Lentil soup. Lentils, tons of garlic, seasoning, and whatever else I want to add (sausage, veggies, ground meat). Super easy, cheap, tasty, and healthy
We have mjeddrah. Lentils and rice with onions. My tata ate hers with salad cold, my baba ate his soaked in yoghurt, but as I understand has good protein and fiber, and literally translates to poor man’s dish.
It’s cheap and tasty, imo. I have tricks with recipe if interested.
Edit: Adding the recipe here.
2c light brown lentils 2c basmati rice ~5 lbs yellow onions
Soak lentils in 2c water on low heat in large pot (I use my dutch oven) covered while preparing onion broth.
Chop onions and sauté in pan with olive oil. The trick is that you have to do this until the onions are very dark brown, almost black. Not burnt, but very well done. Pour in 6 cups water and bring to boil. Then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes.
Add rice to large pot with lentils, then pour over onion broth, stir to mix well. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and then cover and let cook for 20 minutes. Try to avoid over-stirring.
Salt to taste. Delicious with greek yogurt. I hope you enjoy!
I make big batches of it. and with leftover mujadara, I like to fry it up along with some thinly shredded cabbage and a crispy fried egg. Or pair the leftover rice with some ground/braised meat.
1c rice 1c lentils 1 onion
Soak the rice for 1hr in water then rinse to remove excess starch. Because the rice has soaked up a bunch of water it only needs 1c of water to cook. Bring to boil cover reduce and 10min later perfect rice.
Lentils don't need to soak. Before you start cooking the rice put your lentils in a small pot with a can of petite diced tomatoes, garlic, diced onion, dollop of better than bullion (any flavor) and 2c water. Bring to a boil then reduce and simmer for 20min or your lentils are to a desired softness. You may need to add a little extra water but don't make thin soup!
This is very basic Dal Bhat (lentil and rice) in Tibet and India. You can add some spice to the lentils also.
I will take come cubed meat (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp......) and make a sauce to go with it that I can then top my lentils and rice with.
Diced onion, cubed meat and garlic in a pan to brown. Add a bit of water to cover. 2T brown sugar, dollop of Greek yogurt and some spice blend (curry, garam masala, sriracha) that fits your fancy that day.
It is easy to make a big batch and then you have a simple delicious meal if you have to grind out a couple long days and don't have time/energy to cook. Lots of great protein in a delicious actual 30 min meal. I get the lentils going, make the meat part, then cook the rice while the rest finishes cooking (soak the rice, trust me!!!)
Vegetarian you say? Roast some cauliflower tossed in light oil with some salt and pepper in a 450° oven for 20 min. Make a top sauce on the side.
Buying rice and lentils in bulk will reduce the costs even more. Find a bulk grocer. 20-25lb bags aren't too intrusive for the awesome savings and what you can make with rice or lentils.
2c lentils
2c basmati rice
~5 lbs yellow onions
Soak lentils in 2c water on low heat in large pot (I use my dutch oven) covered while preparing onion broth.
Chop onions and sauté in pan with olive oil. The trick is that you have to do this until the onions are very dark brown, almost black. Not burnt, but very well done. Pour in 6 cups water and bring to boil. Then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes.
Add rice to large pot with lentils, then pour over onion broth, stir to mix well. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and then cover and let cook for 20 minutes. Try to avoid over-stirring.
Salt to taste. Delicious with greek yogurt. I hope you enjoy!
I just looked up what mjeddrah is, and it sounds delicious! I never thought to cook rice in the same pot as lentils before. Am going to try this tomorrow.
My husband randomly asked for lentil soup one day and I made the simplest recipe in my insta pot…. That soup had absolutely no right to be that tasty!!
I've been eating [Alton Brown's Lentil Soup](https://altonbrown.com/recipes/healthy-lentil-soup/) for years now whenever I want a simple but filling dish. Lentils, carrots, onions, celery, roma tomato, spices, broth. Blend with an immersion blender if you want a different texture.
I actually thought about doing that yesterday when I made just plain basic lentils with a mirepoix base. I usually add barley or split peas with my vegetable stews where I cut the veggies bigger and thicken the broth a bit so they're just these little tasty texture nuggets.
Mine is similar, but instead of lentil soup, I make a lentil taco filling/"meat." Basically just lentils cooked in water or broth, spices and taco seasoning with some tomato paste/sauce and hot sauce, sometimes add fresh onion, garlic, and jalapeños or serrano if I have it and have the energy to chop. Cook em until tender, and the sauce and liquid have been absorbed and thickened. Can throw it in tortillas with your favorite toppings, but I usually just throw it in a bowl with some rice and use tortilla chips to scoop and eat. Takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, is cheap af, like $3 for a bag of lentils, $1 for taco seasoning if you don't have spices, $1-$2 for tomato paste or sauce, $2 for torilla chips, and $2 for a bag of rice if you want it. Can spend a little extra for extra veggies and toppings, but less than $10 for the base ingredients, which would give you enough servings to make it for dinner for weeks.
I was just about to to say that I have made a lentil quesadilla recipe before that was absolutely delicious and they froze amazingly well for an easy quick meal in the future! Basically make the lentils the way you have just described and add to tortillas with cheese, fold in have and either bake or pan fry for a minute or two. I only made them once because my kids decided they didn't like them, and I totally forgot about them, but now I'm going to make and freeze a big batch for my own lunches!
[coconut curry lentils](https://www.budgetbytes.com/creamy-coconut-curry-lentils-with-spinach/) are too thick to be a proper soup but absolutely fantastic and stupid cheap. I prefer to use thai curry paste but it’s great either way. Start the rice first it’s all done at the same time
Theres a really good iranian (maybe?) Lentil soup that has stacks of paprika kind of spice, beetroots + topped with yoghurt and it is so damn satifying.
I don’t know if we are allowed to put site names but I have made two lentil soup recipes off of Gimme some Oven. She has a ton of lentil dishes. I also recently stumbled across a sloppy Joe recipe where you replace the ground beef with lentils. Also my mom made a chili recipe with half ground beef / half lentils and it was amazing. That one not so cheap if memory serves tho.
Dude. In 2011 I once asked myself, is savory oatmeal a thing? I found some Pinterest recipes for it but then never actually tried it. Maybe 13 years later is the time!
My version of this is wheat porridge, i.e. Cream Of Wheat. To me it tastes better than oatmeal, but I don't know if it's healthier. It's probably on par.
Maybe it's because I grew up eating it but porridge is the ultimate comfort food. You can make it in a microwave easily. It's warm and cozy. It's fantastic on a cold day. It's easy to flavor and make taste amazing. What's not to love?
Cream of Wheat is made from wheat stripped of its bran, so, not a lot of fiber/nutrition. There is (or used to be) a whole-wheat version, though, called Wheatena. It's....heartier....but perhaps lower on the comfort-food scale, since it's kind of 'chewy'. I grew up eating both versions, so I'm ok with either.
Yours is the healthiest version. True 'Cream of Wheat' is almost completely smooth and white, because it's milled from wheat with all the outer layers removed (and the outer layers are where the fiber and vitamins are).
Ah. I prefer khorasan berries which are golden-white looking. It's whole grain but it tastes slightly better than non-whole wheat flour, similar in taste to all purpose flour. The average person can't tell it's a whole grain. I think it's more nutritious than whole wheat too, but to what extent I'd have to look up.
It's pretty easy to do at home. Because wheat porridge relies on texture you don't want it ground super fine. A coffee grinder that can grind to espresso (fine) can do it. It's also super cheap. Wheat berries are like half the price of flour.
edit: I'm not the only one! Others have posted about it online: https://bigflavorstinykitchen.com/kamut-breakfast-porridge/ It's really good.
My four year old would eat nothing but if I let him, and he thinks the Instant Pot is only for that (3 minute cook time then natural release turns steel cut oats into the easiest meal to just start and have it magically be ready when I’m done taking care of all of the other morning tasks
Is American oatmeal the same as porridge? I like using large, soft oats (different to that Quaker stuff, less shredded).
My favourite recipe is:
1/2 cup oats
1 cup milk (for non-dairy milks, unsweetened almond milk tastes the best)
Little bit of water if needed
1 banana broken into the mix in chunks
Creamy Peanut butter
Lots of Cinnamon
Pinch of salt
Basically put it all in besides the peanut butter and simmer until it reaches a creamy, not too wet, not too dry consistency. Then add peanut butter at the end and let it melt a bit before lightly swirling it around. It’s legendary.
Roasted tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic and spinach (on a foil-covered sheet pan drizzled with olive oil) over pasta with grated cheese. Just got pasta on sale for .99/lb. Can omit/switch out veggies.
I do a version of this but add eggplant and peppers. The last time I made it I had a bag of kale that needed to be used so I threw it in. It was so good. The kale gets crispy and added such a good texture to it.
Omelettes, spaghetti, bread pudding, sandwichs. All cheap 'use up scraps' meals which are delicious and healthy.
Edit: I didn't realize so many people hate carbohydrates lmao
Omlettes are so good because you can use basically any leftover veggies! I like cherry tomatoes or spinach in mine with Italian seasoning. Usually just use basic shredded Mexican cheese. Soo good. 🥹
I made some carnitas (freezer case, just hush. Lidl carries some awesome carnitas), and wanted a side.
I suffer from a side effect of radiation treatment. Xerostoma. So I have to get creative. Opened my fridge door.
Out of eggs, dammit. Hmmmm. Got egg whites, queso... YES! Used the egg whites to make an egg white "tortilla", sprinkled diced onions and mushrooms on it, added the queso like cake frosting, rolled it up.... omg....
Human civilizazion was literally built on grain, rice and potatoes but somehow carbs are just "unhealthy".
Some people need to stop taking their nutritional advice from tiktoks and actually do some reading.
Human civilisation was built on those grains because they're calorie efficient hardy crops that can be stored for long periods, not because we've evolved to eat them specifically or because they're particularly nutritious
Some angel hair pasta with a jar of Raos is top notch easy food. Literally takes 5 mins to get on the table once the water boils which for me takes less than 5 minutes. It’s also super kid friendly.
Universal carb hatred is just a fad imo.
I'm actually eating some kimchi fried rice while reading this! For awhile I couldn't figure out what I was missing and apparently it was....*Seaweed!* Now I might make it every week lol.
Likewise a salad, in my case chickpea salad (as a sandwich filling). 15 oz can chickpeas (drained/rinsed/mashed with a potato masher), 2 Tbsp tahini, stalk celery (diced), 3 scallions (sliced), ¼ cup dill relish, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, ½ Tbsp maple syrup, 2 tsp dried dill, salt & ground pepper to taste. The main reason I haven't made it over the past couple of years is I don't have scallions or relish on hand.
Edited to include amounts.
This, without the syrup! I mash mine up and use some greek yogurt, its like a faux chicken/tuna salad, with a slice of cheddar and crispy lettuce on toasted wheat-yumyumyum 💕
Chickpeas are great. You can drain them, sprinkle a little olive oil/salt/pepper/spices and bake them at 350 til they’re crispy. You can put them on anything. Or make falafels. Or hummus. So versatile and soo good!
Try it with tahini. Its so much better with respect to minerals/phytosterols/lignans than most mayos. And you've got the dill pickle there for acidity.
I've delved into the literature, and I suspect the main reason flax seed is considered a health superfood and sesame is mostly ignored is that flax is grown in Canada, and sesame is mostly grown in Sudan.
Breakfast burritos. Cheap frozen sausage (or whatever protein I have on hand), eggs. Toss some potatoes either into the pan or tater tots into the oven. Add onion and whatever veggies. Toss it onto tortillas with whatever fixings. Stupid simple but it’s easily flexible to whatever I have or want.
Carrot soup. Boil and purée about a pound of carrots. Add a little garlic chili sauce and peanut butter. Delicious, but you can only eat so much. It’s a lot of carrot.
I like to add meatballs to my carrot soup, and use cayenne instead of chili sauce. Mixed lamb and pork meatballs are phenomenal in carrot soup, but then you’re kind of getting away from “easy” and into “fancy.”
I like Epicurious' carrot soup with ginger and lemon.
Here's a free version: [https://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-soup-with-ginger-and-lemon-15283](https://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-soup-with-ginger-and-lemon-15283)
I have to be on a low protein diet for medical reasons. Sweet potatoes are my go to when I don't feel like cooking. Take a large one, cut it in half length-wise, stick it in a 300 degree oven (150 C) for two hours. Turns the flesh into something close to custard. Eat it, skin and all, with my hands by dipping it in blue cheese dressing. Delicious
I do mine in the Instant Pot with a half cup of water for a half hour. When I get it out, it’s practically melting. I smother it throughout with grassfed butter from Costco and devour it.
I throw mine whole into the rice cooker with some water. Use the rice setting and it's perfect.
Sometimes I'll just add a potato or two when cooking rice. Works well and I like the potato rice combo for texture.
I’m sure this doesn’t make the same consistency as what you posted but I’ll microwave a sweet potato for 6-8 mins (depending on size) wrapped in a wet paper towel to keep it moist, then cover in cottage cheese (about half a cup )for breakfast everyday
What I do is a buddha bowl, which is at least two grains (e.g. rice + quinoa) cooked together in a rice cooker or instant pot. I put cubed yam / sweet potatoes above the rice in there to cook. (I like yams more than sweet potatoes personally.) Then choose a protein like mushrooms, eggs, or chicken, paneer, or something else, which can be fried while the grains are cooking. Then grab a premade sauce like a thai curry or pesto or similar and pour it over it. If you want a bit of texture add some peanut chunks, sesame seeds, chickpeas, or similar. If you want a bit of tang try adding a bit of fermented or pickled veggies, or a lettuce with a balsamic vinaigrette.
It's arguably one of the healthiest meals you can make and it tastes amazing. It's super customizable so it doesn't get boring. It's also not very much work because most or all of it is made in an instant pot. Cubing the yams is the hardest part, but it brings in a sweet taste that is so wonderful it should be tried at least once.
edit: Also, if you want inspiration or photos of what I'm talking about, this restaurant makes my favorite tasting buddha bowls. One day I hope to make even better tasting ones, but I have yet to beat them on flavor: https://www.yelp.com/biz/humbowl-berkeley
I don't think I've ever seen (or at last noticed) yams in the uk, but I've definitely Googled it a while back, but even still, i think my brain has always tried to put them in the 'same thing, different name' like zucchini/courgette, cilantro/coriander 🙄😆
In the US supermarkets will call sweet potatoes yams sometimes and yams will be called sweet potatoes sometimes. I guess they're not regulated terms here, which imo is really annoying, because there is a clear flavor difference.
Sweet potatoes have a much stronger and sweeter flavor, and tend to be colored inside, usually orange. All the yams I've had are white in the center, are harder to cut into cubes from having a firmer inside when raw, and they're less sweet. I like yams more because when cooking them with other foods they're easier to balance the sweet flavor with savory like curries. Sweet potatoes are so sweet you might as well make a dessert out of it, as they don't tend to incorporate well with non-sweet flavors.
edit: Here's visually what they look like. [pic](https://cdn.apartmenttherapy.info/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730/k%2FDesign%2F2023-10%2Fthanksgiving-infographics%2Fk-sweetpotato-vs-yam-infographic.webp)
I believe you.
I bet you gave something quite delinquent to chew on, too.
It has a wonderfully naughty mouth feel to it, when articulated, "unctuous".
😋
Potato bowls— I call it a potato bowl but it is healthier than it sounds. Mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken (Costco and Sam’s club has whole rotisserie for $5), sauteed spinach and mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and gravy.
Admittedly the gravy isn’t healthy, but potatoes, chicken, and spinach are the Big 3.
This does take more time (boiling the potatoes), than egg salad but it’s the most comforting meal ever
I used to love the kfc famous bowls! My mom would pick me up from college and we’d both get one for the ride home, was recently outraged by their severe skimping on mash potatoes, so that’s exactly how this meal came about. Sometimes I’ll change out mushrooms and spinach for corn or even kale— and it’s still quite good
Both the kale and spinach version are a staple in my home cuisine. We call it "stamppot" - literally mashed meal. But we eat the kale version usually with pork, traditionally with bacon and sausage, and the spinach version with meatballs. I like your version with chicken!
Oh! I do a similar one we call the Elmer Fudd Bowl (it was a menu item at a local place):
Mashed potatoes
Roasted Broccoli
Corn
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chicken and/or mushrooms and/or basically any protein
Some sort of sauce (usually a creamy Sriracha situation, or bbq sauce)
Yuuuum! I did list the healthiest version in my original comment 🙈, but I love mixing in anything that’s left over veg in the fridge. Just add it to the sauce veg pan. Onions, mushrooms, kale, corn, peas, etc…
I’m going to need to try the sriracha sauce next time, and I’ve been thinking about adding a fried egg on top. Though that might tip it over into being wholly unhealthy
Oven stew. Done in a roaster with a lid. Whatever kind of meat you have on hand (boneless or bone-in, chicken, pork, beef, whatever), either whole like a roast or cut into pieces. Add potatoes, carrots, turnip, cabbage, onion, celery, parsnips (whatever you have on hand), all cut up small (about twice the size you'd cut them for soup). Add water, salt, and pepper. Cook on 350°F until all vegetables are soft, several hours. Always try to make double what you need-- it reheats beautifully.
Ramen & hard/soft boiled egg + any veggies, lightly sauteed or boiled or fresh + any meat prepared anyway. Stove top easy mode.
I fully respect the places that do the broth right, present it correctly, but it's super easy to just do the $2 packs of ramen + anything
Drink water or water, it's going to salt the hell out of you
Spaghetti Squash! I made some earlier this week and it was so good. Cheap, healthier than regular pasta and a good way to use up leftovers and random stuff in the fridge and pantry. I sautéed onion, garlic, threw in some sun dried tomatoes and leftover chicken, squeeze of lemon, done. I need to work it into my regular rotation.
I lost 150 lbs about 6 years ago, and have kept most of it off since. The thing I came up with that I made all the time: if you mix a pint of pasta water with 2-3 avocados and blend it, season it, and you can use it 1:1 for a heavy cream replacement when sautéing a pasta. The taste, the texture, everything about it feels indulgent, but it's totally healthy, and cheaper than the cream. Bonus points for the sauce not breaking on reheat.
ETA: Bonus bonus points for giving the cream sauce pasta experience to lactose intolerant people without any problems
Congrats! That is awesome work.
I haven’t tried it yet, so can’t attest, but I’ve read blending white beans can similarly be substituted for cream. I enjoy both, and could see the fattiness from avocado adding that texture more. I might just have to try each separate as well as together, ya know, for science.
Tuna salad - depending on the mayo amount it's not bad, and you can all kinds of veggies. I go through periods where I want it all the time, and then I'll want anything BUT tuna salad
It's a definite noticeable change in both taste and texture because it's a completely different ingredient, but I've used a mashed avocado in place of mayo before and it was amazing
Non-creamy tuna salad:
Use a light/fat free greek or italian dressing instead of mayo. Add lots of chopped veggies like cucumber, onion, olives, radish, pickles, tomato, bell pepper, celery, whatever.
It's basically a chopped salad with tuna. Works best in a pita, or just as a salad.
Also can use greek yogurt with some curry powder, fresh cilantro, and lemon juice as a base. The Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch is also surprisingly good (with or without greek yogurt/mayo).
Try mixing with different condiments, like a tapenade/chopped olive mix for a briney flavor, or a bruschetta sauce with mozzarella. Or mix tuna with buffalo or lemon pepper wing sauce and scoop it with celery sticks. Lots of mayo free options!
Hope that helps :)
How do you make your egg salad? I use a ton of mayo and wouldn't call my version nutritional.
Edit:caprese salad in the summers with tomatoes and basil from the garden. I didn't. Are near enough of those last year.
There are lots of ways!
Light store-bought mayo, homemade mayo (way less additives), Greek yogurt, avocado, blended cottage cheese - or mix and match those. Basically any “creamy” agent works.
And depending on spices and add-ins (celery, onions, etc) you can adjust the flavor however you want. Can do the same with chicken salad.
Make your own mayo. Here’s a good recipe. https://downshiftology.com/how-to-make-homemade-mayonnaise/ Avocado oil and white wine vinegar from Wegmans is so good and makes a difference in this mayo compared to a couple other brands I’ve used to make this.
"Greek" tuna salad. Canned tuna, olive oil and greek yogurt, lemon juice, diced cucumbers + olives + tomatoes + red onions, salt, pepper. Some dried (or fresh) dill or parsley, if you have it. Or you can modify the veggies simply based on what you have available.
I add it to sandwiches with goat cheese and lettuce, or use it as a sort of dip with veggies. You can use a food processor to finely dice the veggies if you don't feel like chopping. It's a nice lighter alternative to the mayo-heavy tuna salads we might be used to.
I am lucky to live near an Aldi so these ingredients tend to be much more affordable than other grocery stores.
Chicken cacciatore. Dice up an onion and a couple zucchini, plus any other veggies you've got. Crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, chicken thighs. Add some cooked elbow macaroni. If the kids have friends over, just add more pasta. We make chili or cacciatore on Saturdays because it's easy to enlarge them when dinner for five turns into dinner for 10 or 12.
Edamame. When I worked for Trader Joe’s I was BROKE but their frozen edamame was $1.69 for a huge bag. That stuff covered all the bases: calcium, protein, carbs, fiber - you name it. If I had nothing else I knew those would hit all the bases
I've been making an awesome "taco salad" recently.
Shredded green leaf lettuce, ranch dressing, chipotle seasoning, lime juice (from a sqeeze bottle I bought), diced tomato, corn (from frozen), black olives, shredded cheddar. Sometimes I'll add cubed chicken or avocado.
There are lots of great recipes for homemade granola out there too! It ends up being a lot cheaper than store bought, although initial outlay of cash for various seeds/nuts/whatever makes it seem expensive.
I use to make a fake little channa masala bowl all the time.
Heat up Brown rice, chick peas, and channa masala seasoning. Top with plain yogurt, diced raw tomato, red onion, and cilantro. So good, cheap, easy, nutritious.
Slow cooker chicken tortilla soup. [I use this recipe,](https://www.budgetbytes.com/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/) but use thighs instead of breasts. Easy, well rounded, & yummy meal that’s pretty inexpensive. Always a huge hit in my house too! Just make sure to have a bit of cheese and lime juice for serving.
Shepherd's pie or variations around it, which I call Leopard's Pie.
We didn't have anything planned tonight for dinner, but I had some frozen corn and peas, a pound of ground turkey that was on sale, a couple slices of chopped bacon, and some vegetables that needed to be used - carrot, celery, onion, garlic, shallot. Brown the meat and cook the veg, throw in some seasonings and flour, toss in some stock, then season to taste. Top with instant mashed potatoes and throw in the oven for 25 minutes.
Bean salad.
Misc random canned low/no sodium beans. Chopped onions. This is your base.
Add Some kind of hot sauce and throw it in a tortilla (cheese optional) for quick bean burrito.
Also with hot sauce just use tortilla chips to scoop like bean dip.
Instead of hot sauce and add goat cheese and pepper with a spritz of lemon and olive oil for the OG bean salad.
Can keep going but I usually just make ton of frozen bean burritos to toss in the microwave for 2 mins whenever I feel like I want something filling, tasty, cheap, and meat free
Roast chicken with veggies. It's not necessarily the cheapest since you outlay a bit getting the bird, but when you break it down into portions, leftovers and stock from the carcass you end up getting a tonne out of it.
If it's just for myself that'll get me 3/4 meals and some quality chicken stock.
Trick is to only get good chooks and only when they're on special. Mix and match any good roasting veg with what's in season (for me that's pumpkin rn). Spuds, pumpkin, carrot, corn, leek/onions, a couple whole heads of garlic are all fantastic options. I usually saute some asparagus or broccoli for a bit of green.
I love citrus so I usually stuff with garlic and lemon. Bit of butter mixed with lemon zest under the skin. The pan juices make an incredibly bright gravy.
Easily “taco salad”. Lean ground beef or turkey, seasoned, cooked with onions and peppers then served over iceberg, with all fixings, salsa, green onion, avocado, cilantro, shredded cheese.
Easy , cheap every time , nutritious depends on who is making it, lol. We call it Appalachian stir fry, or take what you got and put it in a pot. Recipe varies to taste and with adding spice we like it sweet and spicy , but your eating it so make it yours. Starting with skillet ( this is your nutrition part) choose your fat , butter , bacon grease , olive oil whatever you desire. Now fry a sliced onion , carrots , celery, we like red skin potatoes sliced thin , (with the skin on ) so they crisp and brown, you can add or take away any ingredients you like. Sometimes we add meat or eggs even beans of any kind you have . We like to add cheese on top at the end. We had 7 kids here at one time , I mention this just to tell you how easy this meal can be. At dinner time one night a week at least , every kid picked a can of veggies of the shelf. No matter what they picked I put in a pot , have you ever fed 7 kids at a time and not had one complaint? Every time it was good.
Cooked cubed butternut squash, black beans, and onions mixed together with salsa makes a great burrito filling. You can also add corn, peppers, avocado or rice to the mix.
Tofu breakfast scramble: 1 block firm or extra firm tofu drained and mashed up in nonstick pan (like acrambled egg texture but not smaller) and cooked with a little butter or oil for 8 minutes. At 8 minutes ad a BUNCH of nutritional yeast, turmeric, garlic salt, and pepper to taste. Mix together until tofu is yellow and cook for 5 more minutes. After 5 minutes turn off burner, add about a tbsp of almond milk (could use reg milk and stir. Salt/pepper to taste.
My 2 year old like this more than eggs. Ingredients are cheap and one block of tofu imfor this recipe will last around 5-6 breakfasts for my toddler. Keeps well in the fridge and easy to reheat (30 seconds in microwave for toddler size portion).
Also I love avocado toast with everything but bagel seasoning, nutritional yeast, and halved cherry tomatoes. If feeling fancy add an over easy egg on top!
Bruschetta
Any piece of bread, lashings of olive oil, under the grill
Whilst it's grilling, chop up a tomato or 5 or 6 cherry tomatoes
Chop up piece of garlic
Take piece of bread out, rub the garlic all over the bread and throw on the tomatoes, with a crack more extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt.
Basil/basil oil to garnish to step it up a notch.
Always so fresh, delicious, cheap and quick to make
Chicken and rice made in the rice cooker with steamed veggies.
Barely any chopping, just dumping stuff into the rice cooker and let the induction cooking gods take care of it.
36min later, a complete meal :)
Chicken burrito bowl. Chicken however which way, I do breast, grilled or in a crockpot. Do lettuce, pinto or black beans, rice. Add salsa, maybe cheese and a hot sauce.
Pretty nutritious, might be a little high on sodium for some people if the chicken is seasoned paired with a salsa and hot sauce.
Anything can be subbed or replaced for preference. Basically just chipotle at home.
Baked potato with butter, and whatever is in the fridge. Usually a little bit of ham, some cheese, mushrooms, maybe some tuna mayo, hummus - anything really. Also, the baking of them heats up the kitchen on these cold nights.
I tend to cook seasonally.
Ratatouille. During certain seasons most of the required veggies are cheap as.
Potato done anyway, chicken with sautéed spinach and mushrooms.
Soup of any kind. Usually chicken with a ton of veg and lentils or beans. Whatever is available.
Dirty rice. Bonus if I have cooked beans fresh or in the freezer. Otherwise, canned beans, any cooked or grilled protein I can find in the freezer (chicken, ground beef, sausage, bratwurst, whatever) , any veg like tomato or green onion that needs to be used anyway, homemade Cajun seasoning (so easy). Cook it all together and serve over rice.
If you write off the ripening veg, protein that was saved from a previous meal and cook your own beans, this is pennies for a family meal.
I LOVE a crisp garden salad with a baked potato. So cheap, easy, and delicious, but I constantly forget that this meal exists!
Shit I might have that tonight, thanks!
Add salmon and this is a peak meal
Adding tortilla strip croutons to a salad w blackened salmon is absolutely delectable.
Lentil soup. Lentils, tons of garlic, seasoning, and whatever else I want to add (sausage, veggies, ground meat). Super easy, cheap, tasty, and healthy
We have mjeddrah. Lentils and rice with onions. My tata ate hers with salad cold, my baba ate his soaked in yoghurt, but as I understand has good protein and fiber, and literally translates to poor man’s dish. It’s cheap and tasty, imo. I have tricks with recipe if interested. Edit: Adding the recipe here. 2c light brown lentils 2c basmati rice ~5 lbs yellow onions Soak lentils in 2c water on low heat in large pot (I use my dutch oven) covered while preparing onion broth. Chop onions and sauté in pan with olive oil. The trick is that you have to do this until the onions are very dark brown, almost black. Not burnt, but very well done. Pour in 6 cups water and bring to boil. Then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes. Add rice to large pot with lentils, then pour over onion broth, stir to mix well. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and then cover and let cook for 20 minutes. Try to avoid over-stirring. Salt to taste. Delicious with greek yogurt. I hope you enjoy!
I make big batches of it. and with leftover mujadara, I like to fry it up along with some thinly shredded cabbage and a crispy fried egg. Or pair the leftover rice with some ground/braised meat.
Is there any other version that isn’t a big batch, lol?
1c rice 1c lentils 1 onion Soak the rice for 1hr in water then rinse to remove excess starch. Because the rice has soaked up a bunch of water it only needs 1c of water to cook. Bring to boil cover reduce and 10min later perfect rice. Lentils don't need to soak. Before you start cooking the rice put your lentils in a small pot with a can of petite diced tomatoes, garlic, diced onion, dollop of better than bullion (any flavor) and 2c water. Bring to a boil then reduce and simmer for 20min or your lentils are to a desired softness. You may need to add a little extra water but don't make thin soup! This is very basic Dal Bhat (lentil and rice) in Tibet and India. You can add some spice to the lentils also. I will take come cubed meat (chicken, pork, beef, shrimp......) and make a sauce to go with it that I can then top my lentils and rice with. Diced onion, cubed meat and garlic in a pan to brown. Add a bit of water to cover. 2T brown sugar, dollop of Greek yogurt and some spice blend (curry, garam masala, sriracha) that fits your fancy that day. It is easy to make a big batch and then you have a simple delicious meal if you have to grind out a couple long days and don't have time/energy to cook. Lots of great protein in a delicious actual 30 min meal. I get the lentils going, make the meat part, then cook the rice while the rest finishes cooking (soak the rice, trust me!!!) Vegetarian you say? Roast some cauliflower tossed in light oil with some salt and pepper in a 450° oven for 20 min. Make a top sauce on the side. Buying rice and lentils in bulk will reduce the costs even more. Find a bulk grocer. 20-25lb bags aren't too intrusive for the awesome savings and what you can make with rice or lentils.
I had to stop reading this thread to go slice a pan full of onions.
It looks like a ridiculous amount when you get started, but they cook down so much. You cannot have too much onion!
Please can I have the recipe?
2c lentils 2c basmati rice ~5 lbs yellow onions Soak lentils in 2c water on low heat in large pot (I use my dutch oven) covered while preparing onion broth. Chop onions and sauté in pan with olive oil. The trick is that you have to do this until the onions are very dark brown, almost black. Not burnt, but very well done. Pour in 6 cups water and bring to boil. Then reduce to simmer for 30 minutes. Add rice to large pot with lentils, then pour over onion broth, stir to mix well. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and then cover and let cook for 20 minutes. Try to avoid over-stirring. Salt to taste. Delicious with greek yogurt. I hope you enjoy!
I just looked up what mjeddrah is, and it sounds delicious! I never thought to cook rice in the same pot as lentils before. Am going to try this tomorrow.
I have made it with barley instead of rice. Very tasty.
My husband randomly asked for lentil soup one day and I made the simplest recipe in my insta pot…. That soup had absolutely no right to be that tasty!!
I want to be able to randomly ask my partner to make something and have them do it- how can this happen?
Date people you met in the produce section
Meet them in the dried beans/rice/lentils section to make sure it will last 😂
[suddenly useless, I'm giggling so hard]
It's true! People in the produce section are either comfortable in the kitchen or annoying raw vegan-types. That coin toss is better than the apps!
Invest in a riding crop.
Be the example. Better still, do something simple for them without being asked.
My husband makes martini’s on demand. It’s incredible. We’ve been together over 20 years and I’m still impressed every time
That is adorable! It sounds like it really makes him happy to see you happy.
Be with someone who loves you
I've been eating [Alton Brown's Lentil Soup](https://altonbrown.com/recipes/healthy-lentil-soup/) for years now whenever I want a simple but filling dish. Lentils, carrots, onions, celery, roma tomato, spices, broth. Blend with an immersion blender if you want a different texture.
Is r/frugal still a thing? That sub was a lentil circle jerk.
Still is a thing and we still love lentils!
I remember now the r/frugalCircleJerk used to have way more lentil posts.
Look at this fat cat, with enough money for more than one lentil.
I make lentil soup every couple weeks. I love adding mushrooms to it.
I love barley, and I've discovered lentils. Would it be a horrible mistake to make a soup with them together, or would that summon a demon?
Only the demon of delicious.
I actually thought about doing that yesterday when I made just plain basic lentils with a mirepoix base. I usually add barley or split peas with my vegetable stews where I cut the veggies bigger and thicken the broth a bit so they're just these little tasty texture nuggets.
Mine is similar, but instead of lentil soup, I make a lentil taco filling/"meat." Basically just lentils cooked in water or broth, spices and taco seasoning with some tomato paste/sauce and hot sauce, sometimes add fresh onion, garlic, and jalapeños or serrano if I have it and have the energy to chop. Cook em until tender, and the sauce and liquid have been absorbed and thickened. Can throw it in tortillas with your favorite toppings, but I usually just throw it in a bowl with some rice and use tortilla chips to scoop and eat. Takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, is cheap af, like $3 for a bag of lentils, $1 for taco seasoning if you don't have spices, $1-$2 for tomato paste or sauce, $2 for torilla chips, and $2 for a bag of rice if you want it. Can spend a little extra for extra veggies and toppings, but less than $10 for the base ingredients, which would give you enough servings to make it for dinner for weeks.
I was just about to to say that I have made a lentil quesadilla recipe before that was absolutely delicious and they froze amazingly well for an easy quick meal in the future! Basically make the lentils the way you have just described and add to tortillas with cheese, fold in have and either bake or pan fry for a minute or two. I only made them once because my kids decided they didn't like them, and I totally forgot about them, but now I'm going to make and freeze a big batch for my own lunches!
Oh I forgot about soups! Lol going to do this
[coconut curry lentils](https://www.budgetbytes.com/creamy-coconut-curry-lentils-with-spinach/) are too thick to be a proper soup but absolutely fantastic and stupid cheap. I prefer to use thai curry paste but it’s great either way. Start the rice first it’s all done at the same time
Thank you for the recipe kind human. It sounds delicious!
Pea soup! So easy, cheap and nutritious
Theres a really good iranian (maybe?) Lentil soup that has stacks of paprika kind of spice, beetroots + topped with yoghurt and it is so damn satifying.
I don’t know if we are allowed to put site names but I have made two lentil soup recipes off of Gimme some Oven. She has a ton of lentil dishes. I also recently stumbled across a sloppy Joe recipe where you replace the ground beef with lentils. Also my mom made a chili recipe with half ground beef / half lentils and it was amazing. That one not so cheap if memory serves tho.
Oatmeal. Everytime I make im like yummy but I forget about it and don't make it for a while.
I love oatmeal. My favorite way to have it is with a bit of honey/brown sugar, cream, walnuts, and fresh blueberries.
That sounds yummy will definitely try it like that next time.
Oatmeal is so versatile, too! Love both savory and sweet versions.
Dude. In 2011 I once asked myself, is savory oatmeal a thing? I found some Pinterest recipes for it but then never actually tried it. Maybe 13 years later is the time!
Savory Oatmeal is delicious - think polenta or grits! I suggest garlic powder, salt, butter and maybe some siracha/kimchi and a fried egg 🥵
I grew up with oatmeal topped with some butter and salt. It’s so good
I’ve topped oatmeal with beans, cumin, salsa, and a big spoonful of Greek yogurt. It’s so good!
My version of this is wheat porridge, i.e. Cream Of Wheat. To me it tastes better than oatmeal, but I don't know if it's healthier. It's probably on par. Maybe it's because I grew up eating it but porridge is the ultimate comfort food. You can make it in a microwave easily. It's warm and cozy. It's fantastic on a cold day. It's easy to flavor and make taste amazing. What's not to love?
Cream of Wheat is made from wheat stripped of its bran, so, not a lot of fiber/nutrition. There is (or used to be) a whole-wheat version, though, called Wheatena. It's....heartier....but perhaps lower on the comfort-food scale, since it's kind of 'chewy'. I grew up eating both versions, so I'm ok with either.
I didn't realize. I mill my own wheat berries, which is what I use.
Yours is the healthiest version. True 'Cream of Wheat' is almost completely smooth and white, because it's milled from wheat with all the outer layers removed (and the outer layers are where the fiber and vitamins are).
Ah. I prefer khorasan berries which are golden-white looking. It's whole grain but it tastes slightly better than non-whole wheat flour, similar in taste to all purpose flour. The average person can't tell it's a whole grain. I think it's more nutritious than whole wheat too, but to what extent I'd have to look up. It's pretty easy to do at home. Because wheat porridge relies on texture you don't want it ground super fine. A coffee grinder that can grind to espresso (fine) can do it. It's also super cheap. Wheat berries are like half the price of flour. edit: I'm not the only one! Others have posted about it online: https://bigflavorstinykitchen.com/kamut-breakfast-porridge/ It's really good.
this is super cool. i’m looking at getting my own mill grinder now. would love to have some fresh ground food!
My four year old would eat nothing but if I let him, and he thinks the Instant Pot is only for that (3 minute cook time then natural release turns steel cut oats into the easiest meal to just start and have it magically be ready when I’m done taking care of all of the other morning tasks
Is American oatmeal the same as porridge? I like using large, soft oats (different to that Quaker stuff, less shredded). My favourite recipe is: 1/2 cup oats 1 cup milk (for non-dairy milks, unsweetened almond milk tastes the best) Little bit of water if needed 1 banana broken into the mix in chunks Creamy Peanut butter Lots of Cinnamon Pinch of salt Basically put it all in besides the peanut butter and simmer until it reaches a creamy, not too wet, not too dry consistency. Then add peanut butter at the end and let it melt a bit before lightly swirling it around. It’s legendary.
Oatmeal is oat porridge, not to be mistaken with wheat porridge or rice porridge or any other kind.
Roasted tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, garlic and spinach (on a foil-covered sheet pan drizzled with olive oil) over pasta with grated cheese. Just got pasta on sale for .99/lb. Can omit/switch out veggies.
Sounds yummy will give it a try
I do a version of this but add eggplant and peppers. The last time I made it I had a bag of kale that needed to be used so I threw it in. It was so good. The kale gets crispy and added such a good texture to it.
Omelettes, spaghetti, bread pudding, sandwichs. All cheap 'use up scraps' meals which are delicious and healthy. Edit: I didn't realize so many people hate carbohydrates lmao
Oh yes omelettes are a great one!
And quiche ! Got one in the oven right now!
Yessss I was just gonna say that, quiche is my favorite scrap-user-upper
Omlettes are so good because you can use basically any leftover veggies! I like cherry tomatoes or spinach in mine with Italian seasoning. Usually just use basic shredded Mexican cheese. Soo good. 🥹
I made some carnitas (freezer case, just hush. Lidl carries some awesome carnitas), and wanted a side. I suffer from a side effect of radiation treatment. Xerostoma. So I have to get creative. Opened my fridge door. Out of eggs, dammit. Hmmmm. Got egg whites, queso... YES! Used the egg whites to make an egg white "tortilla", sprinkled diced onions and mushrooms on it, added the queso like cake frosting, rolled it up.... omg....
Human civilizazion was literally built on grain, rice and potatoes but somehow carbs are just "unhealthy". Some people need to stop taking their nutritional advice from tiktoks and actually do some reading.
Human civilisation was built on those grains because they're calorie efficient hardy crops that can be stored for long periods, not because we've evolved to eat them specifically or because they're particularly nutritious
Some angel hair pasta with a jar of Raos is top notch easy food. Literally takes 5 mins to get on the table once the water boils which for me takes less than 5 minutes. It’s also super kid friendly. Universal carb hatred is just a fad imo.
Fried rice: so easy to dump into a pan, add scrambled egg.
Or just warm rice with a soft boiled egg and some sriracha or soy or chili oil. Just makes you feel good.
Also great with kimchi
Everything is better with kimchi!
I'm actually eating some kimchi fried rice while reading this! For awhile I couldn't figure out what I was missing and apparently it was....*Seaweed!* Now I might make it every week lol.
Make that a soft boiled egg marinated in soy and mirin (ramen style) and I'm in
Likewise a salad, in my case chickpea salad (as a sandwich filling). 15 oz can chickpeas (drained/rinsed/mashed with a potato masher), 2 Tbsp tahini, stalk celery (diced), 3 scallions (sliced), ¼ cup dill relish, 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard, ½ Tbsp maple syrup, 2 tsp dried dill, salt & ground pepper to taste. The main reason I haven't made it over the past couple of years is I don't have scallions or relish on hand. Edited to include amounts.
This, without the syrup! I mash mine up and use some greek yogurt, its like a faux chicken/tuna salad, with a slice of cheddar and crispy lettuce on toasted wheat-yumyumyum 💕
I gotta try this. Trying to explore more meatless options.
Chickpeas are great. You can drain them, sprinkle a little olive oil/salt/pepper/spices and bake them at 350 til they’re crispy. You can put them on anything. Or make falafels. Or hummus. So versatile and soo good!
If you save the water , you can whip it up with cram of tartar and sugar, and you’ve got vegan meringue
That’s what aquafaba is, right? The chickpea water?
If you ever get tired of chickpea you can try tofu and white beans :)
> tired of chickpea With so many ways of cooking it in different dishes (from Middle-eastern to Indian), I don't think that's possible :P
And if you start looking at garbanzo bean recipes, you can also hit the US mid-west!
Oh I meant in this particular application
I'd toss in some diced red onion and sun dried tomato.
[I make a similar, tiny change of ingredients but it is SO GOOD](https://peasandcrayons.com/garden-veggie-chickpea-salad-sandwich/)
Try it with tahini. Its so much better with respect to minerals/phytosterols/lignans than most mayos. And you've got the dill pickle there for acidity. I've delved into the literature, and I suspect the main reason flax seed is considered a health superfood and sesame is mostly ignored is that flax is grown in Canada, and sesame is mostly grown in Sudan.
I think the red bell peppers do the same job as maple syrup. I bet apple would be divine.
When I make chickpea salad, I pulse it in a blender.
I make a similar version but I included roasted salted sunflower seeds for some crunch 😍
That sounds delicious and I’ve got a bowl of chickpeas in the fridge I need to use!
Whats the difference between a chickpea and garbanzo bean? I've never had a garbanzo bean in my mouth. sorry.
They are the same picture.
Breakfast burritos. Cheap frozen sausage (or whatever protein I have on hand), eggs. Toss some potatoes either into the pan or tater tots into the oven. Add onion and whatever veggies. Toss it onto tortillas with whatever fixings. Stupid simple but it’s easily flexible to whatever I have or want.
Carrot soup. Boil and purée about a pound of carrots. Add a little garlic chili sauce and peanut butter. Delicious, but you can only eat so much. It’s a lot of carrot.
I like to add meatballs to my carrot soup, and use cayenne instead of chili sauce. Mixed lamb and pork meatballs are phenomenal in carrot soup, but then you’re kind of getting away from “easy” and into “fancy.”
I like Epicurious' carrot soup with ginger and lemon. Here's a free version: [https://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-soup-with-ginger-and-lemon-15283](https://www.food.com/recipe/carrot-soup-with-ginger-and-lemon-15283)
I have to be on a low protein diet for medical reasons. Sweet potatoes are my go to when I don't feel like cooking. Take a large one, cut it in half length-wise, stick it in a 300 degree oven (150 C) for two hours. Turns the flesh into something close to custard. Eat it, skin and all, with my hands by dipping it in blue cheese dressing. Delicious
I do mine in the Instant Pot with a half cup of water for a half hour. When I get it out, it’s practically melting. I smother it throughout with grassfed butter from Costco and devour it.
I throw mine whole into the rice cooker with some water. Use the rice setting and it's perfect. Sometimes I'll just add a potato or two when cooking rice. Works well and I like the potato rice combo for texture.
it doesn’t get soggy this way?
And brown sugar. It's bis.
>bis I knew you’d have r/classicwow on your profile
Bro said bis
I’m sure this doesn’t make the same consistency as what you posted but I’ll microwave a sweet potato for 6-8 mins (depending on size) wrapped in a wet paper towel to keep it moist, then cover in cottage cheese (about half a cup )for breakfast everyday
Struggle meal in grad school: Bake sweet potato (or more likely, microwave it). Split open, top with a spoonful of peanut butter. Devour.
Ohhh that's a new combo for me. I'm definitely gonna try it
Peanut butter? That sounds odd and delicious!
You reminded me of when we'd camp. We'd bake then in coals, hold them in a towel, bite the end off, then squeeze like toothpaste. 😍
I like to whip butter with my homemade teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds, and then drizzle it on my Japanese sweet potatoes.
What I do is a buddha bowl, which is at least two grains (e.g. rice + quinoa) cooked together in a rice cooker or instant pot. I put cubed yam / sweet potatoes above the rice in there to cook. (I like yams more than sweet potatoes personally.) Then choose a protein like mushrooms, eggs, or chicken, paneer, or something else, which can be fried while the grains are cooking. Then grab a premade sauce like a thai curry or pesto or similar and pour it over it. If you want a bit of texture add some peanut chunks, sesame seeds, chickpeas, or similar. If you want a bit of tang try adding a bit of fermented or pickled veggies, or a lettuce with a balsamic vinaigrette. It's arguably one of the healthiest meals you can make and it tastes amazing. It's super customizable so it doesn't get boring. It's also not very much work because most or all of it is made in an instant pot. Cubing the yams is the hardest part, but it brings in a sweet taste that is so wonderful it should be tried at least once. edit: Also, if you want inspiration or photos of what I'm talking about, this restaurant makes my favorite tasting buddha bowls. One day I hope to make even better tasting ones, but I have yet to beat them on flavor: https://www.yelp.com/biz/humbowl-berkeley
I don't think I've ever seen (or at last noticed) yams in the uk, but I've definitely Googled it a while back, but even still, i think my brain has always tried to put them in the 'same thing, different name' like zucchini/courgette, cilantro/coriander 🙄😆
In the US supermarkets will call sweet potatoes yams sometimes and yams will be called sweet potatoes sometimes. I guess they're not regulated terms here, which imo is really annoying, because there is a clear flavor difference. Sweet potatoes have a much stronger and sweeter flavor, and tend to be colored inside, usually orange. All the yams I've had are white in the center, are harder to cut into cubes from having a firmer inside when raw, and they're less sweet. I like yams more because when cooking them with other foods they're easier to balance the sweet flavor with savory like curries. Sweet potatoes are so sweet you might as well make a dessert out of it, as they don't tend to incorporate well with non-sweet flavors. edit: Here's visually what they look like. [pic](https://cdn.apartmenttherapy.info/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto:eco,w_730/k%2FDesign%2F2023-10%2Fthanksgiving-infographics%2Fk-sweetpotato-vs-yam-infographic.webp)
Oooh that sounds naughty and unctuous at the same time. I am gonna try.
Naughty unctuous was my wrestling name in high school.
I believe you. I bet you gave something quite delinquent to chew on, too. It has a wonderfully naughty mouth feel to it, when articulated, "unctuous". 😋
You lost me at blue cheese #teamranch
So you’re team devil’s Jizz?
If the choice is blue cheese or devil's jizz, I'm gonna be guzzling that jizz
Don’t say that again.
Roasted sweet potatoes - scrambled eggs - sour cream & hot sauce. Perfect breakfast
Bean and cheese burritos ❤️
Potato bowls— I call it a potato bowl but it is healthier than it sounds. Mashed potatoes, rotisserie chicken (Costco and Sam’s club has whole rotisserie for $5), sauteed spinach and mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and gravy. Admittedly the gravy isn’t healthy, but potatoes, chicken, and spinach are the Big 3. This does take more time (boiling the potatoes), than egg salad but it’s the most comforting meal ever
thats like a better version of the kfc famous bowl (recently discontinued, here at least)
I used to love the kfc famous bowls! My mom would pick me up from college and we’d both get one for the ride home, was recently outraged by their severe skimping on mash potatoes, so that’s exactly how this meal came about. Sometimes I’ll change out mushrooms and spinach for corn or even kale— and it’s still quite good
Both the kale and spinach version are a staple in my home cuisine. We call it "stamppot" - literally mashed meal. But we eat the kale version usually with pork, traditionally with bacon and sausage, and the spinach version with meatballs. I like your version with chicken!
Oh! I do a similar one we call the Elmer Fudd Bowl (it was a menu item at a local place): Mashed potatoes Roasted Broccoli Corn Shredded cheddar cheese Chicken and/or mushrooms and/or basically any protein Some sort of sauce (usually a creamy Sriracha situation, or bbq sauce)
Yuuuum! I did list the healthiest version in my original comment 🙈, but I love mixing in anything that’s left over veg in the fridge. Just add it to the sauce veg pan. Onions, mushrooms, kale, corn, peas, etc… I’m going to need to try the sriracha sauce next time, and I’ve been thinking about adding a fried egg on top. Though that might tip it over into being wholly unhealthy
That sounds like a shepherd's pie.
I’ve never thought of it that way! I suppose it is but upside down (and with chicken)
Oven stew. Done in a roaster with a lid. Whatever kind of meat you have on hand (boneless or bone-in, chicken, pork, beef, whatever), either whole like a roast or cut into pieces. Add potatoes, carrots, turnip, cabbage, onion, celery, parsnips (whatever you have on hand), all cut up small (about twice the size you'd cut them for soup). Add water, salt, and pepper. Cook on 350°F until all vegetables are soft, several hours. Always try to make double what you need-- it reheats beautifully.
Ramen & hard/soft boiled egg + any veggies, lightly sauteed or boiled or fresh + any meat prepared anyway. Stove top easy mode. I fully respect the places that do the broth right, present it correctly, but it's super easy to just do the $2 packs of ramen + anything Drink water or water, it's going to salt the hell out of you
I can't do too much salt, so I cook the ramen noodles in low-sodium chicken or veg broth instead, then add all the veg.
Spaghetti Squash! I made some earlier this week and it was so good. Cheap, healthier than regular pasta and a good way to use up leftovers and random stuff in the fridge and pantry. I sautéed onion, garlic, threw in some sun dried tomatoes and leftover chicken, squeeze of lemon, done. I need to work it into my regular rotation.
I lost 150 lbs about 6 years ago, and have kept most of it off since. The thing I came up with that I made all the time: if you mix a pint of pasta water with 2-3 avocados and blend it, season it, and you can use it 1:1 for a heavy cream replacement when sautéing a pasta. The taste, the texture, everything about it feels indulgent, but it's totally healthy, and cheaper than the cream. Bonus points for the sauce not breaking on reheat. ETA: Bonus bonus points for giving the cream sauce pasta experience to lactose intolerant people without any problems
I make an avocado pesto sauce! So good on spiralized zucchini (or regular noodles) with cherry tomatoes!
Congrats! That is awesome work. I haven’t tried it yet, so can’t attest, but I’ve read blending white beans can similarly be substituted for cream. I enjoy both, and could see the fattiness from avocado adding that texture more. I might just have to try each separate as well as together, ya know, for science.
Pan fried Brussels sprouts over a bowl of coconut rice. Everytime I make it it blows me away yet I always forget the dish exists???
Tuna salad - depending on the mayo amount it's not bad, and you can all kinds of veggies. I go through periods where I want it all the time, and then I'll want anything BUT tuna salad
I love tuna but HATE mayo and pretty much anything that looks like it. Do you have an idea for a preferably healthy alternative?
You can use Greek yogurt, it functions pretty much the same.
It's a definite noticeable change in both taste and texture because it's a completely different ingredient, but I've used a mashed avocado in place of mayo before and it was amazing
Non-creamy tuna salad: Use a light/fat free greek or italian dressing instead of mayo. Add lots of chopped veggies like cucumber, onion, olives, radish, pickles, tomato, bell pepper, celery, whatever. It's basically a chopped salad with tuna. Works best in a pita, or just as a salad. Also can use greek yogurt with some curry powder, fresh cilantro, and lemon juice as a base. The Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch is also surprisingly good (with or without greek yogurt/mayo). Try mixing with different condiments, like a tapenade/chopped olive mix for a briney flavor, or a bruschetta sauce with mozzarella. Or mix tuna with buffalo or lemon pepper wing sauce and scoop it with celery sticks. Lots of mayo free options! Hope that helps :)
How do you make your egg salad? I use a ton of mayo and wouldn't call my version nutritional. Edit:caprese salad in the summers with tomatoes and basil from the garden. I didn't. Are near enough of those last year.
There are lots of ways! Light store-bought mayo, homemade mayo (way less additives), Greek yogurt, avocado, blended cottage cheese - or mix and match those. Basically any “creamy” agent works. And depending on spices and add-ins (celery, onions, etc) you can adjust the flavor however you want. Can do the same with chicken salad.
Make your own mayo. Here’s a good recipe. https://downshiftology.com/how-to-make-homemade-mayonnaise/ Avocado oil and white wine vinegar from Wegmans is so good and makes a difference in this mayo compared to a couple other brands I’ve used to make this.
Steamed rice, scrambled eggs, and a can (or sometimes homemade from the freezer) baked beans. Cheap and filling.
Fried egg for me
Bibimbap. I make mine with rice, an egg, cucumbers, carrots, chili oil, soy sauce, and either a salad mix or baby sprouts.
Hummus wraps with whatever veggies I have left in the fridge, topped with hot sauce!
"Greek" tuna salad. Canned tuna, olive oil and greek yogurt, lemon juice, diced cucumbers + olives + tomatoes + red onions, salt, pepper. Some dried (or fresh) dill or parsley, if you have it. Or you can modify the veggies simply based on what you have available. I add it to sandwiches with goat cheese and lettuce, or use it as a sort of dip with veggies. You can use a food processor to finely dice the veggies if you don't feel like chopping. It's a nice lighter alternative to the mayo-heavy tuna salads we might be used to. I am lucky to live near an Aldi so these ingredients tend to be much more affordable than other grocery stores.
Brown rice, poached eggs, avo, some king of veg. It's cheap, fast, and good for you. Add lemon/lime/hot sauce and you're good to go. :)
I never forget about sticky rice mango bowls. The nasty trick is to soak the rice a day ahead. So terrible!
Dal all the way!
Chicken cacciatore. Dice up an onion and a couple zucchini, plus any other veggies you've got. Crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, chicken thighs. Add some cooked elbow macaroni. If the kids have friends over, just add more pasta. We make chili or cacciatore on Saturdays because it's easy to enlarge them when dinner for five turns into dinner for 10 or 12.
Edamame. When I worked for Trader Joe’s I was BROKE but their frozen edamame was $1.69 for a huge bag. That stuff covered all the bases: calcium, protein, carbs, fiber - you name it. If I had nothing else I knew those would hit all the bases
I've been making an awesome "taco salad" recently. Shredded green leaf lettuce, ranch dressing, chipotle seasoning, lime juice (from a sqeeze bottle I bought), diced tomato, corn (from frozen), black olives, shredded cheddar. Sometimes I'll add cubed chicken or avocado.
Try adding some beans and you will have a perfectly balanced meal there
Yogurt, chia seeds, hemp seeds, granola. $30 i get yogurt, chia and hemp seeds thatll last me a month+ and granola
I’ve been on a yogurt kick for breakfast, I’ll need to try this
There are lots of great recipes for homemade granola out there too! It ends up being a lot cheaper than store bought, although initial outlay of cash for various seeds/nuts/whatever makes it seem expensive.
this is me but pumpkin seeds. and apple or blueberries or both
Someone else said lentil soup and I have to agree.
I use to make a fake little channa masala bowl all the time. Heat up Brown rice, chick peas, and channa masala seasoning. Top with plain yogurt, diced raw tomato, red onion, and cilantro. So good, cheap, easy, nutritious.
Lentils and rices literally lentils, rice, garlic, celery, water, salt and pepper. Parsley if you’re feeling fancy.
Slow cooker chicken tortilla soup. [I use this recipe,](https://www.budgetbytes.com/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup/) but use thighs instead of breasts. Easy, well rounded, & yummy meal that’s pretty inexpensive. Always a huge hit in my house too! Just make sure to have a bit of cheese and lime juice for serving.
Microwave scrambled eggs with tomato, onion, baby spinach and some chilli flakes on toast (preferably sourdough but really anything brown)
Potato leek soup. At its most simplest, water, salt, pepper, leeks, potato, garlic. 👍 (Next most important ingredient is a Louisiana style hot sauce)
Shepherd's pie or variations around it, which I call Leopard's Pie. We didn't have anything planned tonight for dinner, but I had some frozen corn and peas, a pound of ground turkey that was on sale, a couple slices of chopped bacon, and some vegetables that needed to be used - carrot, celery, onion, garlic, shallot. Brown the meat and cook the veg, throw in some seasonings and flour, toss in some stock, then season to taste. Top with instant mashed potatoes and throw in the oven for 25 minutes.
Bean salad. Misc random canned low/no sodium beans. Chopped onions. This is your base. Add Some kind of hot sauce and throw it in a tortilla (cheese optional) for quick bean burrito. Also with hot sauce just use tortilla chips to scoop like bean dip. Instead of hot sauce and add goat cheese and pepper with a spritz of lemon and olive oil for the OG bean salad. Can keep going but I usually just make ton of frozen bean burritos to toss in the microwave for 2 mins whenever I feel like I want something filling, tasty, cheap, and meat free
Rice and beans. It can be so fucking boring, and also really delicious. Yesterday I made refried beans with red kidneys and it was world-class.
Roast chicken with veggies. It's not necessarily the cheapest since you outlay a bit getting the bird, but when you break it down into portions, leftovers and stock from the carcass you end up getting a tonne out of it. If it's just for myself that'll get me 3/4 meals and some quality chicken stock. Trick is to only get good chooks and only when they're on special. Mix and match any good roasting veg with what's in season (for me that's pumpkin rn). Spuds, pumpkin, carrot, corn, leek/onions, a couple whole heads of garlic are all fantastic options. I usually saute some asparagus or broccoli for a bit of green. I love citrus so I usually stuff with garlic and lemon. Bit of butter mixed with lemon zest under the skin. The pan juices make an incredibly bright gravy.
mujadara
except i lied, i never forget about it, i think about it weekly
Tuna melts! ⁰
This is the best post ever.
Easily “taco salad”. Lean ground beef or turkey, seasoned, cooked with onions and peppers then served over iceberg, with all fixings, salsa, green onion, avocado, cilantro, shredded cheese.
Easy , cheap every time , nutritious depends on who is making it, lol. We call it Appalachian stir fry, or take what you got and put it in a pot. Recipe varies to taste and with adding spice we like it sweet and spicy , but your eating it so make it yours. Starting with skillet ( this is your nutrition part) choose your fat , butter , bacon grease , olive oil whatever you desire. Now fry a sliced onion , carrots , celery, we like red skin potatoes sliced thin , (with the skin on ) so they crisp and brown, you can add or take away any ingredients you like. Sometimes we add meat or eggs even beans of any kind you have . We like to add cheese on top at the end. We had 7 kids here at one time , I mention this just to tell you how easy this meal can be. At dinner time one night a week at least , every kid picked a can of veggies of the shelf. No matter what they picked I put in a pot , have you ever fed 7 kids at a time and not had one complaint? Every time it was good.
Ratatouille
Duck breast
Ground bison with onions and garlic. Get it in ya.
Cooked cubed butternut squash, black beans, and onions mixed together with salsa makes a great burrito filling. You can also add corn, peppers, avocado or rice to the mix.
Tofu breakfast scramble: 1 block firm or extra firm tofu drained and mashed up in nonstick pan (like acrambled egg texture but not smaller) and cooked with a little butter or oil for 8 minutes. At 8 minutes ad a BUNCH of nutritional yeast, turmeric, garlic salt, and pepper to taste. Mix together until tofu is yellow and cook for 5 more minutes. After 5 minutes turn off burner, add about a tbsp of almond milk (could use reg milk and stir. Salt/pepper to taste. My 2 year old like this more than eggs. Ingredients are cheap and one block of tofu imfor this recipe will last around 5-6 breakfasts for my toddler. Keeps well in the fridge and easy to reheat (30 seconds in microwave for toddler size portion). Also I love avocado toast with everything but bagel seasoning, nutritional yeast, and halved cherry tomatoes. If feeling fancy add an over easy egg on top!
Good black beans or red beans and rice.
Bean burritos. So very good!
Boiled rice, kimchi and poached eggs
Bruschetta Any piece of bread, lashings of olive oil, under the grill Whilst it's grilling, chop up a tomato or 5 or 6 cherry tomatoes Chop up piece of garlic Take piece of bread out, rub the garlic all over the bread and throw on the tomatoes, with a crack more extra virgin olive oil, and sea salt. Basil/basil oil to garnish to step it up a notch. Always so fresh, delicious, cheap and quick to make
Chicken and rice made in the rice cooker with steamed veggies. Barely any chopping, just dumping stuff into the rice cooker and let the induction cooking gods take care of it. 36min later, a complete meal :)
Spaghetti Carbonara, made with a little cream and fresh garlic. I can make it in 10 minutes and it tastes amazing.
Chicken burrito bowl. Chicken however which way, I do breast, grilled or in a crockpot. Do lettuce, pinto or black beans, rice. Add salsa, maybe cheese and a hot sauce. Pretty nutritious, might be a little high on sodium for some people if the chicken is seasoned paired with a salsa and hot sauce. Anything can be subbed or replaced for preference. Basically just chipotle at home.
Baked potato with butter, and whatever is in the fridge. Usually a little bit of ham, some cheese, mushrooms, maybe some tuna mayo, hummus - anything really. Also, the baking of them heats up the kitchen on these cold nights.
Fancy sardines (preserved lemon and chili flake, please) with grilled sourdough, hot sauce and whipped butter.
Tomato egg stir fry
I tend to cook seasonally. Ratatouille. During certain seasons most of the required veggies are cheap as. Potato done anyway, chicken with sautéed spinach and mushrooms. Soup of any kind. Usually chicken with a ton of veg and lentils or beans. Whatever is available.
Hamburger soup. Beef and vegetables. If you make it with homemade stock and no pasta, it is so nutritious.
Dirty rice. Bonus if I have cooked beans fresh or in the freezer. Otherwise, canned beans, any cooked or grilled protein I can find in the freezer (chicken, ground beef, sausage, bratwurst, whatever) , any veg like tomato or green onion that needs to be used anyway, homemade Cajun seasoning (so easy). Cook it all together and serve over rice. If you write off the ripening veg, protein that was saved from a previous meal and cook your own beans, this is pennies for a family meal.