Groceries are damn expensive now, even the basics. Honk if you walked out of the supermarket with one measly bag of food that cost $50. Food shopping is one of those instances where I get mad about it (nothing will stop me from complaining into the void), but in the end, I have to find a way to cook smarter. Here are some of the strategies I use to maximize the money I spend at the grocery store, along with a few of my favorite budget-friendly recipes that are anything but boring.
Though eating meat will make your grocery bill climb quickly, you don’t need to go without. I eat a variety of proteins and I think that's the key to both decreasing my spending and keeping meals interesting. When buying meat, I recommend dividing it into smaller quantities, so you can use one item—say, a bag of shrimp or a pound of ground turkey—for three to five different meals. Then use the accompanying ingredients to bulk it up. The following recipes include seafood, meat, and plant-based options. All of the recipes are scaled for two servings, so divide or multiply the measurements as needed.
Red lentil slow cooker grazing soup
Credit: Allie Chanthorn ReinmannIngredients:
2 waxy, medium-sized potatoes, cubed
¾ cup dry red lentils
4 cups chicken broth
¼ teaspoon MSG
⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper powder
1 can organic chickpeas (optional), not drained
2. Cook the soup for 2 hours on high heat, stirring occasionally. Click the cooker over to the warm setting for the rest of the day. Just before eating your first bowl, stir in the lemon juice.
Air-fried tofu with beet salad
Air fried tofu is experiencing major popularity in my household these days. I like to use this recipe for coating firm tofu in nutritional yeast and air frying it until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The beet salad is a simple preparation and always leaves me convinced I should be eating more beets.
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon sugar
1 container firm tofu, drained
Nutritional yeast to coat
1-8 ounce pack steamed and peeled beets, quartered
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Gefen Ready-to-eat Beets A handy 3-pack of ready-to-eat beets $13.79 at Amazon Shop Now Shop Now $13.79 at Amazon2. Slice the drained tofu into four thick planks. Dab them dry with a paper towel. Spray or drizzle a neutral oil to coat the tofu and sprinkle them with salt. Pour nutritional yeast onto a plate and press the tofu into it until completely coated. Air fry the planks at 400°F for 10 to 15 minutes, or until crispy on the outside.
This soup is great for any time of day, so don’t hesitate, even if it’s 8 in the morning. I’ll buy a pound of raw, deveined frozen shrimp from Trader Joe’s for about $12 and use it for several meals, including this one. It’s filling, satisfying, and you can use leftover rice to keep the preparation quick.
1 teaspoon cooking oil
8 raw, tail-on deveined shrimp, thawed (if frozen)
Dash fish sauce
1 cup rice, cooked
1. Heat the oil in a medium pot with the garlic on low heat. Once the garlic starts to gently sizzle, add the shrimp. Sprinkle in the salt as you flip the shrimp. After a minute or so, when the shrimp is halfway cooked, add a dash of fish sauce and the broth.
2. Add in the rice and allow the soup to come up to a simmer for two minutes. Serve the soup topped with plenty of fried garlic, cilantro, and ginger.
Cold ramen noodle salad
Credit: Allie Chanthorn ReinmannWhile you'll see asparagus in my recipe, it's more important to use seasonal veggies to keep the cost down. You can always rely on carrots, bell peppers, scallions, or snow peas to be affordable and available year-round. Feel free to swap out the noodles for a couple servings of cooked and drained pasta or a cup of cooked, warm rice.
1 pack ramen noodles, boiled and drained
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
½ English cucumber, smashed and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 asparagus spears, sliced (optional)
Cooked chicken breast slices or a handful of cooked shrimp (optional)
2. In a serving bowl, combine the vinegars, sesame oil, and salt. Add the cucumber, pepper, asparagus, and snap peas. Toss. Add the chilled ramen noodles and toss until thoroughly combined. Serve and top with sliced chicken.
Frozen dumplings and broccoli
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
2 tablespoons Bachan’s Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce (substitute soy sauce)
Bachan's Original Japanese Barbecue Sauce This flavorful condiment delivers tons of umami to any meal. $7.98 at Walmart $8.49 Save $0.51 Shop Now Shop Now $7.98 at Walmart $8.49 Save $0.512. Open the pot and dump the broccoli florets over the dumplings and replace the lid. Steam the contents for another five minutes. The broccoli should be cooked but slightly crunchy, and the dumplings will be cooked through. Toss the broccoli with the sauce (or leave it on the side for dipping). Plate the dumplings with the broccoli on the side.
Ingredients:
8 ounces ground turkey
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 mushrooms, chopped
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons salted butter
2. Cook the mixture until the shallot has softened and the mushrooms are plump. Add the peas and garlic powder. Stir and allow the peas to heat through. Add the cooked pasta with a spoonful of the pasta water, turn off the heat and add the butter. Toss gently until the butter melts. Serve in bowls.
Hot chicken sausage and veggies
Ingredients:
2 links of pre-cooked chicken sausage
1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1 cup cooked rice
Aidells Smoked Chicken Sausage, Garlic & Gruyere Cheese, 4 Ct Fully cooked, hardwood smoked sausages. $4.98 at Walmart $0.00 Save 0.00 Shop Now Shop Now $4.98 at Walmart $0.00 Save 0.002. Coat the bottom of a medium pot with a neutral cooking oil. Heat it over medium-low heat and add the sausage pieces and veggies. Sauté everything until the onions begin to sweat and soften. Add the garlic powder and salt, and stir to incorporate. Stir in the hot sauce and soy sauce to coat. Serve the hot chicken and veggies over rice.
Hence then, the article about seven of my favorite money saving meals was published today ( ) and is available on Live Hacker ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Seven of My Favorite Money-Saving Meals )
Also on site :