Affordable and easy meals: Savoury Mince and Rice

There comes a time in every student’s journey when you realise that takeout is really expensive… Finding cheap and budget-friendly meals as a student can be a great way to save money while still enjoying delicious and nutritious food. Look, we’re not saying that you should skip over that McFlurry or not budge into those 11 spiced desires (Apparently, it’s finger-lickin’ good), we’re just saying that those pots you insisted on buying need to go to good use.
Today in the Fields kitchen, we’re making grandma’s fave: Savoury mince and rice

Ingredients

A tablespoon of olive oil (or your preferred cooking oil)
500g pack of beef mince (again, opt for your preferred type of minced protein, and also, you can use fewer portions if you don’t cook in bulk)
Steamed carrots, corn and peas (or just get the mixed veg bag at your nearest store)
400g potatoes (peeled and diced) – totally optional
A sizable onion (chopped)
A cup of tomato puree
Two tablespoons of beef gravy powder
Steamed white rice
Next to the part we like to call ‘self-care’ – let’s get to cooking! 

How to prepare

Use a large frying pan to heat your oil over medium heat.
Add the diced onion and beef mince and then stir continuously to break the mince.
Leave it to cook until the mince has browned (for about 6 to 8 minutes).
Throw some seasoning in your mince, and use that famous Salt bae hand to get that going (it’s okay, we give you permission to use Six Gun Grill seasoning – rolls eyes)
Add a cup of water, the gravy powder, and the tomato puree.
Stir thoroughly to combine.
You can now add the diced potatoes at this point (that’s if you’re going with this step, if not – just skip to step 11)
Cover it and leave it to boil.
Once it has boiled, reduce the heat to a medium-low and leave it to simmer until the potatoes are just tender (for about 20 minutes)
Be sure to stir continuously

Add the pea, carrot, and corn mixture, and let it cook for about 5 minutes until it has cooked through
Serve with steamed rice and indulge, you deserve it!

Tips:

• When cooking, heat it in a frying pan over medium-high heat while stirring occasionally until it has heated through.
• Thaw your mince in the dish overnight.
• Place the food in a snap-lock bag, and flatten it for easy thawing

Remember to take advantage of sales, discounts, and bulk purchases when grocery shopping to save even more money. And remember to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your meals for a well-rounded and balanced diet.
Talking about discounts and sales; have you spotted our reduced rates? Furnished apartments from R4500 per month sharing. We believe in making quality accommodation accessible to all. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity.
Enquire now and experience excellence without breaking the bank!