Archive for the ‘5 Ingredients or Less’ Category
Chicken, Chili, and Basil
No set recipe here, and no measured ingredients per say. This is a typical Thai meal, spicy, and goes together quickly. Photos are mine that I took yesterday while my wife cooked this.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legs, skin and bones removed, slightly chopped
- 20-30 Bird's Eye Chilis, slightly mashed, seeds and all
- 4-6 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
- fresh Thai Basil, several good handfuls
Instructions
- Heat a heavy non-stick pan (or a wok) with some oil and add the chilis and garlic and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the chicken meat and stir to combine with the chili and garlic and cook until juices run clear, about 10 minutes, stir occasionally.
- Rinse the basil and squeeze dry and add to the pan.
- Cook until the basil is wilted, serve with rice.
Notes
The cost for the 4 chicken legs is minimal, the chilies came from our garden. This is probably a 30 to 50 cent meal per person, for easily 6 people.
Provided courtesy of my wife, Rrayada Thayer.
Thailand.
Thailand.
Pinto Bean Chili
An easy chili using our Chili Beans recipe listed on this site. The chili beans are the bulk of the recipe, just add ground meat, an onion, tomatoes and chilies. I made this on 1 Aug 2016, excellent, my comments below. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 4 cups Chili Beans and Sauce, Shortcut
- 750 grams ground beef, OR pork, OR chicken, (1 1/2 lbs)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, chopped plus juice
- 1-2 Bird's Eye Chilis, chopped
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a large pot along with the onion, when cooked, drain off fat, not all, just most of it. Add the chili beans, chopped tomatoes, juice from the can, chilies, stir to mix and simmer for about 20 minutes to heat it through.
- Serve and enjoy.
- Or serve topped with shredded Cheddar cheese, diced onions, sour cream, well, you get the point. Enjoy.
Notes
The chili beans would cost about 65 Baht for 8-10 cups worth, 3-4 cups is minimal. Ground beef would be about 75-100 Baht for 500 grams, pork and chicken would be less. Easily less than $1 per meal for 4 people.
Shortcut: Chili Beans.
Variants: 1. Use a 1 lb 8 oz (680 g) can of ground pork or beef, drained, in place of fresh beef or pork. 2. Use a can of diced tomatoes in place of chopped whole tomatoes.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Bangers & Mash Rolls
I do love a good plate of Bangers & Mash with a side peas and a bowl of onion gravy. Here is a twist on the common sausage roll to include mash as well. Bangers being thick pork sausages and mash being mashed potatoes. This is a must do for me, and I will take photos as well.
Ingredients
- 4 thick pork sausages, aka Bangers
- 1 package puff pastry
- 1 egg, beaten
- mashed potatoes, cold, can even be leftovers
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 190 C. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
- Brown the Sausages on all sides in a large skillet - until mostly cooked through. Set aside to cool slightly.
- Unroll a sheet of puff pastry and cut into 4 pieces. Spread mash down the center of each pastry, top with cooked sausage and add additional mash to the top and sides. Roll up each sheet - pinch together to seal and trim off any excess. Place on the baking sheet - seam side down - and brush each roll with beaten egg.
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes - until the pastry is golden and crispy on all sides and the meat has cooked through. Serve with a side of Onion Gravy as a dipping sauce. Enjoy!
Notes
Thick pork sausages, Bangers, run about 200-250 Baht for 10 sausages in Makro. 4 sausages (figured at 250 Baht) would be about 100 Baht, for 2 servings this is about $1.50 per person, more than reasonable.
Variants to this would be to add shredded Cheddar cheese to the top before rolling.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Eggs in Clouds
I just seen this posted today and it sounds really good, I will have to give this a try.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 chilled metal bowl
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 230 C. Lightly grease a baking sheet using butter.
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and separate the yolks from the white (use a empty water bottle for this) and place the yolks in separate small bowls. Pour the whites into the chilled metal bowl and whisk the whites until stiff peaks form. Mix in whatever you want, think chopped cooked bacon, chopped spring onions, shredded cheese, etc.
- Spoon the whites into even piles on a baking sheet and create a well in the center of each pile with the back of the spoon. Using 2 eggs, make 2 piles, if making 4 eggs, 4 piles. Bake in the oven for 3 minutes.
- Remove baking sheet, add a yolk into each well, bake another 3 minutes. Serve.
Notes
No need for math here, two eggs and added ingredients of your choice, under $1 per person with a serving of two eggs.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Eggs in a Basket
This is certainly nothing new, but this is a creative way to make eggs, and toast, at the same time. I thought this was a notable post just to post something a bit different. A number of years ago, my wife, I, and our daughter were in Pattaya on holiday from Japan (I worked in Japan). One morning when we got up, I asked my daughter if she wanted to go have breakfast with me, she said yes and away we went. We stopped at my favorite place opposite the beach and we were given menus. My daughter was about 6 years old at this point. I ordered my breakfast, and my daughter said she wanted Eggs in a Basket, they of course were not on the menu, the waitress was very nice and helpful and asked if something special was needed, I described Eggs in a Basket and away she went, big smile on my daughter's face. About 10 minutes later, Eggs in a Basket was placed in front of my daughter, she was happy to say the least!
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread, any kind you want, thick sliced is best
- 2 eggs
- butter
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a large frying pan to medium low or medium heat. Add a bit of butter.
- Take the bread and using the open end of a drinking glass, cut a hole in the center of each slice of bread. When the butter is melted and hot, add each slice, and crack an egg into the hole in the bread, place the round bread pieces in the pan as well.
- When the bottom is golden brown, like a slice of toast, flip and cook for a few more minutes until golden brown as well.
- Serve with bacon or sausage.
Notes
No math needed here, under $1 per meal of two eggs, even with bacon or sausage. A simple breakfast does not have to be hard.
Variant: 1. Use an egg and milk mix like making French Toast, cut the circles out first, use the egg wash, and put into the pan then add the egg in the center, egg wash the circle and cook that as well.
Recipe I learned from my Mom and that I have been making for 25+ years.
Pizzadillas
Quesadillas are an easy dish to make, and cheesy, which is always a bonus. Tortillas and filling is all that is needed, and a pan to cook them. This is an adapted version of quesadilla using pizza toppings. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 8 flour tortillas
- 250 grams Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, or more as desired, (8 oz)
- 150 grams Pepperoni, sliced, SEE STEP 1, (5 oz), Shortcut
- 1 jar pizza sauce, Shortcut
Instructions
- This DOES NOT have not have to be Pepperoni, this can be Italian sausage, chicken sausage, grilled chicken, totally up to you, but you have to cook the meat first.
- Heat a cast iron pan over medium heat. No oil is needed, fry the pepperoni until crisp. Transfer on a paper towel to drain.
- Brush each tortilla with a thin layer of pizza sauce, thin so that it does not run off if held up.
- Lay a tortilla in the hot pan, sauce side up, sprinkle with cheese then add Pepperoni slices or meat of your choice, cover with more cheese, place another tortilla on top, sauce side down, cook for 3-5 minutes, then using a wide spatula, carefully flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes until cheese is nice and gooey and tortillas are crispy on the edges. NOTE: Cheese is what holds the quesadilla together, too little cheese and it will fall apart when flipping or even holding to eat.
- Remove from pan and slice into quarters, serve with pizza sauce as a dipping sauce.
Notes
Pepperoni I cannot state a price for although it is available here. Pork and chicken sausage is very inexpensive to make yourself, just crumble in a pan and fry until done. If you use store bought sausage, price will be higher. I will say 100 Baht for the meat.
Cheese is the expensive part, Mozerella cheese, Thai made is 140 Baht per block of 250 grams. So using 100 Baht for meat and 280 Baht for cheese, for 4 quesadillas, 380 Baht total, comes to about $2 per person if serving 4 people. Not all that unreasonable when you look at what restaurants are charging.
Shortcut: Pepperoni, Pizza Sauce.
Variant: 1. Feel free to add sliced mushrooms, sliced black olives, or even chopped ham.
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff I
Cubed chicken breast cooked in your slow cooker with a easy creamy sauce. I am going to have to try this, this sounds good! Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cubed
- 1/8 cup butter
- 1 packet dry Italian salad dressing mix, OR use the shortcut listed on this site
- 1 package Cream cheese, 250 gram package, standard size
- 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, OR make from a shortcut
Instructions
- Put chicken, butter and dressing mix in your slow cooker, mix together and cook on Low setting for 5 to 6 hours.
- When chicken is tender and browned, add cream cheese and soup, mix together and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and hot. Server over rice or egg noodles.
Notes
Chicken breast would be about 87 Baht/kilo, get 4 breasts and work with that, the cost will be close to 80-90 Baht. Caroline brand cream cheese is about 110 Baht/package. Cost per person would be around $1.50, not bad for a good meal.
Shortcuts: Italian Dressing, Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Easy Scalloped Potatoes
I love cheese, and I love potatoes, perfect combination! And since I have not had scalloped potatoes in ages, and the fact that I have a 4 pound block of Cheddar cheese in my fridge, I decided to post this. My report is in the comments. And the recipe is modified on my findings.
Ingredients
- 8 large potatoes, thinly sliced, skin on is ok or peel if you wish
- 4-5 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup corn starch
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C, grease a 9x13 baking dish. Or use a non-stick baking pan.
- Heat a pot of water, once it is boiling, put in the sliced potatoes, boil for about 5-8 minutes, drain thoroughly. This step is done to ensure your potatoes are fully cooked while baking, this is a head start for them. When you slice the potatoes, keep them uniform in thickness, a mandolin would be a great help in this process.
- Mix the corn starch into the milk and set aside.
- Layer the bottom the baking dish with potatoes. Cover the potatoes with a layer of cheese, salt and pepper to taste. Repeat the layering process until all of the ingredients are used up. Cheese should be your last layer. Photo shows 3 layers of potatoes and 3 layers of cheese.
- Pour the milk mixture over all the potatoes, cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender, this may take longer than 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. Completed, and yes, my portion has already been removed, and it was tasty.
Notes
Potatoes cost about 35 Baht/kilo, making this a very reasonable side dish for up to 8 servings.
Now this is listed as a side dish, but if you add a couple of diced boiled chicken breasts or diced ham to each layer, and pair it with a green vegetable for a side dish, you can turn this into a inexpensive meal.
Adapted from and internet recipe.
Salsa Chicken
I found this recipe on the internet in 2015, just got around to making 10 years later, and it is delicious! Very easy to put together. The result is flavorful, tender and juicy chicken that easily cuts with a fork. Links to the Shortcuts are listed in the Notes section.
Equipment
- Baking Pan (9x13 inch)
- Oven
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1 packet taco seasoning mix, store bought or make from a Shortcut
- 1 jar salsa, (16 oz /454 g), store bought or make from a Shortcut
- 1-2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
- sour cream, optional, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180° C (350° F). Get out a 9x13 baking dish.
- Pour ½ cup of salsa in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish and spread around to coat the bottom.
- Place the taco seasoning on a plate and coat chicken breasts on all sides. Place the chicken in the baking pan on top of the salsa in an even layer. Pour remaining salsa over the top of the chicken. Photo was before adding the remaining salsa.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until tender and juices run clear. Remove from the oven.
- Sprinkle cheese over the top of the chicken.
- Return baking dish to the oven for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Top servings with sour cream if desired, serve with sides of your choice, enjoy.
Notes
Fair cost per serving.
Shortcuts: Taco Seasoning Mix, Salsa.
2 Ingredient Salsa Chicken
This could not be any easier, and only 2 ingredients, cooked in a slow cooker! Use in flour tortillas to make chicken tacos, quesadillas, salads, burritos, enchiladas, etc. I have made this and it really is easy and very tasty! My review listed below. Recipe modified by my findings. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, OR 6-8 thighs
- 2 cups salsa, OR make from a shortcut
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts or thighs in a slow cooker and cover with salsa. Toss until the chicken is covered.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6-8 hours), or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. Remove the chicken from the the slow cooker to a plate, and shred with 2 forks, add back to the slow cooker and mix well with the remaining salsa and juices. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. This also freezes well for use at a later time.
Notes
Chicken breasts run about 87 Baht/kilo, thighs about 65 Baht/kilo, and quarters 58 Baht a kilo.
About a kilo of breast, so that would be about 87 Baht, the salsa, even though Tesco brand, small jars, is probably 60 Baht each, would need 2 jars. Total costs would be 207 Baht or about $1.05 per person for 6 meals.
If using thighs or quarters, the cost is less than $1 per person.
Shortcut: Salsa.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
