Curried Pork and Cabbage with Rice - Easy Budget Dinner

This one is a WEEKNIGHT WINNER and I will not hear otherwise. Curried pork mince and cabbage, ready in the time it takes your rice to cook, packed with flavour, incredibly filling, and made from ingredients that cost next to nothing. This is exactly the kind of cooking I am here for, no faff, no fancy ingredients, just proper delicious food that keeps money in your pocket and everyone at the table happy. Big flavour, tiny budget, zero stress. Let's go!

Watch me make this on YouTube!

Recipe Details:

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Serves: 2-3 as a main with leftovers for your lunch
• Difficulty: Easy
• Special Equipment: Large frying pan or wok

This is the kind of recipe that proves you don't need a long list of expensive ingredients to make something genuinely satisfying. Pork mince is one of the most affordable proteins going, and cabbage is cheap, filling, and absolutely delicious when cooked down with a good hit of curry powder. The flour or cornflour slurry is a little chef trick that pulls everything together into a light, glossy sauce that coats every grain of rice. Quick, easy.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• On the table in 25 minutes: Great for a weeknight
• Budget friendly: Pork mince and cabbage are two of the most affordable ingredients at the supermarket
• Filling and nutritious: Protein, veg, and carbs all in one bowl
• Pantry staple spices: Just curry powder, salt, and pepper, nothing fancy required
• Great for lunch the next day: Make a big batch and thank yourself tomorrow

Ingredients

For the Pork and Cabbage:

• 350-400g pork mince
• ¼ cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 teaspoon flour or cornflour, mixed with a little cold water to make a slurry
• 200ml water or chicken stock
• Salt and pepper, to season

To Serve:

• Steamed rice

Instructions

1. Cook your rice: Get your rice on first so it's ready by the time the pork is done. Follow the packet instructions or use your usual method.
2. Brown the pork mince: Add the pork mince to a hot pan and cook, breaking it up as you go, until it is golden and nicely browned all over. Don't rush this step, good colour on the mince means good flavour in the finished dish!
3. Add the onion: Add the diced onion to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
4. Add the curry powder: Sprinkle in the curry powder and stir well, cooking for about a minute so the spices toast and release all their flavour into the meat.
5. Add the cabbage: Toss in the sliced cabbage and stir everything together. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the cabbage starts to soften. You can add a touch of water here and put on a lid to help that cabbage cook and steam)
6. Add the liquid: Pour in the cornflour or flour slurry and stir through to coat everything, then add the water or chicken stock. Let it all cook down for 5 to 7 minutes until you have a light, glossy sauce coating everything beautifully. (Add a touch more stock if there is not much liquid left)
7. Season and serve: Taste and season generously with salt and pepper. Serve immediately over hot steamed rice.

Chef's Tips

Get good colour on the mince: Let the pork sit in the hot pan without stirring for a minute or two before breaking it up. That golden, slightly caramelised colour is where all the flavour lives!

Cornflour gives a glossier sauce: If you have the choice, cornflour mixed with cold water gives a silkier, glossier sauce than plain flour. Both work though!

Season as you go: Taste before you serve and don't be shy with the salt and pepper. Curry powder needs a good pinch of salt to really sing.

Use stock if you have it: Water works perfectly fine, but a splash of chicken stock adds an extra layer of flavour for very little effort.

Bulk it out: Got a bit of leftover veg in the fridge? Frozen peas, sliced capsicum, or a handful of spinach all work brilliantly stirred through at the end.

Substitutions & Variations

• Pork mince: Chicken mince or beef mince both work well here
• Fresh cabbage: A bag of coleslaw mix from the supermarket is a great shortcut
• Curry powder: Use a mild, medium, or hot curry powder depending on who you are feeding
• Water: Swap for chicken or vegetable stock for extra flavour
• Rice: Serve over noodles or with flatbreads instead if you prefer

Storage

Fridge: Cool completely and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheats beautifully for lunch the next day!

Freezer: Freeze the pork and cabbage mixture (without the rice) in portions for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat thoroughly before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a different cut of pork? A: Pork mince is ideal here for speed and budget, but you could also use finely diced pork shoulder if you have it. Just cook it a little longer to make sure it's tender.

Q: My sauce is too thin, what do I do? A: Add a little more cornflour slurry (cornflour mixed with cold water) a small amount at a time, stirring as you go until you reach your preferred consistency.

Q: Can I make this without meat? A: Absolutely! Swap the pork mince for a can of chickpeas or lentils for a brilliant budget-friendly vegetarian version.

Q: How much rice should I cook per person? A: As a rough guide, 70-80g of dried rice per person is plenty for a main meal.

You Might Also Like

Creamy Pork Ragu Pasta - Easy Budget Dinner - Recipe 2 from this same $50 shop, a cosy, warming pasta that tastes way more indulgent than it costs!

Veg Curry Nachos - Easy Budget Dinner - Recipe 3 from this shop, a brilliant Friday night fakeaway loaded with flavour and veg!

Potato, Caramelised Onion and Tomato Bake - Budget Dinners - Another brilliant budget dinner from a previous $50 shop!

Tomato and Lentil Ragu with Creamy Polenta - Budget Dinners - More budget magic, rich, comforting, and made from simple pantry staples.

Enjoy!

Del x

This curried pork and cabbage with rice is proof that budget cooking doesn't have to be boring. Pork mince, cabbage, curry powder, and rice, that's all it takes to get a proper delicious dinner on the table in 25 minutes. Part of a 3-dinner, $50 shop series, head to the links above to see the other two!