Saving money and eating well at the same time is absolutely achievable. You just need to prepare in advance and plan your menu. We want to make your task easier and have already compiled 20 affordable everyday recipes using simple ingredients!
1. Colorful Cabbage Salad
A light, healthy, and delicious vegetable salad.
You will need: 1 head of cabbage, 2 carrots, 2 onions, 2 bell peppers, herbs, vegetable oil, spices.
Preparation: Chop and shred all vegetables, separately mash the cabbage, mix everything, and dress the salad with oil and spices. Garnish with herbs before serving. It couldn't be simpler!
2. Mushroom and Cheese Salad
An equally budget-friendly recipe using simple ingredients you likely already have in your fridge!
You will need: 150 g mushrooms, 1 onion, 100 g cheese, 1 carrot, 2 pickled cucumbers, herbs, spices, sour cream or mayonnaise.
Preparation: Slice the mushrooms and onion and sauté them together with vegetable oil. Separately sauté the grated carrot and place the vegetables on a paper towel to remove excess oil. Mix them with the julienned cucumbers and grated cheese, add herbs and spices, and dress the salad.
3. Eggplant and Tomato Salad
Minimum ingredients and maximum rich flavor.
You will need: 2 eggplants, 4 tomatoes, 1 onion, 2 eggs, herbs and spices.
Preparation: Slice the eggplant, sprinkle with salt, and after 15 minutes, squeeze out the juice. Whisk the eggs with spices, dip the eggplant slices in them, and fry until golden. Slice the onion into half-rings, chop the tomatoes, add herbs and spices, and dress with oil, mayonnaise, or sour cream to taste.
4. Sausage Salad
Instead of boiled sausage, you can use ham or other cold cuts.
You will need: 200 g sausage, 300 g tomatoes, 150 g cheese, garlic, spices, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Cut all ingredients into strips or cubes of the same size. Chop the herbs, mix the salad, and dress it with mayonnaise and spices.
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5. Quick Processed Cheese Soup
An inexpensive but very delicious soup recipe. If desired, add any other vegetables.
You will need: 2 processed cheese blocks, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 bunch dill, 2 tbsp butter, 1 bay leaf, spices.
Preparation: Mince the onion and garlic, grate the carrot, and dice the potatoes. Sauté the onion and carrot in butter, then add the garlic and potatoes, and pour in 1 liter of hot water. After a minute, add the bay leaf, and after 10 minutes, add the chopped processed cheese. Simmer the soup with the lid on until the cheese melts.
6. Meatball and Vermicelli Soup
A light and inexpensive, yet very healthy dish.
You will need: 350 g minced meat, 2 onions, 2 slices white bread, 100 ml milk, 1 carrot, 0.5 cup fine vermicelli, 1.3 l broth, herbs, spices.
Preparation: Soak the bread in milk, mince one onion, mix with the minced meat, season, and let sit for half an hour. Mince the carrot and the second onion and sauté them in a pan. Add the vegetables to the boiling broth, form and add the meatballs, and cook for 10 minutes. Add the vermicelli, cook for another 5 minutes, and add chopped herbs.
7. Canned Fish Soup
Sardines or any other canned fish to your taste will work.
You will need: 300 g canned fish, 2 peppers, 400 g frozen peas, 2 potatoes, 1 onion, 1 bunch herbs, 2 cloves garlic, butter, spices.
Preparation: Peel and chop the onion, garlic, and pepper, and simmer them in butter for about 10 minutes. Add diced potatoes and after 5 minutes, pour in 1.2 liters of water. When it boils, add the fish and peas, spices, and cook for 7 minutes.
8. Pumpkin and Apple Puree Soup
An original and very inexpensive recipe using simple ingredients.
You will need: 640 g pumpkin, 70 g green apple, 55 g butter, 500 ml broth, spices and herbs.
Preparation: Dice the pumpkin, apples, and onion and bake everything in butter and spices for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Blend the soup until smooth and, if desired, add more spices, herbs, or cheese.
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9. Potato Balls with Mushrooms
If it's easier, you can shape them into zrazy or cutlets. Delicious and affordable!
You will need: 500 g potatoes, 150 g mushrooms, 1 carrot, 1 onion, herbs, spices.
Preparation: Boil the potatoes and mash them into a puree, then chop the mushrooms and simmer them with the vegetables. With wet hands, form potato balls, placing the filling inside. Bake them in the oven for about 30 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.
10. Chicken Baked with Bread
A very simple, yet amazingly delicious recipe where every component shines.
You will need: 6 chicken thighs, 3 onions, 200 g bread, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, garlic, spices, herbs.
Preparation: Mince the herbs and garlic, mix with spices and oil, and marinate the chicken thighs in this mixture for 20 minutes. Slice the onion into rings, and tear the bread into arbitrary pieces. Place the bread and chicken in a baking dish, pour the remaining marinade over it, and bake for 20 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius. Arrange the onion rings on top and bake for another 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
11. Canned Fish and Potato Patties
An inexpensive recipe for meat patties. Any canned fish will do, but oil-packed is best.
You will need: 1 can canned fish, 3 potatoes, 1 carrot, 2 eggs, 2 tbsp semolina, spices.
Preparation: Boil the potatoes and carrots, then grate them coarsely. Add the eggs, spices, semolina, and mashed canned fish. Mix the mince, form patties, and fry them in a pan as usual.
12. Zucchini Casserole with Processed Cheese
If you wish, add carrots or other vegetables to the dish.
You will need: 1 kg zucchini, 3 onions, 500 g processed cheese, 50 g vegetable oil, 5 eggs, spices.
Preparation: Thinly slice the zucchini and onion, add spices, and mix. Add the processed cheese sliced into pieces and oil, place over low heat, and simmer until the cheese melts. Pour the beaten eggs over the mixture and bake for about 20 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
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13. Minced Meat Patties
This is something between cutlets and French-style meat. Inexpensive, but incredibly delicious!
You will need: 500 g minced meat, 3 slices bread, 3 cloves garlic, 2 eggs, 1 onion, 1 tomato, 100 g cheese, 1 pepper, spices, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Mix the minced meat with soaked bread, eggs, and spices, add herbs, and form patties. Place them on a baking sheet and top with thin slices of onion, tomato, and pepper. Drizzle with mayonnaise, sprinkle with cheese, and bake in the oven for half an hour at 180 degrees Celsius.
14. Pumpkin and Cottage Cheese Casserole
A delicious and very healthy breakfast recipe using inexpensive ingredients.
You will need: 500 g pumpkin, 150 g cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 6 tbsp sugar, 3 tbsp semolina, 50 g raisins.
Preparation: Dice the pumpkin and bake for 45 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius. Mash the cooled pumpkin into a puree and add half the sugar, 1 egg, and half the semolina. To the cottage cheese, add the remaining ingredients and raisins. Layer both mixtures in a baking dish and bake for 50 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
15. Stuffed Beets
It's hard to surprise anyone with stuffed potatoes or zucchini, but what about beets? Both inexpensive and delicious – you'll lick your fingers!
You will need: 4 beets, 100 g chicken fillet, 40 g onion, 2 tbsp vegetable oil, spices and garlic, 0.5 tbsp soy sauce, 4 tsp mayonnaise, 40 g cheese.
Preparation: Finely chop the chicken and marinate it in spices with garlic and soy sauce for an hour. Boil the beets until tender and carefully scoop out the middle with a teaspoon. Mince the onion and sauté with the chicken, stuff the beets, add a little mayonnaise, and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius.
16. Cheese Muffins with Green Onions
Just half an hour – and you have a fragrant and inexpensive snack ready.
You will need: 200 g processed cheese, 2 eggs, 4 tbsp flour, 4 tbsp 20% sour cream, 1 tsp baking powder, green onions, spices.
Preparation: Grate the cheese, add eggs, sour cream and spices, baking powder, and sifted flour, then mix the dough. Add chopped green onions, spoon the dough into muffin molds, and bake for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
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17. Bean Pâté with Prunes
An excellent base for sandwiches or tartlets.
You will need: 150 g dry beans, 70 g prunes, 60 g butter, 1.5 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, spices.
Preparation: Soak the beans overnight, then boil until tender, and blend with some of the cooking liquid until a smooth consistency is reached. Add the chopped prunes. Heat the spices in vegetable oil in a pan and pour into the bean puree, add butter, and mix everything again.
18. Aromatic Cardamom Meringues
If you like it, experiment with other spices. You can make it every day!
You will need: 1 cup sugar, 3 egg whites, 1 tsp ground cardamom.
Preparation: Whisk the egg whites with sugar until stiff peaks form and gently fold in the cardamom. Pipe the mixture onto a baking sheet using a pastry bag and bake for 1.5 hours at 100 degrees Celsius.
19. Ginger Cookies
Decorate the cookies with dried fruits, chocolate, sprinkles, or confectionery glaze.
You will need: 1 ginger root, 160 g flour, 75 g butter, 80 g sugar, 15 g vanilla sugar, 1 egg yolk, 1 tsp baking powder, spices.
Preparation: Blend the butter with sugar, spices, and egg yolk. Add the flour, baking powder, and grated ginger, knead the dough well, and roll it out to about 1.5 mm thick. Cut out cookies with cookie cutters or a knife and bake for 5-8 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
20. Cottage Cheese Doughnuts
A classic dessert from childhood – a delicious and affordable recipe!
You will need: 250 g cottage cheese, 3 eggs, 8 tbsp flour, 3 tbsp sugar, 0.5 tsp salt and baking soda, spices, powdered sugar, vegetable oil.
Preparation: Mix the cottage cheese with eggs, flour, sugar, baking soda, and spices until smooth. Form round doughnuts and fry in plenty of oil. Place the doughnuts on paper towels, then roll them in powdered sugar.