Professional chef Miguel Barclay, renowned for his £1 meal creations, has revealed his surprising kitchen habits and budget-friendly cooking secrets in an exclusive home tour with Metro's What's Cooking series.
Published on November 30, 2025, the feature uncovers what the budget cooking expert really eats when nobody's watching, including some controversial culinary choices that would make traditional Italian chefs shudder.
Kitchen Staples and Guilty Pleasures
Despite rising food costs during the ongoing cost of living crisis, Barclay remains committed to creating affordable, tasty dishes for families. His kitchen reflects this philosophy, stocked with wallet-friendly ingredients rather than expensive 'fancy' foods.
His ultimate guilty pleasure comes from Marks & Spencer's bakery section - the loaded pistachio cookie that he admits is probably unhealthy but utterly addictive. "I have to walk by an M&S every day and if I'm even remotely hungry at the time, I'll go in and get one," the chef confessed.
When it comes to essential ingredients, Barclay always keeps streaky smoked thick-cut bacon in his fridge, praising its ability to elevate dishes and add luxury without breaking the bank. His store cupboard essential is risotto rice, which he describes as impressively fancy yet incredibly cheap.
The Carbonara Controversy
Barclay's risotto preparation might raise some eyebrows, as he's started making it with cheddar cheese instead of traditional Italian cheeses. "Some people might not like how I eat it," he acknowledged, but insists that using extra mature cheddar creates a delicious result when topped with asparagus or prawns.
However, his most controversial revelation involves his carbonara recipe. The chef admits that Italians would be "absolutely horrified" by his version, which includes frozen peas, onions, and mushrooms.
"I think it makes it taste better - carbonara can be quite salty and savoury, but the peas give nice little pops of freshness throughout," Barclay explained. He recommends adding a squeeze of lemon to cut through the richness, creating what he describes as "more of a carbonara-style dish" than a traditional one.
Frozen peas feature prominently in his freezer, serving dual purposes of sneaking vegetables into his children's meals and never going off. He incorporates them into various dishes including fried rice and his unconventional carbonara.
Budget Cooking Wisdom
Barclay shared his top budget dish recommendation - a stroganoff that sounds impressive but costs under £1 to make. The recipe involves mushrooms, onions, bacon, cream, and paprika served with rice.
"Mushrooms are very cheap and economical," he noted, breaking down the costs: "you're looking at half an onion and that's about 4p, then just one slice of bacon cut into really small pieces."
For those with leftover portobello mushrooms, he suggests making stuffed mushrooms by adding cheese and breadcrumbs before baking for 12 minutes.
His game-changing cooking tip involves using an air fryer for salmon to avoid lingering fish smells in the kitchen. "It's a much cleaner way of cooking it," Barclay said, acknowledging that fish odours put many people off cooking seafood at home.
Despite being a budget cooking professional, Barclay does splurge on specific brands for two condiments: Hellmann's mayonnaise and Heinz ketchup. "Those are the ones I was brought up with, so it's those flavours that I'm used to," he explained, noting that other brands simply don't compare.
The chef's approach demonstrates that delicious, satisfying meals don't require expensive ingredients or strict adherence to tradition, even if some purists might disapprove of his creative interpretations of classic dishes.
