Do you find yourself missing that Friday night takeaway routine?
After a long week, it can feel like the simplest little joy: no worry about cooking, no washing up, and food that tastes amazing.
But if you’re living with CKD, that craving often comes with a worry in the background:
“Is a takeaway going to ruin my kidneys?”
First, let’s be clear: a takeaway on a special occasion isn’t going to make or break your kidney health. One meal doesn’t undo all the steady, supportive choices you make the rest of the week.
Where it gets trickier is when takeaway-style meals become a regular habit. That’s when it can start to feel like you’re stuck between “enjoying life” and “protecting your kidneys”.
And that’s exactly where fakeaways come in. And we’re here to help you find healthier, kidney-friendly alternatives to some of your favourite takeaway dishes.
This post is Part 1 of a mini series on kidney-friendly fakeaways. We’re taking you on a little world food tour – starting with Europe. The next posts in the series will cover Asia, followed by the Americas.
By the end of our series, you’ll have a list of easy, kidney-friendly fakeaway recipes from all corners of the world.
So… what’s a fakeaway?
So before we start, what is a fakeaway?
Put simply, a fakeaway is simply a takeaway-style meal you make at home – the same flavours you love, but with more control over what’s in it. Think: homemade Indian curry, a DIY kebab night, or a family pizza night in – still satisfying, but more kidney-friendly.
The KidneyWise Fakeaway Formula
1. Choose your cuisine
Food is about enjoyment. So start with whatever you’re craving – curry, Chinese-style, kebabs, burgers, pizza, fish and chips… all of it can be adapted.
2. Pick your protein
In CKD Stages 3 and 4, it’s all about the type and the portion size, not cutting it out completely.
- Plant proteins: Includes beans, peas, pulses, and tofu. These are always a good option and perfect for curries, chilli, and plant-based burgers
- Fish: Oily fish like salmon or mackerel are great for healthy fats for your heart. White fish is also a good low-fat option.
- Chicken: A popular option for a lot of fakeaways. Remove skin to reduce the amount of fat.
- Red meat: More of an occasional option
💡 Top tip: If your fakeaway includes animal protein at dinner, try making your earlier meal more plant-based. It’s an easy way to balance your day without overthinking.
And for portion size? You might not need a huge chicken breast. A smaller portion can still be satisfying when the meal has enough carbs, veg, and flavour.
3. Match your carbohydrate
Carbs help make meals filling and enjoyable.
A simple guide is:
- Aim for a fist-sized portion of your carbohydrate source.
- Pick one that matches your chosen cuisine
- Where possible, choose wholegrains for extra fibre and steady energy eg brown rice, wholewheat noodles, wholegrain wraps/pittas
4. Add veggies
Veggies bring fibre, colour and texture.
Add whatever veg you enjoy and what fits your meal. If you’re on a low-potassium diet, choose lower-potassium options and keep portions of higher-potassium veg smaller (we’ll share swaps in the recipe ideas section).
5. Flavour it properly
Takeaways often taste amazing because they’re loaded with salt and salty ingredients. However, following a low salt diet is important for CKD as it can prevent further decline in kidney function by improving blood pressure. However if you’re familiar with our blogs, you’ll know salt isn’t the only way to make food taste good. We’ve selected recipes that flavour meals with herbs and spices, garlic and ginger, chilli and pepper or lemon/lime or vinegar.
If a recipe does use ingredients high in salt, we suggested swapping them out:
- Soy sauce → reduced-salt soy sauce or coconut aminos (significantly lower in salt)
- Stock cubes → low-salt or no-salt stock. We love Kallo very low salt stock cubes or Knorr zero salt stock cubes
- Condiments or ready-made sauces -> choose reduced salt options where available, use smaller amounts or think about making your own!
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Kidney-friendly fakeaways: Europe edition
Italy: Make-Your-Own Pizza Night
First stop on our European fakeaway tour has to be Italy – because pizza night is basically a weekly event in many households.
Takeaway pizza can be high in salt (in the base, cheese, and salty toppings), and it’s very easy for portion sizes to creep up. But when you make it at home, you’re in control of the bits that matter… while still getting that Friday-night comfort.
Below are three kidney-friendly pizza fakeaways, depending on what kind of pizza mood you’re in:
Sometimes you just want classic and simple, and this is the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
Why you’ll love it:
- It’s a true classic for anyone who likes pizza without lots of extras.
- Homemade dough means no added salt, and you can freeze the dough for next time.
- Because it’s simple, it’s really easy to personalise depending on what you fancy (or what you’ve got in the fridge).
Optional swaps:
- No specific swaps needed – but it’s a great “build-your-own” option – add extra veg, keep cheese portions sensible, choose chicken/fish/veg toppings more often than processed meats.
This one from Kidney Care UK feels a little bit “proper Italian pizza night” – pork and fennel is a classic combo, and it’s surprisingly simple but packed with flavour.
Why you’ll love it:
- You make your own dough, so no extra salt needs to be added (and you can freeze dough for another day = future-you will thank you).
- It’s naturally low in potassium, which is great if you’ve been advised to follow a low-potassium diet.
Optional swaps:
- Swap pork mince for chicken or turkey mince if you prefer.
This is for the thin-and-crispy lovers – the tortilla base gives it the perfect crunch.
Why you’ll love it:
- Super quick – no waiting for dough to rise
- It gives you 2 of your 5 a day with peppers, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes.
- It’s lower in protein
Optional swaps:
- If you’ve been advised to follow a low-potassium diet, leave out the tomato purée
- Swap the veggies based on what you enjoy
Portugal: Peri-Peri Nando’s Vibes
Next stop on our European fakeaway tour is Portugal, where peri-peri flavours come from. It’s bold, punchy, and properly satisfying.
1. Peri peri style chicken and chips
This is basically your “Nando’s order at home” moment!
Why you’ll love it:
- It nails those classic peri-peri flavours we all love
- It’s lower in fat because the recipe uses skinless chicken breast and just a small amount of oil.
- It’s very low in salt thanks to all that flavour coming from spices, herbs and lemon.
Optional swaps:
- Use low-potassium cooking methods for potatoes if you are on a low-potassium diet.
- You can swap the chips for rice or homemade coleslaw
UK: Fish, Chips & Peas
Next stop is right here in the UK – and we couldn’t do a European fakeaway tour without the nation’s most iconic order: fish, chips and mushy peas.
The takeaway version is delicious, but it can be higher in salt and fat. The good news? This homemade version keeps everything you love – crunchy fish, proper chips, and mushy peas with a few kidney-friendly tweaks built in.
1. Homemade fish and chips with mushy peas
This is the classic combo done properly at home – and it’s been created by Kidney Care UK’s chef, which is exactly what you want for a CKD-friendly fakeaway: familiar, comforting, and designed with kidney needs in mind.
Why you’ll love it:
- Parboiling the potatoes helps make the chips a more kidney-friendly option if you’ve been advised to follow a low potassium diet
- It keeps the classic feel with mushy peas on the side – because fish and chips just isn’t the same without them.
- It uses Japanese panko breadcrumbs, which give you that lighter, crunchier, crispier texture.
Optional swaps:
- Use any white fish you like (choose what’s affordable and what you enjoy — cod, haddock, pollock, etc.).
Let’s be honest: for many people, tartare sauce is non-negotiable with fish and chips. This version gives you that classic creamy, tangy taste – but in a lighter homemade way.
Why you’ll love it:
- It tastes like the real deal (creamy + tangy + “proper chippy” vibes).
- It’s a healthier option than many shop-bought versions.
- Some shop-bought sauces can contain additives, including potassium-based ones, which
Optional swaps:
- Use reduced-fat mayonnaise.
Turkey: DIY Kebab Night
Next stop is Turkey – where kebabs are a real staple: kebab skewers, flatbreads, crunchy salads, and plenty of bold flavour.
Below are two kebab options plus a dip/meze spread to turn it into a proper sharing night.
These are a brilliant plant-based kebab option that still gives you that proper “smoky, grilled kebab” taste. The tofu cubes are marinated, wrapped in courgette ribbons, then grilled or barbecued – so you get loads of flavour and a great texture.
Why you’ll love it:
- A delicious vegetarian alternative to meat kebabs (and perfect if you’re trying to include more plant-based meals).
- The marinade is packed with bold flavour (coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, chilli, vinegar) so it tastes like a treat without needing salt.
- It’s great for a BBQ or grill night – and once it’s marinated, it cooks quickly.
- Easy to serve with couscous or wholemeal pitta and a side salad for a more complete meal.
Optional swaps:
- Use whichever veg you enjoy on skewers – peppers and onions also work well for that classic kebab feel.
- If you’re watching potassium, you can half the amount of tomato puree.
This is your classic “kebab in a pitta” fix – quick and satisfying.
Why you’ll like it:
- It’s another quick option (30 minutes or less).
It’s naturally low in salt and potassium. - The crunchy salad gives it the perfect crunchy texture.
Optional swaps:
- Add more chilli if you like your kebabs spicy.
If you want kebab night to feel like a proper feast, this is the one. It’s a spread of vegetarian dishes, babaganoush, tzatziki, hummus and a Greek-inspired salad – that works perfectly alongside the kebabs above, or on its own as a light summer sharing lunch.
Why you’ll like it:
- A vegetarian option that still feels generous and satisfying.
- Brilliant for “mix and match” nights – everyone can build their own plate.
- Perfect with kebabs, or as a lighter meal when you don’t want something heavy.
Optional swaps:
- Swap Greek yoghurt for plain yoghurt if you want a slightly lower-protein option.
- If you’ve been advised to follow a low-potassium diet, focus more on babaganoush and tzatziki
Key takeaways
✅ Fakeaways = takeaway flavours at home, with simple tweaks that can make a real difference for CKD.
✅ Use the KidneyWise Fakeaway Formula: Choose the cuisine + select protein + add carb + some veggies + flavour
✅ Kidney-friendly versions of your favourite European dishes are possible
If there’s one thing we want you to take away from this post, it’s this:
You don’t have to choose between enjoying your favourite foods and looking after your kidneys.
A takeaway on a special occasion? Totally fine.
But if you love those Friday-night flavours more regularly, fakeaways are the sweet spot – the same comfort and satisfaction, with more control over salt, portions, and ingredients.
What’s next in the series?
This is Part 1: Europe – and we’ll be back with Part 2: Asia, followed by Part 3: The Americas, so you’ll end up with a full collection of kidney-friendly fakeaways from all over the world.
Want a bit of help personalising your diet?
Book a free 15-minute enquiry call with an experienced kidney dietitian to explore how 1:1 support could fit your goals and your life.
Disclaimer: This advice is primarily for individuals with CKD Stages 3 & 4. It is solely educational and provides general advice only. It is not a substitute for seeing a registered dietitian or another qualified healthcare professional.
