Friday Fakeaway Recipes: Healthy Alternatives To High-Calorie Takeaways

There's something about getting to the end of the working week and having something delicious to look forward to eating that doesn't require an awful lot of effort. 

A lot of typical takeaways like curries, chinese and pizzas can easily contain around 1,000-2,000 calories; which is absolutely fine if you know that. The problem is, most people who I've seen track takeaways will undertrack by about 1,000-1,500 calories or the act of eating something 'naughty' will completely throw them off into a whole weekend of overeating junk food. 

The key to either losing weight or sustaining it, is to find more of a middle ground where you can enjoy meals that taste like a takeaway but use a lot healthier ingredients. It's also not lost on me the other main pull for ordering a takeaway on a Friday night; because you deserve a treat and don't want to be spending time cooking in the kitchen. Finding recipes like the ones I've shared in this blog post, don't take too much effort or time, so are the perfect sweetspot for enjoying food without compensating on your health and fitness goals.

1. Amy's Ultimate Cheeseburger and Herb Fries

Cheeseburgers are hands-down, one of my favourite foods to eat! Whether you're having a BBQ or just fancy a burger watching some sport on the TV, THIS recipe is one for you to keep coming back to.

Serves: 1 

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients: 

For the cheeseburger:

• 1 quality beef patty
• 1 brioche bun 
• 1/4 of a red onion
• 1 slice of American cheese
• 1 tomato
• Some iceberg lettuce
• 1 gherkin
• Ketchup, mustard and/or burger sauce

For the herb fries:

• 1 white potato 
• Olive oil spray
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Italian herbs

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 200C.
2. Wash and slice up the potato into fries. Top tip - keep the skin of the potato on for extra fibre and a crispier coating! 
3. Add the fries to a baking tray, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, black pepper and Italian herbs. Pop in the oven for about 30 minutes.
4. In a frying pan, brown off the beef patty either side. Take off the heat shortly after if you prefer a medium rare patty. Add the cheese on top of the patty to melt.
5. Peel and slice the red onion and fry in the pan. 
6. Slice the brioche bun in half and toast in the pan.
7. Now it's time to build your burger! Add the beef patty to the base, top with onions, sliced tomato, iceberg lettuce, gherkin and sauces. 
8. Serve with the herb fries and enjoy!

2. Salami and Sun-Dried Tomato Pizza

I cannot express just how much I LOVE pizza. I could eat it all day everyday. This recipe is easy to make and you can prepare the pizza dough to pop in the freezer so you have some dough ready to use next time you want to swap out a takeaway for a quick and delicious homemade pizza! 

Serves: 4

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients: 

For four pizza bases (freeze any dough balls ready for a quick and easy meal another time!):

• 500g '00' grade pizza flour
• 300ml water (100ml boiling, 200ml cold)
• 7g yeast (3g if active dried)
• 10g salt

Toppings (per pizza):

• A few tablespoons of passata
• A couple of slices of salami 
• Half a ball of fresh mozzarella 
• A teaspoon of mascarpone cheese 
• A couple of sundried tomatoes 
• Fresh basil

Method: 

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt together. Gradually add the water and then the yeast last, mixing well to form a soft dough.
2. Sprinkle flour on a worktop surface or large wooden chopping board, and knead out the dough for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic. Add to a clean bowl and cover with a damp towel. Leave to rest the dough for about an hour or until it’s doubled in size. 
3. When you’re ready to cook your pizza, preheat the oven to 180C.
4. Divide the dough out into four balls. If you’re saving pre-done pizza bases for another time, pop the extra dough balls into the freezer. For the pizza bases you want to eat today, sprinkle flour onto a worktop surface and roll out using a rolling pin to make a round base.
5. Add the passata and toppings, and cook in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. Serve with salad and enjoy! 

3. Indian Chicken Curry

Oh I do love a good curry! For me, I usually order a Chicken Tikka Masala. The succulent chicken pieces, the spicy (but not too hot!) sauce... it's just such a delicious Friday night dinner that I hope you'll enjoy this version too! 

Serves: 1 

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 40g of brown rice (uncooked)
• 1 teaspoon of coconut oil 
• 1 chicken breast 
• Half a brown onion
• 1 tablespoon of garam masala 
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander 
• 1 clove of garlic 
• Half a can of chopped tomatoes 
• A splash of water
• 1 tablespoon of mango chutney
• A few sprigs of fresh coriander 

Method: 

1. Heat some water in a small pan and when it's boiling, add the rice to it for about 20-30 minutes or until cooked.
2. Slice up the chicken breast into chunks.
3. In a medium-sized pan, add the coconut oil and chicken, and cook on a medium heat. Brown the chicken until it's golden on the outside.
4. Peel and slice the onion and add to the pan. Cook until they start to soften.
5. Add the spices and peel the garlic clove. Crush the garlic and add to the pan. Keep stirring for about a minute.
6. Add the chopped tomatoes, a splash of water and a tablespoon of mango chutney, and stir through. 
7. Continue to cook until the sauce thickens and the chicken is hot all the way through.
8. Plate up and add fresh coriander!

4. Sweet and Sour Pork

Did someone order a Chinese? I actually CRAVE eating this Sweet and Sour Pork version it's so tasty. Jam packed with texture and flavour, double up and you'll have lunch for the next day too!

Serves: 1 

Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 40g of white rice (uncooked)
• 1 pork shoulder, cut into strips 
• A teaspoon of coconut oil
• 1 clove of garlic 
• 1/4 of white onion
• A carrot 
• A handful of mangetout
• Half a red bell pepper
• A few fresh tomatoes 
• Spring onions 
• 1/2 a vegetable stock cube
• 200ml of water 

For the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons of chilli sauce
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of cornflour
• 2 teaspoons of malt vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Method: 

1. In a small pan, boil some water and add the rice.
2. In a medium pan, add the coconut oil and brown off the pork strips. 
3. Peel and crush the garlic clove, and add to the pan. 
4. Peel and slice the onion, and cut the carrot and pepper into strips. Throw into the pan and stir to cook evenly.
5. In a bowl, mix the ingredients for the sauce, and add to the pan.
6. In a jug, add boiling water to the half stock cube and mix in with a fork. Pour into the pan, along with the mangetout and quartered tomato and stir well. 
7. Once the rice has cooked and the sauce has thickened, plate up, add the spring onions and enjoy!

5. Posh Fish and Chips

One of my favourite places in the world, is a little seaside town in Kent, England. So when I make this dish, it's in tribute to that town. 

For this Friday Night Fakeaway, I've used oven-baked salmon, and plenty of salt and vinegar for a 'chippy tea' vibe, but feel free to use any fish you fancy.

Serves: 1 

Cooking Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients: 

• 1 fillet of salmon 
• 1 white potato
• Olive oil spray
• Salt
• Malt vinegar
• Mixed herbs
• Frozen peas
• Half a lemon 
• Tartare sauce

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. 
2. Pop the salmon in some baking paper or foil, fold over and twist the ends, so it creates a 'steam packet' when cooking. Add to a baking tray and pop into the oven.
3. Wash the potato and cut into chip shapes.
4. Add to a baking tray and spray with olive oil, sprinkle some salt and mixed herbs.
5. Pop in the oven and cook for 30 minutes along with the salmon. 
6. In a small pan, boil some water and add the frozen peas. 
7. Slice up a couple of wedges of lemon and add to a plate. 
8. Plate the chips up, adding extra salt and malt vinegar. 
9. Add the salmon, cooked peas and some tartare sauce, then put the telly on and enjoy! 

I'd love to see what you're enjoying so please do tag me on Instagram @amy.lee.jackson or send it over in a message! 

Cheering you on, always,