Student cooking in Shawlands

Getting here

Lots of students live in Shawlands, Strathbungo and Govanhill, and we're on Kilmarnock Road in the middle of it. From the city-centre campuses, walk to Glasgow Central and take a direct train to Shawlands, Crossmyloof or Pollokshaws East. All three are close to the shop.

Buy small, waste nothing

A butcher beats a supermarket pack when you're cooking for one or two. Everything is cut to order, so ask for exactly what you need: 250g of mince, two chicken thighs, a few lamb chops. Freeze what you won't eat in two days; our storing meat guide says how.

The student starter pack

A shopping list for a week of proper dinners, all from one shop:

• From the counter: chicken thighs, bone-in for curry or boneless for fajitas, and 500g of fresh mince
• From the shelves: a bag of basmati, red lentils, a tin of chickpeas, and six spices to start with: cumin seeds, ground coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala and black pepper
• Fresh every day: onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green chillies and a bunch of coriander

That's enough for the recipes below and a pot of daal besides. Our spice cupboard guide explains what each spice does.

A week of dinners

• Keema matar Lamb mince and peas cooked with onion, tomato and warm spices. Ready in 45 minutes and good with roti, rice or paratha.
• Chicken karahi Chicken cooked fast in a karahi with tomatoes, green chillies, ginger and black pepper. On the table in about 45 minutes.
• Tarka daal Red lentils simmered until silky, then finished with sizzling garlic, cumin and chilli. Cheap, filling and ready in 40 minutes.
• Spaghetti bolognese A rich, slow-simmered beef mince sauce with tomatoes, carrot and herbs, tossed with spaghetti. The midweek dinner every family loves.
• Chicken fajitas Strips of spiced chicken sizzled with peppers and onions, wrapped in warm tortillas with salsa and soured cream. On the table in 30 minutes.
• Chana masala Chickpeas in a tangy, spiced tomato and onion masala. A filling vegetarian curry from the store cupboard in 40 minutes.

Cooking for your flat or society

Flat dinner, a society iftar or an end-of-term party? The crowd calculator works out the meat and rice, and you can order ahead so it's ready to collect.

More money-saving ideas are in good food for less.

Questions