Lentils are 99p/500g = cheap. For this recipe, get the green ones, not orange. You only need about 50g for each person too (raw weight) so that works out at 10p each for the bulky, filling, starchy part of the dish. Although, yes, you do have to add some other ingredients. A trick with lentils is to add a bit of vinegar (can be white wine vinegar, balsamic or another type) to make them more digestible.

Chicken with Lentils

Ingredients (serves 4)

1 tbsp olive oil (or sunflower)

4 chicken portions (legs, thighs or breast, incl bone and skin)

1 large onion, chopped

200g-250g green lentils (Puy or similar type)

1 chicken stock cube

100g sundried tomatoes in oil,  chopped

1 tsp mixed dried herbs (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)

2 cloves garlic, chopped or crushed

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

200g mushrooms, wiped and chopped

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp vinegar

Method:

Fry the chicken in the oil on a high heat till nicely browned, in a large ovenproof casserole. Add onion and turn down the heat to medium, Continue cooking 5 minutes. Add all the other ingredients + water to just cover. Cover and cook in a 180°C oven for at least an hour, till the lentils are soft. Alternatively I tend to put everything in a slow-cooker after the chicken and onion have browned, and cook all day (12 hours on a low heat) – this uses only the electricity of a light bulb. This is a meal in itself.