, dried beans and spices, you might want to check out Turkish, Middle Eastern and South Asian grocers. They often have some pretty good prices on those items from their cuisines.

Also, keep an eye out for discounts on fresh fruits and veggies, as well as canned items. Additionally, don't forget to ask the staff for special order goods or recommendations. Checking out these markets is a fantastic way to make your food budget go further and find some exciting new flavours for your meal prep! 

Focus on Seasonal Produce for Halal Meals

Choosing seasonal vegetables and fruits is a great way to cut down on grocery costs while still enjoying delicious flavours. When fruits and veggies are in season, you can find them more easily and they usually cost less too. Additionally, your recipes get more varied!

Try to plan your meals based on what's in season. Root veggies, fresh salads packed with summer berries, and cosy stews featuring winter greens are perfect for grabbing the nutrients you need throughout the year. Try using local apples or plums instead of tomato-based sauces when they're not in season. When you've got plenty of kale, whip up some tasty salads! There are so many possibilities out there!

And yeah, if you grab some in-season produce in bulk, you can totally freeze it for later use! 

Use Versatile Ingredients for Halal Meal Prep

Fill your kitchen with versatile ingredients that you can use in a bunch of halal dishes all week long. You can use ingredients like rice, lentils, beans, eggs, canned tomatoes, onions, garlic, and some basic spices in a bunch of different recipes. Feel free to grab these in bigger amounts and keep them for a while!

Having these staples on hand makes it super easy to whip up curries, soups, grain bowls, salads, and so much more. You’ll save time and cut down on food waste with this. 

Minimize Food Waste While Cooking Halal on a Budget

Throwing away food is like throwing away money, and nobody wants that, right? Alright, let's talk about how you can really maximize your ingredients and cut down on food waste while meal prepping.

When you're out grocery shopping, take a look at your meal plan and stick to what you know you'll actually use. It makes things easier! Make sure to stick to your list so you don't end up making those impulse buys that you might regret later.

Make sure to get some good airtight containers for your fridge and freezer. Always remember to store your food following the package instructions to help it last longer.

Make sure to label all your containers with what's inside and a "use by" date. This way, you'll stay organized and won't forget about anything you have!

Leftovers are great to have around! Why not transform those leftover cooked meats or veggies into something new and delicious? Last night's chicken turned into tacos, salads, or stir-fry. Roasted veggies are great in soups or grain bowls!

Budget-Friendly Halal Meal Prep Ideas

Here's a quick guide to get you started with delicious and budget-friendly meal prepping. 

Breakfast Ideas for Affordable Halal Cooking

• Oats: Use some hot water to make a batch of oats. For sweetness and a delightful crunch, sprinkle chopped almonds, banana slices, and honey on top. It's filling, toasty, and will keep you going till lunch.
• Vegetable Scrambles with Eggs: Add chopped onions, peppers, or any other colorful ingredients you have on hand to scramble some eggs. If you want to be fancy, add some grated cheese.
• Smoothie on the Run: Combine frozen fruit (mango, berries, etc.), plain yoghurt, spinach, and a scoop of optional protein powder in a blender. Store in individual jars or bags for quick morning grab-and-go. 

Lunch Ideas for Halal Meal Prep

• Chicken Salad Crunch: Combine mayonnaise, chopped celery, and red onion with some shredded leftover cooked chicken breast. For a high-protein lunch, serve it over a bed of lettuce or spoon it inside whole-wheat pita bread.
• Savior of Lentil Soup: On the weekend, prepare a large pot of lentil soup. It's filling, reasonably priced, and ideal for reheating at any time of the week. For added flavor, add diced potatoes, carrots, and your preferred spices.
• Hummus and Vegetable Wraps: Top a whole-wheat wrap with hummus. Add as much lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and other vegetables as you like. You get a tasty and substantial lunch when you roll it up tightly.

Dinner Ideas for Halal Cooking on a Budget

• Sheet Pan Chicken Feast: Preheat the oven and combine diced chicken breasts with chopped onion, peppers, zucchini, and your preferred seasonings. Line a baking sheet with everything, then let the oven do the work! A tasty dinner that's also easy to clean up.
• Lentil Curries: This traditional dish is incredibly fulfilling and reasonably priced. Add your preferred curry spices (such as cumin, turmeric, and coriander) to lentils along with diced tomatoes, onions, and a little coconut milk and simmer. For a full dinner, serve with naan bread or rice.
  

Smart Substitutions for Low-Cost Halal Meals

Cooking halal on a budget doesn’t mean compromising flavour. Swap out costly ingredients for wallet-friendly alternatives.

• Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for rich, tender dishes.
• Choose frozen veggies instead of out-of-season produce.
• Replace ghee with olive oil for lighter, affordable cooking.
• Try canned chickpeas in place of expensive protein sources.
  

If you’re watching your diet, explore keto meal plans or weight loss meal options that help you maintain balance without overspending.

Healthy Halal Diet Options on a Budget

If you’re focusing on nutrition, diet meal plans are a great starting point. You can also explore gluten-free halal meal options to suit your lifestyle or dietary needs.

For busy weeks, consider preordering your halal meals during promotions like the First Week of the Month collection, which offers deals designed to help families save while eating clean.

Use Getcookt to Reach Your Meal Prep Objectives

Making tasty, healthy halal meals from scratch every day isn't always feasible due to hectic schedules. Here's where we can assist.

Take the strain away from dinner preparation with GetCookt! You can receive tasty, reasonably priced halal meals delivered right to your door with our halal meal prep service. You will even receive discounts and free delivery on your first order if you are a first-time customer! As if that weren't enough, we frequently send out additional discount codes to our existing customers via email newsletters or SMS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I cook for a halal dinner?

You can cook simple halal dinners like chicken biryani, lentil curry, or grilled kebabs using halal-certified meat and fresh vegetables.

How to feed a family of 4 on $10 a day?

Plan affordable meals using rice, lentils, eggs, and seasonal vegetables while buying in bulk to stretch ingredients further.

What ready meals are halal?

Ready meals made with 100% Zabihah-certified meat and no alcohol, such as those from halal meal prep services, are considered halal.

How to make cheap meals on a budget?

Use versatile staples like beans, rice, and lentils, and cook in batches to save money and reduce waste.

What are some easy affordable halal foods to make?

Halal stir-fries, lentil soups, chickpea curries, and vegetable wraps are easy, affordable, and quick to prepare.