Archive for the ‘* Best Value $1 or Less per Serving’ Category
Indonesian Fried Rice
This is a classic Indonesian version of fried rice, simple but hearty, serve as a side dish or as a main dish. The purpose of fried rice is to use leftovers, not only does it reuse food, it prevents wasted food.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked white rice, add another cup to stretch this if you like
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 leek, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
- 2 fresh green chili peppers, chopped
- 200 grams chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces, (7 oz)
- 200 grams prawn/shrimp, head and tail removed, peeled, (7 oz)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 3 tablespoons sweet soy sauce
- olive oil
- cucumber, sliced, for garnish
- tomato, cut into wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large nonstick skillet with a splash of olive oil. Pour eggs into hot skillet. Cook until the eggs begin to set. Flip omelet in one piece and cook until fully set, about 30 seconds. Slice omelet into 1/2 inch strips. Set aside.
- Heat a tablespoon or so olive oil in a wok (preferred) or large frying pan. Stir in the onion, leek, garlic, & chile peppers. Cook, stirring until onion is soft. Stir in the chicken, prawns, coriander, and cumin, mixing well. Cook and stir for approximately 5 minutes.
- Mix in the rice, sweet soy sauce, and omelet strips; cook until shrimp are bright pink and chicken is no longer pink in the center, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve on a platter, garnish with cucumber slices and tomato wedges.
Notes
The ingredients are minimal cost at best, and if you have leftover roast chicken or leftover prawns, even better and nearly zero cost for this dish.
Variants: 1. Omit the omelet slices and cook as listed, then top each plate with a fried egg. 2. Add chopped leftover vegetables. 3. No prawn or chicken on hand? Use any meat you have, keep in mind leftovers, perfect use and less waste.
Slow Cooker Pinto Bean, Jasmine Rice, Chicken Soup
This recipe comes from a good friend, he just threw this together and enjoyed it. This is a must try for me.
Ingredients
- 250 grams dry Pinto beans, soaked overnight, rinsed, drained, (1/2 lb)
- 1 cup brown Jasmine rice, soaked overnight, rinsed, drained
- 500 grams chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into large cubes, (1 lb)
- 2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 cup dry Mung beans
- sea salt, to taste
- handful fresh peppercorns
- fresh chilis, to taste
Instructions
- Add beans and rice to the slow cooker, add water until it is about 1/2 inch above the beans and rice. Cover and set the slow cooker to High.
- After 2 to 3 hours, boil the chicken on the stove. Use just enough water to cover the chicken by 1/2 inch or so. Cook just long enough to cook the chicken through and get a bit of broth going. Pour broth and chicken into the slow cooker.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. This way you don't need to take the top off of the cooker again unless the water seems to get low. The goal is to keep the water in slow cooker just covering the beans and rice. Continue to cook on High setting for a total of 9 hours.
- This seams odd, but adding the rice early is crucial in making the soup a bit more gravy-like. The rice doesn't need that long to cook, but by cooking it for a long time, it sort of dissolves and makes the soup into a nice gravy.
Notes
1 kilo of chicken breasts will run about 80 Baht, easily making this a meal for under $1 per serving.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Dave Williams.
Thailand.
Thailand.
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
It has been probably 5 years since I had cabbage rolls, and they were delicious! Here is a cheater recipe, no need to boil the cabbage leaves or roll anything, just make on the stove top in a large pot. I have not tried this yet but it sounds really good and I will give my remarks after I make this. The recipe is normally made with beef but feel free to use pork or chicken. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo ground beef, OR minced pork, OR ground chicken
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and chopped
- 1 head cabbage, small, chopped
- 1 cup rice, uncooked
- 1 can diced tomatoes, 425 gram can, OR fresh chopped tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce, 225 gram can, OR make from a shortcut on this site (1 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup water, OR beef stock
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet pot, brown the ground beef, onions, and garlic. Drain off the fat.
- Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce temp to a simmer and cover. Cook for about 25-30 minutes or until cabbage is tender.
Notes
Ground beef can run as high as 200 Baht/kilo. For this dish, that is your most expensive item, if using minced pork, you can almost cut the cost in half. For 200 Baht, 6 servings would be less than $1 per serving, less for 8 servings, and a lot less if using minced pork or ground chicken.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Chicken Cacciatore Slow Cooker Style
Use your favorite brand of pasta sauce, make from tomato paste, use or tinned chopped tomatoes. Add chicken, green peppers, onion, garlic and mushrooms and you're done (at least for 7-9 hours). The slow cooker does the rest. Serve with roast potatoes, mash, rice, or pasta. Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 1 can tomato sauce, OR make from a shortcut on this site
- 2 green bell peppers, diced
- 250 grams fresh musrooms, sliced
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on Low for 7 to 9 hours. Check at 7 hours for tenderness. How easy is that?
- Serve with roast potatoes, mash, rice, or pasta.
Notes
A kilo of Chicken Breast is about 88 Baht, 6 breasts would run about 120 to 140 Baht, for 140 Baht, for 6 servings, that is about 70 cents per meal.
Shortcut: Tomato Sauce.
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.
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Cucumber-Jalapeño Salad
Chicken Satay is a natural here in Thailand, nearly every Thai can make this, so here is your chance.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo chicken breasts, boneless and skinless, cut lengthwise in 1/2 inch strips
- 500 mililiter coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 1 to 2 tablespoons red or green Thai curry paste, red is hotter
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, chunky
Salad
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher sa
- 1 cucumber, large, cut into half moons, about 500 grams or so
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- vegetable oil, OR olive oil
- 1/2 cup lightly salted peanuts, light chopped
- 1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk the coconut milk, fish sauce, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon curry paste until thoroughly mixed. If you would like more heat and flavor, add additional curry paste. Place the chicken strips in a medium bowl and cover with half of the coconut milk mixture (about 1 cup). Toss to coat, and then cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Marinate, refrigerated, for 1 hour to overnight.
- Soak the bamboo skewers in water for at least 30 minutes.
- Place the remaining coconut milk mixture in a small saucepan with the peanut butter and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and then reduce the heat to low and gently simmer for 3 minutes, whisking often. Cool, and then pour into a serving bowl.
- In a medium bowl whisk the vinegar, sugar, and salt until the sugar dissolves. Add the cucumber, shallot, and jalapeño and toss well to coat. Let the salad sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.
- Pat the excess marinade off the chicken strips with a paper towel. Brush the chicken strips on both sides with oil, and then skewer the strips lengthwise, threading in and out on the skewers.
- Prepare your grill for direct cooking over medium heat (350° to 450°F).
- Grill the chicken over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until fully cooked in the center, 8 to 12 minutes, turning once. Remove from the grill, top the salad with the peanuts and cilantro, and serve immediately with the peanut sauce.
Notes
One kilo of chicken breasts will run about 85 Baht, for 6 servings, this meal is well under $1 per person.
Provided courtesy of good friend, Garland Davis, US Navy Cook (Ret).
United States.
United States.
Breakfast Sausage
Easy to make, and very good, I have made this on several occasions, I need to make this more often. Keep in mind, the longer you refrigerate this, up to 24 hours before cooking, the flavors will blend together better. Sage is the key ingredient in breakfast sausage.
Ingredients
- 1 kilo minced pork, OR you can use chicken, (2 lbs)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground sage
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- pinch ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the pork and all the other ingredients to a mixing bowl.
- Mix everything together, use your hands and mix well. Refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours to allow the spices to blend well. The 24 hours is highly recommended.
- I was going to stuff sheep casings to make links but could not find my small funnel, so I went with patties instead, and are equally as good. I made 8 patties, layered with parchment paper and froze this batch, simply take out the patties you wish to use the day before and thaw in the fridge overnight. (For patties I use a ½ cup measuring cup to measure and press in a 4¼ inch, 11 cm, patty press.)
- Fry in a skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes per side or until juices run clear.
- And in link form using cellulose casings. These casings will be removed after poaching.
Notes
Minced pork will run about 100 Baht/kilo, making this about 50 cents per person for 6 people, add some fresh homemade hash browns and a couple of eggs, you have a nice breakfast for under $1 per person.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Potato & Breakfast Sausage Skillet, mad it, GO-TO recipe.
- Breakfast Sausage Casserole.
- Sausage & Scrambled Egg Burritos.
- Country Gravy & Biscuits, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Sausage, Egg & Cheese Crescent Rolls, made it.
- Crustless Quiche, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- White Beans & Sausage, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole II.
- Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole I, made it, GO-TO recipe.
Cheddar Sausage Bake
Cheese and sausage, this is a must try for me! Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 2-3 large potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- 500 grams pork sausage, bulk suasage, OR make from a shortcut on this site
- 400 grams fresh broccoli, cut into florets, including the stem
- 1 can condensed Cheddar cheese soup, OR make from a shortcut listed on this site
- 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In skillet, brown sausage and drain on paper towels, if necessary. Chicken sausage would be ideal as well.
- In a greased 9 x 13 baking dish, slightly overlap potato slices along the bottom. Top with the cooked sausage, then broccoli. Pour the condensed soup mixture all over casserole. Top with additional shredded cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour or until potatoes are tender. Let sit for 5 minutes to cool and then enjoy!
Notes
500 grams of sausage, if one cannot find bulk, link sausage would work great, just fry until done, slice into discs, or use the Italian sausage recipe on this site to make Pork, Italian, or Chicken sausage. Cost for sausage should be no more than 150 Baht, making this a meal that is easily under $1 per person for 8 people. Make the condensed soup yourself for even more savings.
Shortcuts: Sausage, Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Recipe adapted from Real Fit Real Food Mom. Author, LeAnn.
United States
United States
Slow Cooker Sausage & Veggies with Peppers
Lot of possibilities here with this one, I am looking forward to making this one! Link to the shortcut is listed in the Recipe Notes section.
Ingredients
- 500 grams smoked sausage, cut into pieces
- 6 potatoes, washed and cut in half
- 1 onion, large, sliced or chopped
- 1 carrot, large, cut into pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into pieces
- 2 cups beef stock
- 1 packet onion soup powder mix, OR make from a shortcut
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 3 cloves garlic, smashed and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcherstershire sauce
Instructions
- Place sausage and vegetables in slow cooker.
- Mix together the broth, onion soup, spices, and Worcestershire sauce and pour into the slow cooker.
- Cook on Low setting for 5 or 6 hours or High setting for 3 to 4 hours until the potatoes and carrots are done. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Enjoy!
Notes
Smoked sausage that I have found and used from Makro, is very nice, much like Kielbasa, and right near this product is what is called Sausage scraps these are thick smoked sausage pieces that are left over from from cutting up and packaging the long sausages, these are also a variety pack, spicy smoked, some is garlic sausage, some is chili sausage. The sausage scraps would be ideal for this recipe. This fresh, packaged sausage, that is made in Thailand.
Sausage would be the most expensive part of this recipe, at about 250 Baht/kilo, you would need 500 grams for this recipe, 125 Baht, is about 65 cents per meal per person for 6 people, even less if serving 8 people.
Shortcut: Onion Soup Mix.
Adapted from an internet recipe.
