Blog

How I turned budget-buys and pantry swaps into an elegant pork medallion feast, with zero waste and total flavour, all thanks to Sous's powerful recipe helper.

A Serendipitous Kitchen Moment

Drifting aimlessly round the supermarket the other evening, I spotted a pack of pork medallions with that bright yellow “reduced” sticker. I hadn't settled on what to cook and I didn't want anything too time consuming for a weeknight dinner. So, there in the shop, I sent a message to Sous for a quick and delicious recipe using pork medallions - got back a recipe which looked great, scanned the ingredient list and figured I had it all at home. I bought the pork and headed back to start cooking.

With the meat resting on my kitchen counter I read the recipe properly, it needed apple cider for the sauce. I didn't have any. Thankfully with Sous edits are a breeze. I messaged, 'No cider, what can I swap this with?' The reply came back - apple juice and apple cider vinegar will make a great sub for the cider in this recipe. I had no apple juice either. Thinking I was going to have to switch this up even further I messaged Sous again, but was asked if I had apples. Check. I was then guided through making apple juice at home in under 5 minutes simply by grating and apples and squeezing it all through a cloth. Boom! Crisis averted.

Why Yellow-Sticker Shopping Saves You (and the Planet)

Every week, supermarkets mark down perfectly good produce and meat when it nears its “best by.” By choosing these yellow-sticker deals:

• You cut your grocery bill by up to 50%.

• You rescue food that might otherwise end up in landfill.

• Sous helps you craft a tailor-made recipe around whatever bargains you score - no more letting perishables linger.

The Recipe That Came Together

Pan-Seared Pork Medallions with Apple-Sage Sauce, Crispy Potatoes & Lemon-Zested Veg

Elegant pork medallions bathed in a bright apple-sage sauce, served alongside golden roasted potatoes and crisp carrots & broccoli with a hint of lemon.

Ingredients (Serves 2 hungry people)

• For the Pork & Sauce Reduced Pork medallions Olive oil Butter Shallot Garlic clove Dry apple juice Apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar) Chicken or vegetable stock Double cream (or crème fraîche) Fresh sage leaves Salt Black pepper

• For the Sides Small potatoes (e.g., new potatoes, Charlotte) Carrots Broccoli Olive oil Honey or maple syrup Lemon Fresh parsley or chives

Step-by-Step

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan/Gas Mark 6)

2. Get your potatoes going: Wash and chop the potatoes into bite-sized pieces or wedges. Toss them with 1 tbsp olive oil, a good pinch of salt, and pepper on a baking tray. Roast for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy, turning halfway.

3. Prep the veggies: While the potatoes roast, peel the carrots and slice them into rounds or half-moons. Cut the broccoli into small florets. Set aside.

4. Cook the pork: Pat the pork medallions dry with kitchen paper and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the pork and sear for 2-3 minutes per side, until beautifully browned and cooked through. The exact time depends on thickness, but for medallions, they cook quickly. Remove the pork from the pan and set aside on a plate, loosely tented with foil to keep warm.

5. Make the sauce: Lower the heat to medium. Add 1 tbsp butter to the same pan (don't clean it, those bits are flavour!). Add the chopped shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Pour in the apple juice and vinegar, scraping up any delicious browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Let it simmer and reduce by about half (around 2-3 minutes).

6. Finish the sauce: Stir in the chicken stock, double cream, and chopped fresh sage. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a splash more stock or apple juice. Return the pork medallions to the pan for a minute to warm through in the sauce.

7. Glaze the carrots: With about 10-15 minutes left on the potatoes, you can either add the carrots to the baking tray with the potatoes, or (for a quicker, brighter glaze) blanch them in a small pot of boiling water for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp. Drain well, then toss with 1 tsp honey or maple syrup and a tiny knob of butter in a warm pan.

8. Steam the broccoli: Steam or blanch the broccoli florets for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp and vibrant green. Drain well, then toss with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a good pinch of lemon zest.

9. Serve it up: Divide the crispy roasted potatoes, glazed carrots, and lemon broccoli between two plates. Top with the saucy pork medallions. Garnish with fresh parsley or chives if you like. Enjoy your fantastic meal, Nick!

The homemade apple juice swap added a gentle sweetness and the vinegar brought just enough tang—something I never would’ve risked without Sous guiding me.

Why Sous Feels Like a Sous-Chef

What really blew me away was the real-time personalisation. I didn’t have cider, so instead of Googling “cider substitute” (and scrolling through five different blogs), I simply told Sous what I had. In seconds, I had precisely the right proportions.

• Flexibility: Substitute on the fly.

• Efficiency: Skip the search engine rabbit hole.

• Creativity: Discover flavour combos you might never imagine.

Tips for Thriving on a Tight Budget

1. Scout yellow-sticker racks daily. You’ll be amazed at what bargains pop up.

2. Grate, blend, and juice: Turn extra apples, cucumbers, or scraps into quick homemade bases.

3. Batch basics: Make and freeze simple stocks or dressings when you have time.

4. Plan smart: Use Sous’s meal planner to slot in your discounted finds—recipes, shopping lists, and prep timelines all auto-generated.

Your Next Waste-Slashing, Wallet-Friendly Meal

Ready to rescue those yellow-sticker treasures? With Sous as your kitchen sidekick, you’ll:

• Slash food waste by cooking what you buy

• Save money without sacrificing flavour

• Customise recipes instantly to fit your pantry

Give your wallet—and the planet—a break. Download Sous today.

Happy cooking - and here’s to turning last minute discount buys into “wow” dinners!

Discover how Sous revolutionises meal planning and helps you significantly reduce food waste. Our smart app offers personalised recipes, effortless meal scheduling, automatic grocery lists, and intelligent suggestions to make cooking sustainable and stress-free.

Hey fellow food enthusiasts! Are you tired of that dreaded question, "What's for dinner?" Or perhaps the even more frustrating sight of forgotten ingredients languishing in your fridge? At Sous, we understand these kitchen conundrums, and we're thrilled to introduce powerful new features designed to solve them, transforming the way you approach meal planning and empowering you to reduce food waste like never before!

Sous, your personalised recipe generator, is now your ultimate kitchen companion, bringing intelligent organisation and sustainable cooking right to your fingertips.

The Problem: Mealtime Stress & Unnecessary Food Waste

Let's be honest, meal planning can feel like a chore. Between busy schedules, varying preferences, and the constant battle against expiring ingredients, it's easy to fall into a routine of last-minute takeaways or impulse grocery buys that often lead to food waste. An estimated one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, and a significant portion of that happens right in our homes. This not only impacts our wallets but also contributes to environmental concerns.

But what if there was a smarter, simpler way to plan your meals, ensuring you cook what you buy and eat what you love?

The Solution: Sous's Intelligent Meal Planning & Waste-Reducing Features

We've been hard at work making Sous even more intuitive and impactful. Our latest updates are specifically crafted to streamline your weekly meal planning and equip you with tools to make a real dent in your household food waste.

1. Your Personal Meal Planner: Effortless Meal Scheduling with Calendar Integration

Imagine a week where every meal is planned, every ingredient accounted for, and every cooking session is a breeze. With Sous's new calendar integration, this vision becomes a reality.

• Plan Your Week Visually:

  Easily browse your vast collection of personalised recipes or discover new ones, then simply tap to add them to any day on your in-app calendar. Whether it's a quick Tuesday dinner or a celebratory Saturday feast, your schedule is clear and ready.

• Day-Of Convenience:

  No more frantic searching through cookbooks or endless scrolling! Once a recipe is scheduled, it automatically appears on your Sous home screen on the day you need it, ensuring your meal prep is always on track.

• Seamless Organisation:

  Get a comprehensive overview of your upcoming meals, making it simple to balance your diet, try new cuisines, and avoid repetition. This level of organisation is key to effective meal planning for families and individuals alike.

This feature is your secret weapon for conquering mealtime chaos and embracing a more organised culinary life.

2. Smart Shopping, Zero Waste: Your Automatic Weekly Shopping List

One of the biggest culprits of food waste is buying ingredients you don't use. Our automatic shopping list generator directly tackles this challenge by creating a precise list based on your planned meals.

• Goodbye Guesswork:

  Once you've scheduled your recipes for the week, Sous intelligently compiles all the necessary ingredients into one clear, concise shopping list. No more forgotten items or duplicate purchases.

• Efficient Grocery Trips:

  Experience the joy of efficient shopping! With a consolidated list, you can grab everything you need in a single trip, saving you time and reducing impulse buys.

• Minimise Food Waste:

  By buying only what your planned meals require, you dramatically reduce the likelihood of food expiring before you can use it. This smart feature is a powerful tool in your personal fight against food waste at home. It's a simple, yet incredibly effective way to reduce food spoilage and save money on groceries.

This innovative tool empowers you to be a mindful shopper, contributing directly to food waste prevention and a more sustainable kitchen.

3. Keep Meal Times Interesting: Smart Recipe Suggestions to Inspire & Reduce Waste!

We know you love variety, but sometimes inspiration can be hard to find. Sous's smart recipe suggestions not only keep your culinary journey exciting but also play a crucial role in minimising food waste.

• Utilise Leftover Ingredients:

  Ever wonder what to do with that half-used packet of feta or those extra bell peppers? Based on the recipes you've already planned for the week, Sous will intelligently suggest other delicious dishes that use similar ingredients. This is a fantastic way to prevent food spoilage and ensure every edible item gets a purpose.

• Discover New Favourites:

  Get inspired to try new combinations and expand your cooking repertoire. These suggestions help you explore different flavours and cuisines without needing to buy a whole new set of groceries.

• Creative Cooking, Less Waste:

  By suggesting recipes that strategically use up ingredients you already have or will have on hand, Sous helps you embrace sustainable cooking practices and become a master of reducing kitchen waste.

This intelligent suggestion system helps you explore new culinary possibilities while being highly conscious of your pantry, ensuring every meal is an opportunity for discovery and a step towards a zero-waste kitchen.

Ready to Transform Your Kitchen?

These features in Sous are designed to make meal planning a breeze, reduce food waste in your home, and bring joy back to your cooking. Imagine the extra time you'll have, the money you'll save, and the positive impact you'll make on the environment – all by using one smart app.

Don't let mealtime stress or food waste get the better of you!

Download Sous today and start your journey towards more organised, delicious, and sustainable cooking!