Can we talk about how expensive it is to get a takeaway meal in 2023?
Everything seems to be costing more and more these days and a simple trip to your local takeaway shop now sets you back a pretty penny.
That's why I've created some of my favourite takeaway recipes as fakeaways.
What is Fakeaway food?
A fakeaway is a homemade version of your favourite takeaway dish.
Instead of going to your local takeaway shop, you opt for simple recipes to make your own at home. Once you nail a few, you won't go back!
The good thing about fakeaway recipes is that you can meal prep them for the week. See my Meal Prep for Beginners post for tips & tricks or you can purchase my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
Takeaway vs Fakeaway
Fakeaway has numerous benefits over takeaway including:
Cheaper. The cost of making your own fakeaway is much lower than the cost of ordering takeaway. For example, a Chinese dish at a local shop will cost you around $20, but my fakeaway recipes are all less than $5 a serve.
Healthier. Takeaways are often high in fat, calories, and salt. Making your own fakeaway gives you more control over the ingredients, so you can make it healthier. For example, you can use lean cuts of meat, more vegetables, low-sodium sauces and extra virgin olive oil.
It's more fun. Making your own fakeaway is a fun and creative way to spend time in the kitchen. You can experiment with different recipes and ingredients to find your perfect fakeaway.
Fakeaway Recipes
Fried Rice
Fried Rice is like the OG Chinese takeaway option that is loved around the world. The trick to getting Fried Rice to taste like takeaway is using refridgerated rice and Chinese cooking wine.
Sweet & Sour Pork
Sweet and sour pork is known for its distinct sweet and sour taste from the pineapple. I opt not to deep fry the pork and add more vegetables for a well-rounded meal. You can adjust depending on your preferences, but I think my recipe is the best.
Pad See Ew
Pad See Ew was the first Thai dish I chose from a menu. The picture next to the name was stunning with the caramelisation of the thick noodles and the Asian greens. The thick noodles are hard to come by outside of an Asian grocer, but I found the Pad Thai noodles do the trick just fine when I've made my own.
Pad Thai
Pad Thai with noodles is the OG Thai recipe that every Thai restaurant is ranked on. It is typically made with egg and tofu as the main sources or protein, and tamarind paste which gives it the distinct taste.
When you make your own, you can mix and match the protein without having to spend an extra $5 for one dish.
Lemon Chicken
Lemon Chicken is probably my favourite fakeaway Chinese recipe. While I do appreciate the takeaway version with the crispy batter on the chicken, this doesn't make my stomach feel too good. I have adjusted the recipe to make it a healthier Chinese recipe option by grilling the chicken instead of deep frying.
Satay
Satay is one of my favourite sauces. I always have the ingredients in my house and it takes as long as the kettle takes to boil to make. It can be used in a variety of ways in a variety of dishes. My favourite is to make it as a meal prep with chicken and rice. I look forward to it every day of the week!
Cashew Chicken
When I first wanted to try making Cashew Chicken, I thought I would have to buy some fancy Cashew flavoured sauce. As it turns out, the sauce used to make Cashew Chicken is made from regular Chinese sauces that you likely already have at home.
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