Autumn in Latasha’s Kitchen

As the weather cools and the pace of life shifts, autumn naturally draws us back into the kitchen. It’s a season for slower cooking, deeper flavours and meals that bring comfort to the table and to hungry tummies.

At the same time, many households are feeling the pressure of hefty fuel costs and increasing grocery prices. The weekly shop looks different, and the need to make every dollar count is a constant priority. In this environment, home cooking has become an essential way to manage the household budget, but trust me, you can still eat well.

Eating Well While Spending Less

Cooking at home gives you a powerful way to stay in control of both nutrition and cost. By approaching it thoughtfully, you can create meals that are generous, satisfying and economical.

• Go for cheaper or bulk cuts of meat – Use them across multiple meals. A single cut can become a stew, a soup, a pasta sauce or a pie filling.
• Use the whole ingredient wherever possible – This can reduce waste and stretch value further. Think meat bones in soups and sauces, pumpkin skins in roasts, herb stems in stocks and pestos, and saved vegetable trimmings to build a rich homemade broth.
• Add soaked, protein-rich beans and lentils to meals – They increase volume and nutrition while keeping costs low.
• Cook double batches and freeze portions for future meals – Save yourself both time and the temptation to order a home delivered meal.
• Take inspiration from other cuisines – South American, Mexican, Persian, South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines often involve cooking in bulk, a long-standing tradition that feeds families well.
• Think differently about eggs – In Indian, Sri Lankan and Southeast Asian cooking, eggs are often the main protein, added boiled, cracked whole into dishes, or cooked as omelettes and folded into curries.
• Extend meals naturally with vegetables – Potatoes and carrots, for instance, add substance without significantly increasing cost. This Korma Mixed Vegetable Stew features coconut comfort and vegie goodness.
• Use herbs, spices and flavour bases – Transform simple ingredients into deeply satisfying meals. A well-balanced blend or paste can bring warmth, complexity and character for negligible extra cost.
• Plan meals around what’s in season and on special – Take advantage of better pricing and enjoy the added benefit of ingredients at their best quality and flavour.

These are simple, practical ways you can create meals that feel abundant without relying on expensive ingredients.

A Simple 15-Bean Stew

One of the most nourishing and economical dishes you can make is a slow-cooked mixed bean stew. It’s deeply satisfying, full of flavour and built on ingredients that are both affordable and highly nutritious.

Slow cooking is a pleasure in itself. It requires very little hands-on time yet it results in rich flavour and tender textures that just can’t be rushed. If you have an Instant Pot, pressure cooker or slow cooker, the process is even easier.

To prepare, soak your beans overnight, then rinse them well the next day until the water runs clear. A balanced mix works beautifully. I recommend using approximately one quarter lentils and peas, and half a cup each of the larger beans.

Cook the beans slowly with homemade stock, passata and mixed herbs, or add Latasha’s Kitchen Green Coriander Sauce for added depth and brightness.

Suggested bean mix:

• White beans – Navy, great northern, large lima or baby lima, cannellini.
• Red and pink beans – Large red kidney, small red kidney or adzuki, cranberry.
• Other beans – Pinto, black beans, chickpeas.
• Peas and lentils – Green split peas, yellow split peas, pigeon peas or lentils, black-eyed peas, red cow peas.

These very humble ingredients deliver real nourishment. They’re filling, comforting and provide a strong source of protein and fibre, making them a reliable foundation for many meals throughout the week.

Making the Most of Affordable Cuts of Meat

There’s great value in choosing larger, more affordable cuts of meat, especially when they’re on special. Supporting your local butcher is also important, as they too are likely doing it tough in this economy.

A simple method can transform a modest cut into multiple meals. Take a large piece of pork, lamb or beef, rub generously with Latasha’s Kitchen Turmeric Magic, and place it over a bed of sliced onions in a roasting tray. Add stock and herbs, cover with baking paper, and cook slowly for three to four hours until tender.

Once cooked, shred the meat using two forks. From here, the possibilities open up. Serve it alongside a slow-cooked vegetable stew of tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, marrows and fennel. Use the leftovers to create tacos, fold into a rich pasta sauce for a ragu, or make a filling for a hearty family pie.

This approach makes the most of a single purchase, turning it into several meals that you can serve up another couple of times. It’s also where Latasha’s Kitchen products bring everything together, adding depth, warmth and complexity to simple ingredients.

NEW!! Latasha’s Funky Black Bean Chilli Oils

Add instant warmth and incredible umami flavour to any dish, however humble or sophisticated with my new Black Bean Chilli Oils. Choose from the following three varieties (or grab a bundle of all three):

• Funky Black Bean Chilli Oil
• Funky Black Bean with Peanut & Miso Chilli Oil
• Funky Black Bean with Harissa Chilli Oil

Simple Cooking, Lasting Comfort

Autumn cooking is about care, patience and making thoughtful choices. With the right approach, it is entirely possible to create meals that are generous, nourishing and cost-conscious, bringing both comfort and confidence back into your kitchen.

Wishing you all a lovely, cosy Autumn!

Latasha xx