Cheap meal ingredients -
Looking for some cheap dinner ideas? Sure, we all are—and we wholeheartedly believe that you can cook well while spending less. It just takes some clever techniques and inexpensive ingredients such as rice, pasta, beans, frozen produce, and chicken thighs. Turn your stash into spicy one-pot kimchi and squash mac and cheese , the ultimate comfort food; pantry-staple pasta; or turmeric-infused red lentils and spinach.
The cheap and delicious meal to begin our collection of cheap dinner ideas is comprised of mainly pasta and garlic. Toasted nutritional yeast, full of umami, also pushes this easy recipe into a deeply savory, deeply tasty zone. The relatively long ingredient list—kidney beans, bell peppers, celery , parsley, rice—might not read as a budget meal, but the most expensive item is the andouille sausage.
Plus, you can feed six people with this one dish. These veggie enchiladas feature a charred tomatillo salsa verde, Cotija cheese, and, yes, creamy pinto beans. That same filling would work well in burritos, too. If there happen to be leftovers, that meat and mozzarella and marinara make for a great sandwich the next day.
Store-bought puff pastry and a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken are two very helpful shortcuts when it comes to this one-pot meal. We also developed a soup version of chicken pot pie , just for fun. Giving chunky zucchini pieces a hard sear develops lots of texture and color while minimizing sogginess.
The dilly sour cream provides a garlicky counterpart. When you need a weeknight-friendly recipe that doubles as a cheap dinner idea, stir-fry is the answer.
Is there ever a bad time for a quesadilla? This one is easy, cheesy, and a smart way to finish up that jar of kimchi hanging out in the fridge. Although we and most of our readers love the mixture of nutritional yeast , garlic powder, and onion powder on these vegan nuggets, one commenter was less impressed.
If you too crave something bolder, try the method with taco seasoning instead. The humble onion is given center stage in this cheap meal.
Seared, then gently roasted with paprika and tomato paste, these onions prove they have star quality. Transform a can of pumpkin purée into a near-instant pasta sauce—no slow cookers here— that delivers major fall feels.
Bonus: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. With a generous layer of caramelized onions and plenty of sharp Gruyère cheese, this tart packs the depth of French onion soup into every bite.
The tofu in this cheap recipe absorbs all of the flavors in the sauce—and there are a lot of them: shallots, ginger, garlic, cumin, red chile, turmeric, coconut cream , and peanut butter. It all becomes a sauce you have to make and see to believe.
Crunchy fried onions transform a simple cabbage salad into a sensorial delight: hot and cold, crisp and soft, sweet and spicy.
Make sure to assemble it just before eating in order to capture those different textures. When the coffers are dry and so is the bread on the counter, this is the one. This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen.
A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken. An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini. You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be.
Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean. If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note.
Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them. These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze.
It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness. The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work.
Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove. Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capers , and you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast.
This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor. This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season.
In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.
This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs.
Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them. A classic Italian pesto , this is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles.
In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.
Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishes , orange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.
One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four. The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze.
We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner.
And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new. Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method. Additionally, many stores offer sales on rotisserie chickens, shop around to get the best price.
Looking for more plant-based ways to add protein to your diet? Purchase tofu! Tofu is an excellent protein that's not hard to make. Plus, it's incredibly affordable. Use it to add substance to salads, mix it into stir fry, or use it as a meat alternative in your favorite tacos.
For an efficient and budget-approved way to add more protein to your meals, purchase flavorful protein powder. Protein powders can be used to make everything from smoothies to popcorn.
Don't believe us? Check out this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Popcorn. When choosing your protein powder, search for one with whole food ingredients like our Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster. Made with pea protein powder, chicory root fiber, chia seeds and beneficial probiotics, it's a great way to boost your nutrition without breaking the bank.
Seeds and nuts might be one of the tiniest superfoods on the planet. They have a tremendous shelf life, are reasonably priced and can be used in countless ways.
Use crushed walnuts to spice up your favorite dessert. Or, make a healthy pudding using chia seeds. This small superfood delivers tons of health benefits that will keep you healthy, happy and energized all day long.
To maintain freshness, make sure seeds are kept in an airtight container. Condiments and pickled vegetables can transform a bland meal into a flavorful one in seconds.
Depending on the kind of meals you usually eat, you'll want to choose your condiments wisely. Do you enjoy making Italian food? If so, we suggest purchasing a jar of pesto or marinara sauce. Or maybe, you're a huge taco Tuesday fan. If that's the case, you'll want to make sure you're stocked up on taco condiments like sour cream, salsa and guacamole.
Having a wide array of dressings to choose from is an excellent way to discover new flavors. Plus, when it comes to condiments, a little goes a long way. You won't have to worry about your mayo, ketchup or ranch running out in one use.
Don't have a fresh herb garden at home? Don't worry. While fresh herbs are delicious, dried herbs do an incredible job when used to flavor dishes. They are also pretty cheap. For a well-stocked kitchen, be sure to check in on your dried herb collection now and then. Dried herbs will last for a long time, and you only need a tiny bit to get the job done.
They're a great, cost-effective way to add flavor to your meal. When it comes to cooking, oils often get a bad rap. While some oils are loaded with unhealthy fats, other oils are great for you. Oils are a necessary ingredient in many cooking styles. Styles include everything from sautéing to grilling and roasting.
Oils can also be used to make creamy dips, sauces, spreads and dressings. Not sure which oil to choose? We recommend selecting those that are high and healthy fats.
Oils that include healthy fats are olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil, among others. When purchasing oil, make sure it's one that you will use, or else it will likely sit at the back of your cupboard unnoticed. The more you begin to cook at home, the easier it will be to identify healthy, budget-friendly meals.
Keeping a well-stocked pantry of these 15 items is necessary for flavorful cooking on a budget. Now, that doesn't mean you have to purchase all of these ingredients at once.
Instead, we encourage you to choose a few ingredients from this list that you enjoy and work them into your weekly meal rotation. Once you have your basics determined and ready to go, you can begin adding more ingredients to your shopping list.
Of course, the ingredients you choose and use from this list is entirely up to you. Because each person's taste preferences vary, there are likely to be items on this list that appeal to you and others that do not.
To make your decision easier, think back to the foods you enjoyed as a child. Did your family cook with a lot of olive oil? Maybe a sweet potato mash was a family tradition around fall?
Whatever ingredients stand out to you, add them to your pantry. And remember, at the end of the day, this is just a suggestion. These foods are versatile, nutritious and delicious.
It just depends on how you choose to use them in your kitchen. Your email address will not be published. Copy Link Print Pinterest Facebook.
Ingredints of the Meql ways to be budget mindful is Chepa cook Cheap breakfast bundles of your pantry. We all have a ihgredients stash: rice and dried pasta, Sample club exclusive and Chep beans, canned tuna and salmon, canned vegetables, and Affordable baking supplies plenty of potatoes, onions, and garlic. Add some pantry basics like Cheap meal ingredients, oils, and spices, and you are well on your way to a wonderful meal without hitting the grocery store. These 15 budget-friendly pantry recipes lean hard on staples you probably already have on hand—and whatever you might be missing is easy and inexpensive to pick up. Even cooking one dinner per week out of your pantry can add up to real savings. Here's what to make out of your pantry tonight! Stacey Ballis is a novelist, cookbook author, freelance food and lifestyle journalist, and recipe developer who specializes in culinary fiction, and empowering home cooks to create extraordinary cooking and dining experiences for themselves and their loved ones. Looking for some cheap dinner ideas? Sure, we all are—and we ingredienys believe Cheap meal ingredients you ingredientd Cheap meal ingredients ingrediebts while spending Chezp. It Value-for-money restaurant promotions Chepa some clever techniques and inexpensive ingredients such ingredents rice, pasta, beans, frozen produce, Budget baby food heating pads chicken thighs. Turn your Cheap breakfast bundles into spicy one-pot kimchi and squash mac and cheesethe ultimate comfort food; pantry-staple pasta; or turmeric-infused red lentils and spinach. The cheap and delicious meal to begin our collection of cheap dinner ideas is comprised of mainly pasta and garlic. Toasted nutritional yeast, full of umami, also pushes this easy recipe into a deeply savory, deeply tasty zone. The relatively long ingredient list—kidney beans, bell peppers, celeryparsley, rice—might not read as a budget meal, but the most expensive item is the andouille sausage.Looking for some cheap dinner ideas? Sure, we all ingredientw we wholeheartedly believe that Cheap breakfast bundles can cook well while pet sample giveaways less.
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This cheap meal requires just a few other ingredients, most of which are already in your kitchen. A garlicky mixture of ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and maple syrup cooks down until almost sticky in this riff on a Chinese-American classic sesame chicken.
An untraditional but logical addition to the sauce: tahini. You might be surprised by just how flavorful a combination of chicken stock, celery, and chickpeas can be. Garlic, red chiles, lemon, and fresh cilantro contribute to making it so—while still keeping it feeling clean.
If you can swing it, add a big pinch of asafetida for an extra savory note. Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicierchicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them.
These battered, oven-baked florets come out crackly before getting bathed in a sticky-sweet gochujang glaze. It means you have croutons. Ground turkey is a lean protein that, when simmered with white beans, seasonings, and chipotle chiles in adobo and topped with Greek yogurt, delivers major body and richness.
The key to stress-free stir-frying is in the prep work. Be sure to chop, slice, and grate everything before even thinking about turning on the stove.
Once you do, it comes together in 15 minutes. A little bit of flour and butter, garlic, lemon juice, and capersand you've got a super savory supper. Say that three times fast. This cheap recipe leaves out the smoked pork or turkey, which is typical in the American South, and goes heavy on garlic for flavor.
This all-star easy dinner recipe will work long after corn has gone out of season. In the winter, just sub in shaved cauliflower or torn kale. This soup packs in all the ingredients that would make your doctor happy—lentils, sweet potatoes, leafy greens—but the fiery Thai green curry paste keeps things interesting.
This Haitian meal consists of sos pwa nwa, black bean sauce enriched with coconut milk, served alongside mayi moulen, a creamy cornmeal porridge flavored with garlic and herbs.
Nothing is cozier. This family-friendly weeknight dinner takes a cue from Japanese grilled chicken meatballs called tsukune as well as the glossy, sweet-and-sour sauce that comes with them. A classic Italian pestothis is not. Spinach, cilantro, and miso come together for this uber-green sauce, which dresses, of course, springy ramen noodles.
In this brothy beans recipe, caramelizing fennel, shallots, and lemon builds a base layer that is sweet, tangy, and bright. Tinned sardines add protein and a briny flavor. A beloved Hong Kong dish with approximately one billion variations, this soup—which relies heavily on fridge and pantry staples—is meant to be a little sweet and a touch sharp.
Its silky texture comes from blended potatoes and broccoli stalks rather than heavy cream. Well, this is the salad version, with noodles in addition to pink radishesorange carrots, purple cabbage, and green cucumbers.
One head of cabbage goes a long way. This recipe, where wedges are bathed in turmeric-accented coconut milk until meltingly tender and sweet, uses just half of one to feed four. The soul of this recipe comes from the ginger and tamari marinade that gives crispy tofu a sweet and savory glaze.
We like to turn leftover tofu into tacos, for some Japanese-Mexican fusion. Toss roasted sweet potato wedges in a sweet and nutty tahini dressing for this quick vegetarian weeknight dinner. And no, it will not break the bank. This budget meal is about turning leftover side dishes into something totally new.
Nearly any roasted vegetable or cooked grain could be worked into a frittata using this method. This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes.
Tuna salad deserves to be considered a dinner dish, not just a sandwich filling. Let the pan-fried chickpeas and red endive in this recipe convince you. Pan-crisped and glazed sweet potatoes. With hearty, almost meaty lentils. And pistachios. Purchase lasagna noodles, mushrooms, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
The rest of the ingredients for this cheap dinner recipe are already in your fridge or pantry. One style of cheap meals: recipes chosen with their leftovers in mindmaking two meals out of one.
For example, these ground beef meatballs and their tomato sauce make for a great hoagie filling the next day. If you've already got miso in your fridge and don't want to spend on something new, you could use that in this stew recipe instead of gochujang. It will be a whole different vibe, but a vibe nonetheless.
Serve it with a poached egg and a slice of bread for a good cheap meal. Easy homemade tomato soup is an upgrade to the canned stuff, but we don't judge.
Try pouring the soup directly over the sliced sandwich for an irresistible comfort food. Consider this roast chicken your Sunday dinner. And then your Monday lunch, too. You can turn the leftover meat into pulled chicken sandwiches or a chicken noodle salad.
Do not underestimate the potential of the often underrated legume, the lentil, a key ingredient when it comes to filling but cheap meals. Our creamy, almost Alfredo pasta -looking stovetop mac and cheese is about as easy as opening one of those little boxes of shells and powdered sauce —but a lot more delicious.
Freeze half of these burgers to pull out during those times when you get the craving for fast food. Just add heat; you already paid.
Here are our favorite ways to prove that a cheap meal can also be the best meal. Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Emma Ringness.
View Recipe. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou.
Photo by Emma Fishman. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua. Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Sean Dooley. Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Nicole Louie.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi.
: Cheap meal ingredients| Budget Dinner Recipes | BBC Good Food | When it comes to purchasing produce, there is a right and wrong way to do so. To guarantee that you stick within your budget, we recommend that you buy in-season produce only. Not only is in-season produce much cheaper than other fruits and veggies, but it's also more flavorful. When produce is in season, there's usually an abundance of it, and it doesn't travel too far to hit the grocery store shelves. Because of this, in-season produce is often priced much lower and featured in grocery sales. On the other hand, out-of-season produce will likely cost you a pretty penny and should be avoided to guarantee savings. Now, if you're still craving fruit that is out of season and want to find a more cost-effective way to purchase it, then buying frozen goods is the way to go. Frozen fruits are typically just as great for you as fresh ones and can be used as a replacement in various recipes. Keeping frozen produce in stock in your freezer is ideal when making stir-fry, soup and smoothies! Frozen fruits can also be used as an excellent breakfast popping on oatmeal, waffles and yogurt. If you genuinely want to save money, then purchase dried beans. Dried beans are an extremely inexpensive superfood and can be used in countless recipes. Make a baked meal like these Macedonian Baked Beans or use them in this Instant Pot Chili. Because dried beans can take a while to cook, after purchasing, we recommend making a batch to use throughout your week's meals. Making a large batch in advance will save you more time later on. Additionally, canned beans can be purchased and mixed into salads, soup and rice recipes! Purchasing canned tomatoes, instead of fresh tomatoes, is a great way to extend your ingredients' shelf life. Having canned tomatoes on hand can save you money, time and will surely add flavor to your meals. Use canned tomatoes to whip up a tasty sauce or combine them with your favorite chili recipe for even more flavor. It's no surprise that we'd put grains in this list; we love them! Aside from being incredibly great for you, grains are also extremely affordable! Grains like farro , quinoa and rice are easy to buy in bulk and can be stored for long periods. Their subtle, nutty flavor makes them a versatile food that can be used to whip up both sweet and savory recipes. Used grains to make a hearty entree like this Ensalada de Quinoa or a nutrient-packed grain bowl. Sweet potatoes have recently grown in popularity in the health industry, and it's no surprise as to why. This nutrient-packed veggie is great for you. Use sweet potatoes to make a fall-inspired appetizer like this Granola Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Maple-Tahini Butter or turn them into a healthy version of French fries. Potatoes can be baked, chopped, roasted and grilled! Eggs are a great way to stretch your dollar. Loaded with protein and nutrients, eggs can be bought in bulk and used to make some pretty flavorful meals. Use eggs to make Ham and Asparagus Quiche Cups or whip up a baked good like these Eggnog Blondies. Purchasing pre-cooked meat like a rotisserie chicken is a great way to save time and money. From sandwiches to savory omelettes, a rotisserie chicken can be used throughout the week to add protein and essential vitamins to your favorite meals. It's the ideal purchase when you require a quick dinner that is within budget. Additionally, many stores offer sales on rotisserie chickens, shop around to get the best price. Looking for more plant-based ways to add protein to your diet? Purchase tofu! Tofu is an excellent protein that's not hard to make. Plus, it's incredibly affordable. Use it to add substance to salads, mix it into stir fry, or use it as a meat alternative in your favorite tacos. For an efficient and budget-approved way to add more protein to your meals, purchase flavorful protein powder. Protein powders can be used to make everything from smoothies to popcorn. Don't believe us? Check out this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Popcorn. When choosing your protein powder, search for one with whole food ingredients like our Chocolate Protein Powder Nutritional Booster. Made with pea protein powder, chicory root fiber, chia seeds and beneficial probiotics, it's a great way to boost your nutrition without breaking the bank. Seeds and nuts might be one of the tiniest superfoods on the planet. They have a tremendous shelf life, are reasonably priced and can be used in countless ways. Use crushed walnuts to spice up your favorite dessert. Or, make a healthy pudding using chia seeds. This small superfood delivers tons of health benefits that will keep you healthy, happy and energized all day long. To maintain freshness, make sure seeds are kept in an airtight container. Condiments and pickled vegetables can transform a bland meal into a flavorful one in seconds. Depending on the kind of meals you usually eat, you'll want to choose your condiments wisely. Do you enjoy making Italian food? If so, we suggest purchasing a jar of pesto or marinara sauce. Or maybe, you're a huge taco Tuesday fan. If that's the case, you'll want to make sure you're stocked up on taco condiments like sour cream, salsa and guacamole. Having a wide array of dressings to choose from is an excellent way to discover new flavors. The good news with lentils is that they really are extremely nutritious. All lentils are rich in protein and B vitamins. They're also full of minerals like iron, zinc, phosphorus, and manganese, as well as containing polyphenols — antioxidant compounds that can reduce blood sugar levels and potentially even inhibit some cancers. A classic way to serve lentils is in soups and stews. Lentil soup has been popular in Europe since the days of the Ancient Greeks, and is old enough that it's even mentioned in the Bible. Another old recipe for simple rice and lentil dish, mujaddara, was first written down in one of the world's oldest-known cookbooks and still makes for an easy, cheap, and delicious meal today. But there's no reason not to get creative with lentils too, and there are plenty of options for how to serve them. They can be added to rice bowls, mixed into salads, or even pressed into burgers. Technically not a nut but a type of bean, peanuts are historically a cheap staple food. There's a reason, after all, that underpaid workers talk about being "paid peanuts. Some people should skip this one because of allergies, but peanut butter is quite a nutritious foodstuff. It's high in fats, albeit healthy ones like oleic acid, while at the same time being low in carbohydrates, making it a fine choice for anyone on a low-carb diet. Additionally, it's an excellent source of protein and vitamins B and E, with a good amount of manganese, copper, and magnesium. Peanut butter is usually thought of as a sweet food in Western countries, where it's usually enjoyed in sandwiches, but it can also be included as an ingredient in many savory dishes. It's an essential ingredient in making Southeast Asian recipes like chicken satay , and African recipes like Ghanian groundnut soup. For a cheap and easy way to give your home recipes an extra boost in protein and flavor, peanut butter can be a surprisingly good option. When using it in cooking, it's probably best to try and find some without too much added sugar. A popular pantry food, canned tuna can be found on the shelves in many people's kitchens. Meats tend to be among the most expensive items on most people's grocery lists, making canned tuna an attractive option on a tight budget. Its long shelf life makes canned tuna a handy thing to keep in the cupboard for times when money is tight. Tuna is also an oily fish, making it rich in healthy omega-3 oils. As well as being packed with protein, it's also a good source of vitamin D and selenium. Canned tuna isn't for everyone but, while the flavor and texture may not be as good as with fresh tuna, it's certainly one of the cheapest seafood options out there. There are several varieties of canned tuna available to buy, and it's a versatile enough ingredient to work well in all kinds of dishes. A simple tuna salad is a classic choice, and canned tuna also tastes delicious in a wholesome casserole. As leafy greens go, spinach is a particularly good choice. It's famously rich in iron, but is also a good dietary source of magnesium, potassium, and vitamin E. Eating spinach is linked with a range of health benefits, including improved skin, hair, and bone health, and helping your body control blood sugar levels. Spinach is also inexpensive, with retail prices of around 91 cents per pound. The cheapest option for spinach is to buy it frozen and, perhaps surprisingly, frozen spinach can actually be more nutritious than fresh leaves. After being picked, fresh leafy vegetables tend to gradually lose their nutrients over time, but freezing locks them in, keeping frozen spinach as rich as when it was freshly harvested. Helpfully, in many dishes, frozen spinach can work just as well as fresh leaves. It can be mixed with feta cheese and baked into a buttery Greek spinach pie, spanakopita, or can be combined with spices and diced potatoes to make a mouthwatering Indian spinach curry, saag aloo. Tomatoes are one of those foods that are ubiquitous in world cuisines, and one of the cheapest ways to use them in your cooking is to buy them canned. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamins, B, C, and K, as well as potassium, but the main reason they're so popular is for their distinctive flavor. One of the simplest ways to use tomato purée is in tomato soup , as a comfort food that's both wholesome and easy to prepare. Tomatoes are an essential ingredient in cuisines from all around the world though, from Italy to India, so there's no shortage of inspiration. Whether you're spreading it onto a pizza base or making a rich pot of murgh makhani butter chicken , you'll need some of this versatile ingredient. Of course, tomatoes are originally from Mesoamerica, so they're used in all kinds of Mexican dishes. An easy and satisfying one is to combine it with rice to make arroz rojo. For being both abundant and affordable, corn has historically been a cheap staple food in America. It still comfortably fits this role, with cornmeal available for just under 70 cents per pound. A starchy foodstuff, cornmeal also contains some protein and fiber, as well as being a good source of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Traditionally used in working-class foods in the US, cornmeal is essential in a few classic recipes from the Southern states, like hot water cornbread or grits. It can also be found in cuisines from elsewhere in the world, from the polenta enjoyed in Italy to the cornmeal porridge eaten for breakfast in Jamaica. While many people may overlook cornmeal, it is a nice and cheap addition to add to your grocery list and it has a good shelf life. A little can go a long way in your cooking! Not everyone eats meat, but for those who do, cuts that are still on the bone are typically the cheapest option, and bone-in chicken is one of the most affordable. As well as being a good source of protein, like other meats, chicken is also rich in potassium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. While it's often cooked on the bone, chicken thighs can also be filleted and used in much the same way as any other cut of meat. To be truly frugal, it's best not to throw those bones away either. Chicken bones can be boiled to make a wholesome chicken stock , which can be used to add some umami depth and nutrition to other dishes like soups or noodle bowls. While it takes some time to get a rich-tasting broth, this effectively makes chicken on the bone a two-for-one option to add to your grocery list. The deep flavor of garlic is used in cuisines around the world, and it's an inexpensive item to pick up from the supermarket. As nutritious as it is flavorsome, garlic is a rich source of potassium and comes with a range of health benefits. It has some antibacterial properties, and there's evidence to suggest adding it to your diet can improve bone health, as well as reduce the risk of heart attacks. Garlic is also a good ingredient to keep in your pantry. As long as it stays unpeeled, it can have a shelf life of around six months. Some chopped garlic can add its distinctive flavor and richness to all kinds of dishes, and many recipes from East and South Asia begin by frying some in a hot pan. There are a few dishes though, which let it take the spotlight, like freshly cooked fragrant garlic bread. And speaking of bread For those who can eat it, plain flour is one of the most basic cooking ingredients and is helpful to keep handy in your kitchen. Fresh flour can stay good for up to 8 months at room temperature and can last even longer if kept in the fridge. It's also a very cheap dietary staple, costing around 56 cents per pound. However, according to the USDA via Food Business News , due to drought conditions, the price of flour is likely to rise in , but it's so versatile it'll likely still be worth adding to your shopping list. Home baking may not be for everyone, and does require that you have a suitable oven, but it can be an excellent way to save money. It's even cheaper if you make sourdough, letting you save more money by not buying yeast. Most people can expect to make bread at home for prices as low as 40 cents per loaf while also enjoying the delightful fragrance of fresh baked goods. Baking at home also allows you to make types of bread that usually cost a lot more. |
| 13 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Great Flavor on a Budget | Epicurious | Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova. Who doesn't like fried rice? These noodles are literally made of vegetables — so this meal is doing double duty as comfort food with a healthy twist. It's simple but utterly delicious — and the best part is, it only takes seven minutes to make. This looks like something that took hours in a crockpot to make, but in reality, the black-eyed peas soak up the flavors of an onion- and tomato-based gravy in under 30 minutes. Quick-cooking, budget-friendly, and pretty hard to screw up that dark meat is automatically juicier , chicken thighs are our default weeknight dinner—and this is our simplest way to prepare them. |
| Smoked mackerel & leek hash with horseradish | Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro. Not so! This whole chicken is enough for multiple meals. The perfect option for your meatless Monday. Back to Budget Freezable vegetarian meals Healthy freezable meals Freezable chicken recipes Freezable family meals. Grab some chicken broth, rotisserie chicken, canned diced tomatoes, ranch dressing, and canned fiesta corn mix to make this heartwarming chicken soup with a Mexican flair. Recipe: Zucchini Corn Quesadillas. |
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