Budget-friendly curry recipes

A budget-friendly curry recipe is essential to have in your repertoire. Frozen veg, cheaper cuts of meat and store-cupboard pulses are naturally budget-friendly and always happy in a curry. And adding just a handful of spices or a spoonful of curry paste can turn these humble ingredients into something really special.

From smoky daals to tasty tikkas we’ve got some seriously good curries here – along with the all-important breads and sides – so you can feast without breaking the bank. Read on for our favourite budget-friendly curry recipes, and put some spice in your life!

Looking for chicken curry recipes? Explore our inspiring recipes from across Asia.

For a colourful expression of autumn, give Jamie’s Fragrant squash curry a go. Ripe cherry tomatoes and tinned pineapple bring a touch of sweetness and balance out the earthy fenugreek and coriander. It’s packed with the good stuff, vegan and gluten free, and perfect for batch-cooking.

When a busy weeknight calls for something quick, easy and tasty, this Spiced aubergine & coconut curry recipe fits the brief. Tender aubergines are simmered with punchy mustard seeds and warming garam masala in coconut milk, until rich and creamy. Swap in standard aubergines if it makes life easier.

Fancy making your own paneer? It’s easier than you might think – you only need whole milk and lemon juice! Serve this classic side with your favourite veggie curries, and accompaniments and you’ve got a gorgeous weekend feast for family and friends to share.

Heroing frozen fish & store-cupboard lentils and packed with veg, this moreish and balanced Fish tikka curry recipe is full of the good stuff. Making the most of affordable and convenient ingredients guarantees a delicious and satisfying meal without hiking up the cost – you’re gonna love it!

Cooked too many spuds? Use them up in Jamie’s fragrant Bombay potatoes recipe. A simple homemade spice paste of tomato, garlic, ginger, fresh chilli and ground spices adds vibrancy and fragrance to humble leftovers – turning them into a cracking side dish, or a satisfying midweek lunch.

Jamie’s much-loved Smoky aubergine daal gets its gorgeous smokiness from lightly blackening the aubergine and setting a cinnamon stick alight before adding to the pan. Rosemary joins the spices to add a lovely woody background note, and black beans and puy lentils add texture. We’re totally in love with this!

Trying to use your microwave more and your oven less? Give Jamie’s Microwave veggie curry recipe a go. This clever recipe contains all of your 5-a-day and is cooked entirely in the microwave! Serve with rice, or mix it up with homemade flatbreads or naans.

Lamb and chickpeas is a winning combination that’s naturally meat-reduced, so this recipe is great for your wallet and your body! Chickpeas are a good source of protein, fibre and manganese, plus just 80g of cooked chickpeas counts as 1 of your 5-a-day. A great recipe to scale up, batch cook and freeze for future meals.

Jamie’s batch-cook Veggie jalfrezi is a brilliant principle dish that you can flex to accommodate whatever vegetables or pulses you have to hand. You can even swap the chickpeas for chicken, lamb or beef if that floats your boat.

You need just 5 ingredients to whip up Jamie’s Speedy spinach curry. Toasted cashews add a creamy, nutty texture, and a dollop of shop-bought curry paste provides a gentle heat. So easy!

Cauliflower and potato are best buds in the curry world, and this simple curry recipe is a gorgeous celebration of their perfect partnership. Served with homemade parathas; this is delicious as part of a weekend spread.

For more inspo on how to save money in the kitchen, check out our Budget-friendly recipe hub