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Although I love a good take out as much as anybody, I worry that the food can be high in fat and made with ingredients I’d rather avoid. Take out food can also be expensive. With these make your own take away recipes, you guarantee your dinner will be hot and fresh when you eat it and it is likely to be a lot better for you as well.
Although there’s a bit more effort involved to make your own take away, the rewards are great. And honestly, a little light slicing, chopping and stirring can be positively therapeutic after a busy day.
(Please note, I’ve jumped between the terminology ‘make your own take away’ (British English) and ‘make your own take out’ (North American English) because I couldn’t decide which turn of phrase to use. Language indecision is one of the perils of being an ex-pat!)
Make Your Own Take Away Recipes
Over the years I’ve shared a number of recipes that taste as good as – if not better than – your favourite take away foods. Easily made at home with wholesome ingredients, most only take only around half an hour to make.
Try my easy recipes and rediscover the pleasures of home cooked food even on nights when take away seems like the only option. With make your own take away you’ve got lots of choices for easy, nutritious and wholesome dinners in about the same time as it takes to order and wait for someone else to make your dinner for you!
With lots of fresh veggies, crunchy cashew nuts and a deliciously spiced sauce, this Easy Vegetable and Cashew Stir Fry recipe takes make your own take out to a whole new level.
My Healthier Sweet and Sour Chicken has all the flavour of a traditional sweet and sour recipe but none of the additives and preservatives.
Chinese Chicken with Cashew Nuts takes a little longer to prepare but this delicious dish is worth every moment.
Fresh veggies, a tasty sauce and comforting noodles make this Vegan Pad Thai recipe a treat any day of the week!
Adjust the spices in my Curried Mango Chicken to suit your family and enjoy all the taste of wholesome Indian food at home.
Fresh salmon combines with crisp broccoli and red pepper on a bed of brown rice in my Salmon and Broccoli Stir Fry recipe.
Wholesome ingredients, richly but mildly spiced in my Beef and Vegetable Stir Fry in a Sweet and Spicy Sauce make for a fast meal the whole family can enjoy.
So next time you fancy take out, make your own take away recipes instead. It’s easy, often quicker, and very, very rewarding!
My biggest issue with Chinese take out (and other take out food) is the sodium content. I always seem to find food salty–even when others don’t. I agree. It is worth the extra time/effort to be able to control ingredients. Your Chinese Chicken with Cashew Nuts really jumps out at me. Thank you for sharing, April.
Thank you, Michelle, and I agree, it’s not nice (or very good for us!) when things are too salty. The Chinese Chicken with Cashew Nuts is one of our favourites too 🙂
I like the look of the slow cooker options here, especially the orange beef. Thank you!
I’m glad you like them, Pauline. Thank you!
Delicious April, you made everything easy to make.
Thank you, Swathi 🙂
This is a great idea! I have always wanted to make my own takeaway. You are very creative, so, I am not surprised that you came up with this ingenious idea!
April, I’m heading over now to check out your orange chicken. It’s one of my husband’s favorite takeaways, and I would like him to have a healthier version. (I chuckled at your British English/North American English thing. I know what you mean! Maybe we could call our language Britnanglish?)
Thank you, Jean! I hope you and your husband both enjoy the recipe! And I like the idea of Britnanglish!
PS I meant to say “Sweet and Sour Chicken.”
No worries, Jean, I thought that was what you meant 🙂
All of your recipes look fabulous! I have not had take out or eaten in a restaurant since the pandemic began. I do miss some foods but like you stated we can make our own too.
We have had take out from our little local Italian but they are closed for the month of January. I must admit there are quite a few restaurant dishes I miss, Pat, but I try to get as close as I can to the dishes I miss in my own kitchen 🙂 I’ve got quite a few more ideas I want to try in the near future – wish me luck! 🙂