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Affordable Healthy Meals to Make with Lentils or Beans

If you're looking to eat healthy on a budget, beans and lentils are your best mates in the kitchen. These humble pantry staples are packed with fibre, rich in B vitamins, and are a fantastic plant-based protein source—especially great for vegetarians and vegans.

In addition to being affordable and versatile, beans and lentils are the cornerstone of many delicious, wholesome meals from around the world. Whether you’re feeding a family or cooking solo, these ingredients will stretch your dollar without compromising on flavour.

👉 Want to know which beans and legumes are the healthiest? Check out this guide from Healthline.

Now, let’s take these budget-friendly ingredients to the next level with easy, healthy recipes from Otao Kitchen:

Choosing the Right Beef Cut and Cooking the Perfect Steak

With the huge variety of beef cuts available in the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when choosing the popular cuts. Most home cooks stick to familiar favourites like rib-eye, sirloin, fillet, or rump steak, but each cut has its own unique texture, flavour, and best cooking method.

At Otao Kitchen, we believe understanding your ingredients is just as important as mastering your technique. So, let’s dive into some helpful tips and tricks for selecting and cooking the perfect steak—whether you're pan-searing, grilling, or broiling.

“Winner winner, chicken dinner!” – a phrase every Aussie knows and loves. At Otao Kitchen, we believe there’s no such thing as boring chicken—especially when you’ve got delicious global recipes at your fingertips.

In this post, we’re sharing three ultimate ways to cook a whole chicken, from the classic Aussie roast to the bold spices of India and the comforting flavours of Malaysia and Singapore. These recipes will not only boost your confidence in the kitchen, but also guarantee that your dinner table is the real winner.

It’s a well-known fact that fruits and vegetables are rich in essential nutrients and a cornerstone of a healthy diet. But did you know that how you prepare and eat your food can dramatically increase the amount of nutrients your body actually absorbs?

From raw veggies to strategic food pairings, here are smart ways to boost nutrient absorption and make the most of every bite.

Tips for Cooking Family Meals at Home

Family life can be a whirlwind. Between work, school runs, extracurricular activities, and social commitments, finding the time to prepare and enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal can feel like a challenge. Yet, shared family meals are more than just about food — they’re a chance to connect, create, laugh, and share the stories of our day.

At Otao Kitchen, we believe that cooking and eating together strengthens bonds and builds memories. Whether you’re feeding toddlers, teens or grown-ups, these simple tips will help you make family meals easier, more fun, and more meaningful.

How to Keep Your Kitchen Clean While Cooking

Cooking a beautiful meal should be joyful—not stressful. Yet for many home cooks, the real challenge begins after the last bite: the cleanup.

At Otao Kitchen, we teach more than just recipes—we help you build the confidence and systems of a real chef at home. One of the key lessons in our Home Chef Program is learning how to keep your kitchen clean, organised, and efficient—so cooking becomes a daily pleasure, not a chore.

Here are our top tips to help you clean smarter, not harder, every time you cook.