During a cost of living crisis, shopping for groceries can feel akin to taking out a mortgage. It’s not unusual to hear people express shock in the dairy aisle over the price of cheese—and honestly, the surprise is justified.

The rising cost of food makes it tricky to decide on meals that are both delicious and budget-friendly. That’s why we’re on a quest to ease this mental burden with Cozzie Livs Kitchen—a fresh series where Australian icons share budget-friendly meals that won’t deplete your savings.

Leading the way is MasterChef star Poh Ling Yeow, renowned for sharing scrumptious recipes with Australians for many years. She’s an artist, actress, author, and TV host—truly, what can’t she do? In her Cozzie Livs Kitchen episode, she crafts a delightful dish, offering a sophisticated twist on a breakfast classic.

For Poh, minimizing waste and saving food from the trash is a priority. Instead of a “girl dinner,” she opts for a ‘binner’: “Anything that might end up in the bin becomes dinner instead.”

Brunch is a beloved Australian tradition, but as budgets tighten, it’s often skipped. The cost of breakfast can bring tears to your eyes. But don’t worry, brunch enthusiasts—Poh is here to save the day once again.

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Poh’s Ham & Egg Sanga With Herbed Parmesan Crust

This meal costs just $5.31 per serving, which is impressive for a gourmet breakfast. Plus, you’ll have leftover ingredients for other dishes.

Poh is passionate about reducing food waste and offers tips for extending the life of fresh herbs like thyme. You’ll need this for your herb crust. Instead of storing it in the fridge, tie it up and hang it somewhere dry. Once dried, strip the stalks and you’ll have thyme ready for your next meal.

She also suggests buying grated parmesan from the pasta aisle and freezing it to extend its shelf life. For midweek meals when you crave cheese, use frozen cheese; Poh notes it doesn’t solidify completely.

(Poh Ling Yeow. Image: Pedestrian.TV)

(Poh’s fancy egg & ham sanga. Image Pedestrian.TV)

If you enjoy a generous portion of ham in your sanga, consider purchasing a bit extra from the deli. For a more cost-effective version, opt for dried herbs. However, this is Poh’s elegant rendition of the sanga, and it’s worth the splurge if you want to indulge.

Ingredients

To create Poh’s affordable yet gourmet ham and egg sanga at home, gather these ingredients:

6-pack eggs – $3.75 Sourdough – $3.25 Thyme – $3.20 Parsley – $3.20 Grated parmesan (from the pasta section) – $2.00 Tomato sauce – $1.95 Dijon mustard – $2.90 Smoked ham – $2.60 Butter – $3.70

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(Poh’s Cozzie Livs Kitchen recipe is a delightful brunch that won’t break the bank. Image Pedestrian.TV)

(For this recipe, ensure you use a sturdy bread that will crisp up and maintain its crispiness. Image Pedestrian.TV)

Method

1. Start by preparing the herbed crust. Strip the thyme and finely chop it. Do the same with the parsley, then combine both herbs in a bowl. Add parmesan and a pinch of pepper, and mix thoroughly.

2. Slice your sourdough and butter it generously. Be sure to cover all edges, as Poh advises, “don’t be butter shy.”

3. Press the bread firmly into the herbed mix, then tap it lightly to remove excess. This step is crucial for achieving an extra crispy crust.

4. Melt some butter in a pan. For the ham, Poh suggests scrunching it up in the pan instead of laying it flat. This creates a delightful texture variation with some crispy and some soft parts.

5. Cook the egg to your preference while the ham is cooking.

6. As the ham and egg cook, add your bread to the pan alongside them. This ensures one side of the bread is crispy before it goes under the grill.

7. Once the bread is crisp from the pan, place it under the grill with the other side up to cook the opposite side.

8. While everything is cooking, prepare the sauce. Mix a generous amount of tomato sauce with a teaspoon of Dijon mustard until it turns pale orange. For extra kick, Poh suggests adding some Tabasco sauce.

9. When your egg, ham, and bread are done, assemble your sanga.

10. Place the bread on a plate and spread the sauce on one side. Add the ham and egg on top. Depending on your preference for sauce, you can add more to the other slice of bread or leave it plain.

11. Top with the other slice of herbed crusted bread, and enjoy your delicious and elegant egg and ham sanga.

MasterChef Australia is airing Sunday through to Wednesday on Channel 10 now.