While cost-of-living pressures may have cut down on the number of takeaways you eat, they shouldn’t rob you of the pleasure of those kinds of meals. Why not try a fakeaway?
As the name suggests, it’s a takeaway dish that you recreate at home. Whether you usually order international cuisine such as Indian or Thai or treat the family to pizza or fish and chips, the fakeaway can be made to measure. Here are a few ideas to get you started – all made with local produce, of course.
Banger burgers
Burgers are one of our most popular takeaway foods for good reason, but you can make really delicious ones at home. This barramundi burger is simply crumbed and served with a homemade tartare sauce – you can use other firm white fish that’s on special, too. For those who like a little spice, try the Xian-style lamb burger. If you’re the more traditional type, these homemade beef burgers will go down a treat. And they all pair beautifully with another fakeaway – potatoes sliced into chips, seasoned, tossed in olive oil and cooked til crunchy in the oven or airfryer. Or try these sweet potato chips for a fancier side.
Simple sensations
Tacos are an easy fakeaway. You can use steak, as in these beef tacos with hot green sauce, or opt for cheaper mince. No matter the filling, they are a great way to feed the family. Just dial the heat up or down according to taste. Wrap the filling in La Tortilla’s flavour-filled tortillas, made from premium local corn, for an authentic Mexican mouthful. Banh mi, those delicious Vietnamese rolls, are another surprisingly simple takeaway staple to prepare at home. Choose any meat you like, such as these pork banh mi, or pack with pickled vegies, salad and fresh herbs.
Curry flavours
Do you usually grab curries on the way home? Pick up a jar or two from Turban Chopsticks’ range of curry pastes instead, follow the simple instructions and add fillings of your choice and you’ll feel like you’re eating terrific takeaways in no time. If you have an air fryer, you are bound to love this yellow cauliflower curry, for starters. For those who regularly order soup from their favourite Asian takeaway, a chicken wonton soup or chickpea and pumpkin laksa will hit the spot. Or how about a super-quick eggplant, potato and capsicum stirfry?
Pasta master
We love Italian takeaways but fakeaway options are plentiful, too. Simply cook some fresh pasta and toss in premium local olive oil (such as Talbot Grove), cracked pepper, garlic and chilli for an aglio e olio that will be ready quicker than you can order takeaway. Or celebrate homegrown vegies, such as in an eggplant pasta or our super green lasagne, which is laden with silverbeet, kale and zucchini as well as La Delizia Latticini ricotta and feta from Borrello Cheese. Or what about some homemade gnocchi? Yes, the preparation takes a little longer, but it cooks in no time.
We know you’re not getting the night off cooking that takeaways provide but with a little thought and prep, you can create fakeaways that will leave everyone satisfied. And remember, when fakeaways are made with local ingredients you’re not only saving money on takeaways but supporting our fabulous farmers, grocers and producers.
See our recipes for more inspiration.