Not Your Average Tesco

• Lets get dirty and talk about Shopping and Money.

Income may be incoming from all sorts of places: parents/work/grant/savings/cheeky steal.

Whatever the source and whatever the amount, you always have to eat. And plan to eat. You may think the cheapest 

option is a two euro deal from King of Burgers but really the fat is addictive so in about an hour you’ll want another or something sweet. 

The cheapest way to feed yoself is doing A Shop. Weekly, so stuff doesn’t have to chance to go off. The cheapest places I have found in Dublin are Lidl, Aldi, Asian Markets (for certain things) the fruit &veg market on Moore St. and the fruit&veg market just off Capel street for bulk buying. 

Asian Markets.

Useful :

- Rice Noodles -

A tasty alternative to pasta that has the consistency of pasta. Under a euro for five to six servings. Choice between sizes. Always check the ingredients just in case.

- Spices and dried herbs-

 Large quantities for 2 to 8 euro. Spices are, I admit, kind of still a mystery to me. I know everything taste better with cumin and cjilli flakes. I know sage is nice with lamb and cinnamon is tasty with porridge. Basically everything is better with spices once you (and I) know how to use them. It also makes you look very professional and chef-like if you add a ‘dash of this’ and ‘a dash of that’ while cooking.

- Chickpeas -

 Great source of protein for veggies or for people having a meatless dinner. Handy if you want to whip up some hummus for snacks (warning: involves a blender/soup smusher). Get the tinned rather then dried as they are ready to use straight away and the dried require soaking. In the Asian Market on Mary street you can buy a regular tin for 49 cent.

- Rice - 

My flatmates and I bought a bag the size of a baby for a fiver in September and are still using it. I advise jasmine rice, brown rice or pilaf rice over plain white as they’ll fill you for longer and they’re more nutrilicious. Also, microwable packet rice is gross. Don’t do it unless you’re sure you won’t remember it the next day.

- Lentils -

 Good for soup or a bake, bit of a drag to cook. Under 3 euro for a medium sized pack. Long-lasting.

- Dahl - 

Very filling, apparently easy to cook although the last time I tried the apartment smelt like feet.

- Sweet Chilli Sauce -

Cheap. Authentic. Boom.

- All variations of bombay mix -

The ultimate nibbles, stave off your guests/your own hunger while you’re cooking with these slightly spicy snacks. Involves gram flour (from chickpeas), sometimes lentils, sometimes peanuts, rarely any wheat or dairy.

I have yet to buy any meat or fish from an Asian Market. The chicken feet and jellyfish look  delicious. I’ll let you know when I do.

List of Asian Markets

Asia Market

                   18 Drury St.                     

Dublin 2

asiamarket.ie

Asian Food Co.

54-55 Mary St.

Dublin 1

Tel: 01 878 1099

asianfoodco@gmail.com

Asia Supermarket

59 Capel st.

Dublin 1

Tel: 018729766