Blistered Green Bean Rice Bowl

This easy and tasty blistered green bean rice bowl with spicy chili crisp and saucy soft-boiled egg is the perfect meal for a hectic week.

The post Blistered Green Bean Rice Bowl appeared first on Budget Bytes.

This easy and tasty blistered green bean rice bowl with spicy chili crisp and saucy soft-boiled egg is the perfect meal for a hectic week. It comes together effortlessly in about thirty minutes and it’s an absolute breeze to meal prep. Plus the combination of blistered green beans and smoky chili crisp is so good, you’ll end up craving it!

What You’ll Need

The beauty of this blistered green bean rice bowl recipe is that you can substitute any ingredient with what you have on hand. You’re literally a half hour away from what’s sure to become one of your favorite weeknight meals!

  • Chili Crisp– this oil-based Chinese condiment is brimming with spicy and crunchy ingredients like fried garlic, scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, and chiles. A few teaspoons add texture and smoky heat, but more importantly, make the blandest ingredients lip-smackingly good. Substitute it with your favorite hot sauce.
  • Rice – Any kind of rice will do, just make sure to adjust the liquid ratio and cook time. You can substitute the rice with your favorite whole grain or cauliflower rice. Just follow the cooking directions on the package.
  • Green Beans – are a perfect vehicle for chili crisp and add texture and a wallop of nutrition. Substitute green beans with asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, or chickpeas. If you don’t mind losing out on texture, substitute the green beans with wilted kale, spinach, sliced peppers, or mushrooms.
  • Cooking Oil– Oil helps flavor green beans by blistering them quickly and creating char. Use your favorite cooking oil, but steer clear of olive oil and butter; you need a fat that can withstand high heat without burning. 
  • Eggs – Feel free to make the egg however you prefer but keep in mind that a soft-boiled egg’s yolk helps create a sauce. Check out our tutorial on How To Make Perfect Soft-Boiled Eggs. If you want to hard-boil the egg or skip it altogether, add a little butter to the rice to prevent a dry bite.

How To Meal Prep Blistered Green Bean Rice Bowls

Blistered green bean rice bowls meal prep beautifully because there are just a few ingredients and only a handful of steps. This recipe is for two servings, so if you want to make enough for the week, double or triple it. Simply portion the rice in an airtight container, top it with green beans, add the egg, and then season with chili crisp.

How To Store Leftovers

You can refrigerate leftovers for up to two days in an airtight container. To reheat, sprinkle the rice with 1/4 teaspoon of water, and microwave it until steaming. Though the rice and green beans both freeze well, I don’t recommend freezing soft-boiled eggs.

How To Cook Rice

Cooking rice is ridiculously easy if you keep these 5 tips in mind:

Know the type of rice you’re cooking. The ratio of rice to liquid changes with the kind of rice you use, as does the time it cooks. The below ratios make for a toothier, looser grain. If you prefer softer rice, increase the liquid by a half cup.

  • Short Grain Rice: 1 cup rice  1 cup liquid – cook 18 minutes
  • Medium & Long Grain Rice: 1 cup rice – 1 1/3 cups liquid – cook 15 minutes
  • Brown rice: Boil it like pasta (in lots of water until al dente ) for 30 minutes, strain all of the water out, cover the pot, and let the rice rest in it for 10 minutes

Wash the rice. Cleaning the grains under cool running water until the water runs clear eliminates the starches that give you a gloppy result.

Bring the water to a boil before you add it to the rice. It keeps your timing on point.

Low and slow is the way. When the rice comes to a boil, lower the heat. Making rice at a boil makes the grains burst, leaving you with a starchy mess.

Keep it covered. Lifting the lid releases steam, increasing cooking time and ruining the texture. Once the rice is done, rest it for 10 minutes before uncovering it.

Blistered green bean rice bowl with a black fork in it.
Blistered green bean rice bowl.
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Blistered Green Bean Rice Bowl

This easy and tasty blistered green bean rice bowl with spicy chili crisp and saucy soft-boiled egg is the perfect meal for a hectic week.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American, Asian
Total Cost ($3.42 recipe / $1.71 serving)
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2 bowls
Calories 665kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup water $0.00
  • 1 cup long grain rice, rinsed until the water runs clear $0.30
  • 2 Tbsp salted butter $0.30
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
  • 8 oz fresh green beans, trimmed, rinsed, and dried $1.99
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.01
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper $0.01
  • 2 eggs $0.53
  • 2 tsp chili crisp $0.20

Instructions

  • In a small heavy-bottomed pot set over medium high heat, bring the water to a boil. Then add the rice and the butter.
  • Once the water returns to a boil and steam vents begin to appear on the surface of the rice, cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Do not uncover the rice as it simmers.
  • While the rice cooks, soft boil two eggs in a small pot. Bring an inch of water to a boil, add the eggs straight from the fridge, lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer the eggs for 6 minutes. Remove the eggs from the hot water and run them under cold water to stop them from cooking any further.
  • Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and then the green beans. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the green beans, give the beans a few good stirs, then let them brown on one side without moving, about 4 to 5 minutes. Once browned remove them from the heat, and set aside.
  • When the rice is done, take it off the heat and let it sit, covered, for ten additional minutes. Then uncover it and fluff it.
  • To serve, divide the rice between two bowls. Top each mound of rice with half the blistered green beans and half the chili crisp. Peel the eggs, slice them down the middle lengthwise, and garnish each bowl with an egg. Enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 665kcal | Carbohydrates: 83g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 30g | Sodium: 530mg | Fiber: 4g

How to Make Blistered Green Bean Rice Bowl- Step by Step Photos

In a small heavy-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat, bring the 1 1/3 cups of water to a boil. Then add 1 cup of rice and 2 tablespoons of butter.

Once the water returns to a boil and steam vents begin to appear on the surface of the rice, cover the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for fifteen minutes. Do not uncover the rice as it simmers.

While the rice cooks, soft boil two eggs in a small pot. Bring an inch of water to a boil, add the eggs straight from the fridge, lower the heat, cover the pot, and simmer the eggs for 6 minutes. Remove the eggs from the hot water and run them under cold water to stop them from cooking any further.

Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the 2 tablespoons of oil and 8 ounces of green beans. Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper over the green beans, give the beans a few good stirs, then let them brown on one side for about 4 to 5 minutes without moving them. Once browned, remove them from the heat, and set aside.

Overhead shot of rice in a pot.

When the rice is done, take it off the heat and let it sit, covered, for ten additional minutes. Then uncover it and fluff it.

To serve, divide the rice between two bowls. Top each mound of rice with half of the blistered green beans and chili crisp. Peel the eggs, slice them down the middle lengthwise, and garnish each bowl with an egg. Dig in!

More Easy Rice Bowls

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Veggie Pot Pie

Creamy, savory, hearty, flaky, crispy- this Veggie Pot Pie is All. Of. The. Things! You can even make this veggie pot pie recipe vegan.

The post Veggie Pot Pie appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If you want your whole family clamoring around the dinner table with a dish everyone will love, this Veggie Pot Pie is All. Of. The. Things! Creamy, savory, hearty, crispy- you can even make this Veggie Pot Pie recipe vegan! It’s all cooked in a velvety sauce and encased in a flaky, buttery pie crust. Are you ready to make the ultimate comfort food? (Say yes!!!)

What Is Veggie Pot Pie?

A pot pie is just like a regular pie, except it’s usually savory and made in a creamy sauce. Pot pies can be made with a bottom and top crust or just a top crust. This pot pie recipe is a mix of colorful vegetables drenched in a savory gravy and cooked in a deliciously flakey double crust. Feel free to use just a top crust if you prefer it that way. I’m a crust person, so the more, the better!

What You’ll Need

For The Filling
  • Butter and Flour– with their powers combined, you’ll make a roux, and that blend of fat and flour will thicken your sauce.
  • Milk and Vegetable Broth– this is the base of your creamy sauce. You can substitute the milk with plant-based milk if you want to keep this bad boy dairy free. Alternatively, if you want to add more depth, try using chicken broth.
  • Mushrooms, Onions, Potatoes, and Mixed Veggies– these are the stars of your veggie filling. To minimize chopping, I use frozen mixed veggies. But any combination of veggies you have on hand will work. Just make sure to chop everything the same size and par-cook root veggies in the broth first.
  • Rosemary, Thyme, Bay Leaf, and Sage– add flavor and depth to the sauce. You can substitute them with your favorite spice blend.
  • Soy Sauce– adds umami, AKA savoriness, which anything vegetable-based will need loads of. You can also use a teaspoon of any Miso you have on hand or Worcestershire Sauce.
For The Crust
  • Double Pie Crust– encases everything in a buttery dream and adds incredible texture. You can use a store-bought crust, but I use my 3-Ingredient Pie Crust. You can also use puff pastry, but par-bake it before filling.
  • Egg– the white seals the bottom crust, so it doesn’t absorb liquid, and the yolk lacquers the top crust, giving you a golden finish. If you want to skip the egg, par-bake the bottom crust and use milk, cream, or plant-based milk to lacquer the top crust.

Make It Vegan

You can tweak this recipe to create an outstanding Vegan Pot Pie! Sub the butter with vegan butter or oil. Opt for a store-bought vegan pie crust, or make my Easy 3-Ingredient Pie Crust with Vegan Butter or Vegetable Shortening. Sub the milk with any plant-based milk. As far as the egg wash is concerned, you can brush your pie crust with water, aquafaba, or plant-based milk. Par-bake the bottom crust before filling.

Prevent A Soggy Bottom Crust

Brushing the bottom crust with egg white helps create a barrier that prevents the dreaded soggy bottom. You should also preheat the oven with a sheet pan in it. When you place the pie on it, the heat from the sheet pan melts the fat in the bottom pastry, creating a layer that prevents liquid from permeating the pie. You can also place an overturned cast iron skillet in your sheet pan and preheat them both. Bake your pie on the bottom of the overturned skillet. Cast iron holds heat and helps crisp up that bottom crust.

How To Store The Leftovers

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, though reheating is easier if you just store them in the pie plate and cover them tightly with foil. You can freeze a veggie pot pie for up to 2 months, tightly wrapped in plastic, then foil, and kept in an airtight container. Cover the top crust with foil to prevent burning, and reheat in a 350ºF oven until it has warmed throughout.

Side shot of a slice of veggie pot pie being removed from the pie dish.
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Veggie Pot Pie

If you want your whole family clamoring around the dinner table with a dish everyone will love, this Veggie Pot Pie is All. Of. The. Things! Creamy, savory, hearty, crispy- you can even make this recipe vegan!
Course Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($9.61 recipe / $1.20 serving)
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 8 slices
Calories 281kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3-Ingredient Pie Crust* $2.34
  • 7 Tbsp salted butter, divided $1.12
  • 1 yellow onion, small dice (about 1 cup) $0.41
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 teaspoon) $0.24
  • 4 Tbsp flour $0.04
  • 1 cup veggie broth $0.13
  • 1/2 cup whole milk $0.13
  • 3/4 tsp salt $0.05
  • 1 bay leaf $0.15
  • 1/4 tsp ground rosemary $0.03
  • 1/4 tsp dried thyme $0.03
  • 1/4 tsp rubbed sage $0.03
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper $0.02
  • 1 tsp soy sauce $0.02
  • 1 Yukon gold potato, small dice* (about 1 cup) $0.27
  • 1 pint baby bellas, small dice $2.89
  • 12 oz frozen mixed vegetables $1.25
  • 1 egg, separated $0.46

Instructions

  • Grease a pie pan with 1 tablespoon of butter. If you're using store-bought dough, place the bottom crust in the pie pan. If you made 3-Ingredient Pie Crust, cut 1/3 of the dough off to be used as the top crust, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate until you're ready to use it later.
  • Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the bigger 2/3 piece of dough into a circle that is 16 inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick. Line the pie pan with it.
  • Beat the egg white until frothy, then brush the bottom crust with it. Let the crust rest in the fridge.
  • Place a rack in the center of your oven along with a sheet pan and preheat it to 350ºF. Place a deep skillet over medium heat and add 5 tablespoons of salted butter to the pan. Once the butter foams, swish it around the pan until it turns an amber color and smells of hazelnuts.
  • Add the diced onions to the brown butter. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and cook for one minute. Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic in the skillet and continue to cook and stir for two minutes more.
  • To the pan, add veggie broth, milk, and salt. Whisk to combine and dissolve any flour off the bottom of the skillet. Then add the bay leaf, rosemary, thyme, sage, pepper, and soy sauce. Whisk occasionally as the liquid simmers and thickens.
  • Add the pint of diced mushrooms and the diced potato to the pan. Stir to combine and cook until the gravy has thickened more and reduced some, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove the skillet from the heat. Finally, add the frozen mixed vegetables and allow them to cool the ingredients in the pan.
  • Take the pie pan out of the fridge, prick the bottom crust a few times with a fork, and add the cooled filling to the pie pan. Dice the last tablespoon of butter and sprinkle it over the filling.
  • Roll the smaller piece of dough into a circle, about 10 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick. Cover the pie with it.
  • Beat the egg yolk. Trace a bit of yolk along the top edge of the bottom and top crusts. Fold the bottom crust over the top crust and crimp the edges shut. Cut vents into your top crust. Brush egg yolk in a light layer over the top crust.
  • Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the pie dough is golden and flaky. Allow the Veggie Pot Pie to cool for ten minutes before serving.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*You can also use a store-bought double crust or puff pastry. 
*To prevent the diced potato from turning gray, place it in salted water and cover it with a wet paper towel, so it stays submerged. Drain before using in the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 465mg | Fiber: 4g

How to Make Veggie Pot Pie – Step by Step Photos

Grease a pie pan with 1 tablespoon of butter. If you’re using store-bought dough, place the bottom crust in the pie pan. If you are making 3-Ingredient Pie Crust, roll it into a large disc about 6 inches wide and two inches thick. Then cut 1/3 of it off to use as the top crust later on. Wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate.

Dust your work surface with flour and roll out the bigger 2/3 piece into a circle that is 16 inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick. Drape it over the pie pan and press down gently, gently pushing it into the bottom crease and sides of the pan.

Beat the egg white til frothy and then brush the bottom crust with it. Let the crust rest in the fridge.

Place a rack in the center of your oven along with a sheet pan and preheat it to 350ºF. Place a deep skillet over medium heat, add 5 tablespoons of salted butter to the pan, and brown it. The butter will melt, then foam, and finally, the solids will separate from the fat and turn a golden brown. The air will smell of hazelnuts.

Add the diced onion to the brown butter. Cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add the 2 minced cloves of garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Finally, sprinkle 4 tablespoons of flour over the onions and garlic in the skillet and continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes more.

Add 1 cup of veggie stock, 1/2 cup of milk, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Then whisk to combine and dissolve any flour off the bottom of the skillet. Finally, add the bay leaf, 1/4 teaspoon rosemary, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/4 teaspoon sage, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Whisk occasionally as the liquid comes up to a simmer and thickens into gravy.

Next, add the pint of diced mushrooms and the diced potato to the pan. Stir to combine and cook until the gravy has thickened more and reduced some, about 5 minutes. You want to cook the potatoes a touch, to ensure they cook fully in the oven.

Next, remove the skillet from the heat. Finally, add the 12 ounces of frozen mixed vegetables to the filling, where they will quickly cool the other ingredients in the pan. Your filling is done!

Next, take the pie pan out of the fridge, prick the bottom crust a few times with a fork, and add the cooled filling to the pie pan. Then dice the last tablespoon of butter and sprinkle it over the filling.

Roll the smaller piece of dough into a circle, about 10 inches wide and 1/4 inch thick. Cover the pie with it.

Beat the egg yolk. Then trace a bit of yolk along the top edge of the bottom and top crusts. Fold the bottom crust over the top crust and crimp the edges shut. Cut vents into your top crust. Finally, brush the egg yolk in a light layer over the entire top crust.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the pie dough is golden and flaky. Allow the Veggie Pot Pie to cool for ten minutes before serving. I gobbled up three slices of this in one sitting! I hope you do the same!

Other Great Savory Pie Recipes

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

This chocolate chip cookie recipe is so good you’ll fall in love at first bite. The chocolate chip cookies are chewy with crispy edges.

The post Chocolate Chip Cookies appeared first on Budget Bytes.

This chocolate chip cookie recipe is so good you’ll fall in love at first bite. The cookies have a hint of salt, so they don’t come off too sweet. They’re chewy with slightly crispy edges. They have deeply developed flavors with nutty notes of brown butter. They truly are exceptional. The best part? You don’t need fancy ingredients, just a few tricks.

Overhead shot of chocolate chip cookies on a sheet pan with one of the cookies torn in half.

How To Make A Better Chocolate Chip Cookie

Here are my Top 5 Tips to slay the chocolate chip cookie game:

  1. Brown your butter. This one step adds a deep, nutty flavor that takes the humble chocolate chip cookie to a whole new level.
  2. Sift your flour. Humidity and packaging affect the volume of flour. If you don’t use a scale, get a correct measurement by sifting it first.
  3. Use granulated sugar and brown sugar. Granulated sugar adds color and crispness, while brown sugar makes the dough moist and chewy.
  4. Rest your dough. Chilling the dough uncovered helps create a dough with concentrated flavors, a firm texture with less spread, and deeper browns.
  5. Use an oven thermometer. Most ovens can be off by up to 50°. A cheap thermometer can be the difference between a cookie win and a big, fat fail.
Overhead shot of a chocolate chip cookie on a black rubber spatula in the foreground with a sheet pan of chocolate chip cookies in the background.

How To Cool Chocolate Chip Cookies

Never remove cookies from a sheet pan right out of the oven. They are still very soft and are likely to break. Instead, leave them on the sheet pan for five or so minutes and then use a spatula to place them on a cooling rack.

How To Store Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies should be cold to the touch before storing. Placing a warm cookie in an air-tight container will make it mushy, and you worked too hard for that. Once cooled, place them in an air-tight container lined with a paper towel. Separate layers with wax paper to prevent them from sticking together. Top the final layer of cookies with plastic wrap to reduce exposure to air. They will last at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Refrigerating baked cookies will dry them out. Instead, for longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.

Can You Freeze THIS Cookie Dough?

Absolutely! Portion the dough with a small cookie scoop or in 2 tablespoon-sized cookie dough balls. Freeze them on a sheet pan with a bit of separation so they don’t stick together. Once they are frozen solid, add the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag and remove as much air as possible. If using a container, top each layer of dough balls with plastic wrap to prevent exposure to air.

Overhead shot of chocolate chip cookies on a plate with a glass of milk next to it.
Overhead shot of chocolate chip cookies on a sheet pan with one of the cookies torn in half.
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Chocolate Chip Cookies

This chocolate chip cookie recipe is so good you'll fall in love at first bite. The cookies are chewy with slightly crispy edges. They have deeply developed flavors with nutty notes of salted brown butter.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($4.58 recipe / $0.25 serving)
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Resting Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 204kcal

Ingredients

  • 12 Tbsp salted butter* $1.50
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar* $0.22
  • 1/4 cup granulated white sugar* $0.08
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract $0.57
  • 2 eggs $0.42
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour $0.18
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda $0.03
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips $1.58

Instructions

  • In a light-colored, heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter over medium heat until the solids separate and turn golden brown.
  • Place the brown butter in a large bowl to cool for a few minutes. When it is no longer steaming hot, set the bowl in the fridge or freezer until it hardens.
  • Once the butter has hardened,break it apart and add the brown and white sugar to the bowl.
  • Use a hand mixer (or elbow grease) to cream the butter and the sugars on low speed until incorporated.
  • Add the vanilla extract and one egg to the bowl. Mix on low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the second egg. Mix on low speed until combined, and scrape down the bowl again.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and baking soda.
  • Pour half of the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture and mix on low speed until it barely comes together. Next, scrape down the sides of the bowl, add in the remaining flour, and mix on low speed until a dough forms.
  • Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the chocolate chips. Mix until the chocolate chips are interspersed evenly throughout the dough.
  • Roll 2-tablespoon portions of dough into balls and place them 2 inches apart on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Chill the dough in your refrigerator, uncovered, for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
  • When ready to bake, place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat it to 350°F. Press the chilled cookie dough balls down with two fingers.
  • Bake the cookies for 4 minutes. Rotate the sheet pan, front to back. Bake for an additional 4 minutes, until the edges are a light golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the sheet pan for at least 5 minutes before taking them off and cooling them on a rack.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*If using unsalted butter, add 1/2 teaspoon of finely ground salt (like fine sea salt) or 1 teaspoon of coarsely ground salt (like kosher salt) to the butter.
*Use either light brown or dark brown sugars. Dark brown will give your cookies a touch more spread and chew.
* If you prefer a crispy cookie, omit the brown sugar and use 3/4 cups total of granulated white. The cookies will rise more and spread less.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Sodium: 100mg | Fiber: 1g
Overhead shot of chocolate chip cookies on a sheet pan with one of the cookies torn in half.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies – Step by Step Photos

Overhead shot of butter browning in a silver pan.

In a light-colored, heavy-bottomed pan, melt the 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) of butter over medium heat. When it starts to foam, the milk solids will separate from the water in little specks. Continue to cook the solids until they have turned golden brown. The air will smell of hazelnuts.

Overhead shot of chilled brown butter in a silver bowl.

Once the butter has been browned, immediately remove it from the heat and place it in a bowl to cool for a few minutes. Once it is no longer steaming hot, set the bowl in the fridge or freezer until the brown butter cools to a softened butter consistency.

Overhead shot of brown and granulated sugar with chilled brown butter in a silver bowl.

Once the butter has cooled and solidified into a mousse-like consistency, add the 1/2 cup of brown sugar and the 1/4 cup of granulated white sugar to the bowl.

Overhead shot of creamed sugar in a silver bowl with hand beaters settled on the rim..

Use a hand mixer (or elbow grease) to cream the butter and the sugars on low speed until incorporated.

Overhead shot of eggs and vanilla in silver bowl with hand beaters settled on the rim..

Add the teaspoon of vanilla extract and one egg to the bowl. Mix on low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the second egg. Mix on low speed until combined, and scrape down the bowl again.

Overhead shot of dry ingredients in a white bowl.

In a separate bowl, combine the 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.

Pour half of the flour mixture into the creamed butter mixture and mix on low speed until it barely comes together. Next, scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the remaining flour. Continue to mix on low speed until the dough barely comes together. Do not over-mix, as this will give you a tough cookie.

Overhead shot of chocolate chips being mixed into cookie dough with a red and white rubber spatula in a silver bowl.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Mix until the chocolate chips are interspersed evenly throughout the dough.

Overhead shot of cookie dough balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

Roll 2-tablespoon portions of dough into balls and place them 2 inches apart on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Chill the dough in your refrigerator, uncovered, for at least an hour, but preferably overnight.

Overhead shot of two fingers pressing down on refrigerated balls of cookie dough on a lined sheet pan.

When ready to bake, place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat it to 350°F. Press the chilled cookie dough balls down with two fingers.

Overhead shot of of baked chocolate chip cookies.

Bake the cookies for 4 minutes. Rotate the sheet pan, front to back. Bake for an additional 4 minutes, until the edges are a light golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the sheet pan for at least 5 minutes before taking them off and cooling them on a rack.

Overhead shot of chocolate chip cookies on a sheet pan.

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Sweet Potato Casserole

Greater than the sum of its parts, this buttery sweet potato casserole is a breeze to put together and will be the star of your dinner table!

The post Sweet Potato Casserole appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If there was ever a dish greater than the sum of its parts, it’s this buttery sweet potato casserole. It’s a total breeze to put together and will be the star of your dinner table! If you’re unfamiliar with sweet potato casserole, it’s traditionally a southern dish served for holidays or special occasions.

Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish with a silver serving spoon scooping out a bit of it.

How To Pick Sweet Potatoes

When selecting sweet potatoes, go for small to medium-sized ones, which tend to be less starchy, have tender skin, and have more pronounced flavors. Also, make sure they are firm and have smooth skin without any cracks or soft spots, all signs that they aren’t old. (Ugh. That reads like a sentence you’d find in some sexist 50’s handbook for How To Pick A Wife.)

How To Store Sweet Potatoes

To keep your sweet potatoes from sprouting and keep them fresh longer, store them in a cool, dry, dark cabinet. Don’t store them next to onions, which tend to release moisture into the air. Also, keep them out of cabinets that are close to your stove, which creates a hot environment in surrounding spaces while in use.

Overhead shot of a sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish with a silver serving spoon above it holding a spoonful of casserole.

What’s The Best Topping For Sweet Potato Casserole?

Beth and I are split on the best topping for sweet potato casserole. She is camp pecan streusel (it has superior flavor and texture). I am camp marshmallow (it’s easier and costs less). This recipe is for a marshmallow topping, but I’m not leaving you stranded if you prefer pecans. You can use the following recipe to create a pecan streusel:

  1. In a medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of flour. 
  2. Cut in 4 tablespoons of diced butter with a pastry cutter or two butter knives until the mixture transforms into crumbles the size of peas. 
  3. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.
  4. Sprinkle topping over sweet potato mixture and bake until golden.

Should I Boil Or Roast Potatoes FOR Sweet Potato Casserole?


I peel, dice, and boil sweet potatoes for my sweet potato casserole. For the Thanksgiving holiday, most ovens will be working overtime, so the more you can do on the stovetop, the better. But if you REALLY want to go all out, wrap the sweet potatoes in aluminum and roast them whole at low heat (about 250°F) until they are fork tender, which caramelizes the sugars for ridiculously deep flavors.

Overhead shot of a sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish with a few scoops taken out of it.

Can I Make Sweet Potato Casserole Ahead Of Time?

You can absolutely make sweet potato casserole ahead of time. Just leave the toppings for when you are ready to bake, as freezing or refrigerating them for extended periods will change their texture. You can refrigerate the casserole with a sheet of plastic directly on the surface of the sweet potato mash for up to five days. The plastic helps prevent a skin from forming and stops condensation from seeping into the dish.

You can freeze a sweet potato casserole for up to 3 months. Line your casserole dish with enough aluminum foil to extend six inches on each side of the dish. Add the sweet potato filling and cover with the aluminum overhang. Freeze the casserole in the dish. Once it has solidified, unfold the aluminum and use it to lift the frozen casserole out of the dish. Wrap it in the aluminum again and then in a second layer of plastic. Then store in a freezer-safe container. Thaw it in your refrigerator overnight before topping it with marshmallows or pecan streusel and baking it.

How To Store Leftover Casserole

First things first- according to the FDA if the casserole has been out at room temperature for more than two hours, you should throw it out. I’m just the messenger, so please direct all complaints to the FDA. Leftovers are best frozen in single servings in freezer-safe containers. Thaw them out in your fridge overnight. You should only thaw them once.

Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows in a white casserole dish.
Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows in a white casserole dish.
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Sweet Potato Casserole

Greater than the sum of its parts, this buttery sweet potato casserole is a breeze to put together and will be the star of your dinner table!
Course Dessert, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($5.94 recipe / $0.74 serving)
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 372kcal

Equipment

  • 8×8" Casserole Dish

Ingredients

  • 4 lbs sweet potatoes $3.96
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar $0.23
  • 4 Tbsp salted butter $0.38
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream $0.55
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.01
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract $0.29
  • 1 pinch nutmeg $0.01
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon $0.01
  • 2 cups mini marshmallows $0.50

Instructions

  • Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat it to 350ºF. Grease a three-quart casserole dish with butter. Set a large pot of water over high heat. Peel and dice sweet potatoes. Add them to the water once it begins to boil.
  • When the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, drain them, and add them to a large bowl. Mash them until they are smooth.
  • To a medium-sized heavy bottom pan set over medium heat add brown sugar and salted butter. Whisk until a caramel forms.
  • Add the cream and whisk to incorporate.
  • Add the salt, vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon to the caramel and whisk to incorporate.
  • Add the mash to the greased casserole dish and smooth the top with a spatula.
  • Top the casserole with 2 cups mini marshmallows, more or less to your liking.*
  • Bake the casserole at 350ºF until the marshmallows are golden, about 20 minutes.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*If you are opting for pecan streusel, top it with that instead. If you want to use both, start with the pecans and finish with the marshmallows.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 70g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 332mg | Fiber: 7g
Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish with a silver serving spoon scooping out a bit of it.

How to Make Sweet Potato Casserole – Step by Step Photos

Overhead shot of a pot with boiled sweet potatoes in it with a serving spoon holding a few cubes of sweet potato above it.

Place a rack in the middle of your oven and preheat it to 350ºF. Grease a three-quart casserole dish with butter. Set a large pot of water over high heat. Peel and dice four pounds of sweet potatoes. Add them to the water once it begins to boil.

Overhead shot of sweet potatoes being mashed in a white bowl.

When the sweet potatoes are fork-tender, drain them, and add them to a large bowl. Mash them until they are smooth.

Overhead shot of brown sugar and butter in a silver pan.

To a medium-sized heavy bottom pan set over medium heat add 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 4 tablespoons of salted butter. Whisk until a caramel forms.

Overhead shot of cream v=being poured into a silver pan with caramel and a whisk in it.
When the brown sugar has completely dissolved into the butter and a caramel has formed, add the 1/3 cup of heavy cream. Whisk to incorporate.
Overhead shot of a spoonful of cinnamon being added to caramel in a silver pan with a whisk in it.

Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, a pinch of nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the caramel and whisk to incorporate.

Overhead shot of caramel being poured out of a pot into sweet potato mash.

Add the caramel to the sweet potato mash and mix thoroughly.

Overhead shot of a rubber spatula smoothing sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish.

Add the mash to the greased casserole dish and smooth the top with a spatula.

Overhead shot of a silver cup measure pouring a cup of marshmallows into a sweet potato casserole with marshmallows already on top of it.

Top the casserole with 2 cups mini marshmallows, more or less to your liking. If you are opting for pecan streusel, top it with it instead. If you want to use both, start with the pecans and finish with the marshmallows.

Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole in a white casserole dish with a silver serving spoon scooping out a bit of it.

Bake the casserole at 350ºF until the marshmallows are golden, about 20 minutes. Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Overhead shot of sweet potato casserole topped with marshmallows in a white casserole dish.

The post Sweet Potato Casserole appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Roasted Chicken

This roasted chicken recipe gives you crispy skin bathed in butter and meat that’s softly scented with lemon, garlic, and rosemary. There are also unctuous potatoes and carrots that cook in chicken jus. It’s a must try!

The post Roasted Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

There’s nothing quite like this roasted chicken recipe. It gives you crispy skin bathed in butter and meat softly scented with lemon, garlic, and rosemary. There are unctuous potatoes and carrots that cook in chicken jus. It perfumes your entire household. And you can transform a single bird into meals that last for days on end. It truly is perfection.

How To Perfectly Roast Chicken

For the uninitiated, roasting a whole chicken can be intimidating. But it’s easier than you think. You just need to know a few tricks, and luckily you’ve got a friend that has them all up her sleeve. Ahem. It all comes down to is drying your chicken, using salt correctly, introducing fat to keep the breast meat moist, and using the cavity as a vehicle for flavor.

To make the best roasted chicken, use these four tricks:

  • Dry your chicken well for extra crispy skin
  • Use a dry brine to keep meat tender and infuse flavor
  • Coat with herb butter for a deliciously golden brown crispy skin
  • Stuff the cavity with aromatics to make every bite flavorful

Why Should I Dry Chicken?

The first trick to perfectly roasting a chicken is thoroughly drying your bird. I know it sounds counterintuitive. Why would you take juices off a chicken you want to be juicy? Because it gives you the crispiest skin ever. It’s so crucial that some chefs go as far as drying their chicken with a hair dryer. You don’t have to go that far, but don’t skip this step. It sets you up beautifully for a dry brine.

What Is A Dry Brine?

Dry brining is the act of salting chicken (or any other meat) and letting it sit uncovered while the salt draws out the juices. The chicken then reabsorbs the now salted juices, which tenderize the meat and add deep flavors all the way to the bone. This is far superior to just salting the skin on the outside, which leaves you with a bland bird. You can dry brine for as little as an hour, but if you want real magic, dry brine your chicken overnight. Leave it uncovered in your fridge, on the bottom shelf, for at least 8 hours. Then it’s ready for a butter bath.

Why Do People Put Butter On Their Chicken?

You add fat to the chicken breast to keep it moist and then you spread it on the skin to crisp it. The best and tastiest way to do that is to rub your chicken down with softened butter. (Unless you save your bacon fat, in which case, you should definitely use that!). As the butter melts, it bastes the notoriously dry breast meat, which keeps it juicy while adding a huge wallop of flavor. It will also give you deeply golden, crispy skin. Now all you have to do is to level up your flavor game by stuffing the chicken cavity with aromatics.

Why Should I Stuff Chicken?

Leaving the chicken’s cavity empty is a missed opportunity to add flavor. Stuff the cavity with aromatics, like garlic and lemon. If you have fresh rosemary, put a sprig in there as well. (If you don’t, that’s OK. You can add dried rosemary to your butter.) As the chicken cooks, the garlic, lemon, and rosemary release their essences and perfume your entire bird, from the inside out. It will take your chicken over the top, which is exactly where you want it.

What Temperature Do I Cook Chicken To?

Your chicken is done cooking when a thermometer inserted into the breast reads 160°F. Make sure not to touch the bone, which skews the results. You also need to insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh (again without touching the bone), where it should read 170°F. This is about 50 to 60 minutes for a five-pound bird at 425°F.

Remember the magic of carry-over cooking. The chicken will continue to rise at least five to ten degrees in temperature when it is out of the oven. Taking it out when the breast reads 160°F and the thigh reads 170°F will get you to the perfect temperature for chicken: 165°F to 170°F for the breast and 175°F to 180°F for the thighs. Leaving it any longer will leave you with a well done bird, which might work for the dark meat, but the white meat will be sawdust.

If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the joint between the thigh and the body. If the juices run clear, you are good to go. If they run red or pinkish, pop your chicken back in the oven for a few more minutes.

Should I Baste Chicken?

I know, I know. Every time you see someone cooking chicken on a TV show or commercial, there’s always a scene where they have the oven door wide open as they gingerly baste their chicken in its juices. Don’t believe the hype. (Said in my best Flavor Flav.) You don’t have to baste chicken to get juicy results. That’s what the dry brine was for—leaving the oven door open to baste lets all of the heat escape and ruins the roast.

How To Roast A Chicken Without A Roasting Pan

A roasting pan with a rack is ideal because you want enough space between the vegetables and the chicken for air to circulate around the chicken, to crisp it and cook it evenly. If you don’t own a roasting pan, you have loads of other choices. Use a cast iron skillet and nestle the bird on top of the veg. The skin on the back won’t be crispy, but it will still be delicious. In fact, you can roast in almost any low-walled oven-safe dish. For example, use a pie pan or a brownie tin. All that matters is that the sides of the pan don’t block the sides of the chicken. They need to be exposed to develop color and get crispy.

Don’t Waste The Drippings

You’ve now set the foundation for a perfectly roasted bird. But why stop there? As that chicken roasts and that butter melts, all of the drippings fall to the bottom of the pan. This is precisely why you fill the pan with carrots, onions, and potatoes. They soak up all that incredible juice and transform into intensely flavored, unctious bites.

That’s it! With those simple tricks, you will have created intensely flavorful bites with perfectly crispy skin every time. And you can keep enjoying that chicken for days. Pull any leftover meat and use it in casseroles, burritos, or soups. Simmer the bones and create chicken stock. Or eat it cold out of the container as you cry uncontrollably while watching the last episode of From Scratch on Netflix. (Have you seen it?!?!?! We. Must. Discuss.)

Overhead shot of whole roasted chicken and roasted vegetables on a white platter..
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Roasted Chicken

This roasted chicken recipe gives you crispy skin bathed in butter and meat that's softly scented with lemon, garlic, and rosemary. There are also unctuous potatoes and carrots that cook in chicken jus. It's a must try!
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $11.45 recipe / $1.15 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Servings 10 cups
Calories 291kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken, 5 lbs $6.62
  • 5 tsp kosher salt or coarse sea salt $0.20
  • 8 Tbsp salted butter, softened $1.20
  • 1 Tbsp dry rosemary $0.30
  • 2 russet potatoes $0.98
  • 1 onion $0.49
  • 3 carrots $0.75
  • 1 lemon $0.51
  • 1 head of garlic $0.40

Instructions

  • Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 425°F. Remove the chicken from its packaging.
  • Remove the innards.
  • Dry the chicken thoroughly inside and out with paper towels.
  • Dry brine the chicken by rubbing salt on it, inside and out. Use 1 teaspoon of kosher salt or coarse sea salt per pound of meat. Or 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt or iodized salt per pound of meat. Let it rest uncovered in your fridge for at least an hour but preferably overnight.
  • Chop the vegetables. Quarter an onion, slice the carrots, and quarter the potatoes. Add them to a roasting pan.
  • Add the dried rosemary to the softened butter and mix thoroughly.
  • Place the chicken on a rack over the vegetables and pat it dry again. Cover the chicken inside and out with butter. Work your way under the skin on the breast and add butter there too.
  • Quarter a lemon and slice through the top of a bulb of garlic.
  • Add the garlic and the lemon into the cavity of the chicken.
  • Roast your chicken at 425°F until a meat thermometer inserted into the breast reads 160°F and inserted into the thigh it reads 170°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a serving platter. Let it rest for at least ten minutes before carving it.
  • Stir the vegetables in the bottom of the pan to cover them with the chicken jus. Serve with slices of roasted chicken.
  • Pull any leftover meat off the bones and store it in an air-tight container. Reserve the bones for chicken stock. Simply add them to a freezer-safe container and freeze them until you are ready to use them. Use the pulled chicken for other recipes.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 291kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 21g | Sodium: 334mg | Fiber: 1g

How to Roast a Chicken – Step by Step Photos

Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 425°F. Remove the chicken from its packaging.

Remove the innards. Reserve them for chicken stock.

Dry the chicken thoroughly inside and out with paper towels.

Dry brine the chicken by rubbing salt on it, inside and out. Use 1 teaspoon of kosher salt or coarse sea salt per pound of meat. Or 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt or iodized salt per pound of meat. Let it rest uncovered in your fridge for at least an hour but preferably overnight.

When the chicken has brined for an hour, chop the vegetables. Quarter an onion, slice the carrots, and quarter the potatoes. Add them to a roasting pan.
Add the dried rosemary to the softened butter and mix thoroughly.
Overhead shot of chicken being rubbed down in butter.

Place the chicken on a rack over the vegetables and pat it dry again. Cover the chicken inside and out with butter. Work your way under the skin on the breast and add butter there too.

Quarter a lemon and slice through the equator of a bulb of garlic.

Add the garlic and the lemon into the cavity of the chicken.

Roast your chicken at 425°F until a meat thermometer inserted into the breast reads 160°F and inserted into the thigh it reads 170°F. Remove the chicken from the pan and place it on a serving platter. Let it rest for at least ten minutes before carving it.

Stir the vegetables in the bottom of the pan to cover them with the chicken jus.

Pull any leftover meat off the bones and store it in an air-tight container. Reserve the bones for chicken stock. Simply add them to a freezer-safe container and freeze them until you are ready to use them. Use the pulled chicken for other recipes.

The post Roasted Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

EASY Caramel Sauce

If you’ve been looking for a buttery, fail-safe, easy caramel sauce that you can drizzle on all of the things, you’ve found it!

The post EASY Caramel Sauce appeared first on Budget Bytes.

If you’ve been looking for a buttery, fail-safe, easy caramel sauce that you can drizzle on all of the things, you’ve found it! Most caramel sauces are toddler-level temperamental, which is why I love this recipe. It isn’t fussy AT ALL. You don’t even need a candy thermometer!

Side shot of a spoon drizzling caramel sauce in a mason jar.

Caramel vs. Butterscotch

Technically, this recipe is for a butterscotch sauce. I call it caramel sauce because it tastes like caramel sauce without all of the to-do that comes with making one. And really, the major difference between the two is that a butterscotch sauce is made with brown sugar and a caramel sauce is made with white sugar. No matter what you call it, once your family tastes it, this sauce will become a staple in your home.

How To Store Caramel Sauce

While the sauce is still warm, add it to an air-tight heat-proof container. (Plastic might melt, so use glass.) Keep it uncovered until it has thoroughly cooled, and then refrigerate it for up to three weeks. You can also freeze the sauce for up to 3 months.

Overhead shot of caramel sauce on vanilla ice cream in a white bowl.

Troubleshooting

Even though this truly is an easy sauce, caramel can be fickle. To prevent your sauce from separating or getting grainy:

  • Use a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot with rounded sides.
  • Keep a steady, medium-low heat so that your butter and sugar don’t separate.
  • Do not stop stirring. It’s arm’s day. This caramel sauce is worth it.
  • If the sauce separates and the butter pools on top of the sugar, or if it gets grainy, take the pot off the heat and continue to stir until the two come together again.
  • If the sauce does not come together or smooth out, add a tablespoon of water and continue stirring.

What Goes With Caramel Sauce

Drizzle this sauce on everything! I love it as a dip for sliced apples, stirred into a latte, or mixed into my oatmeal. It also pairs beautifully with:

Side shot of a spoon drizzling caramel sauce in a mason jar.
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Easy Caramel Sauce

If you've been looking for a buttery, fail-safe, easy caramel sauce that you can drizzle on all of the things, you've found it!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Total Cost ($1.68 recipe / $0.11 serving)
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 16 tablespoons
Calories 69kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup salted butter $0.60
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed $0.22
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream $0.50
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract $0.36

Instructions

  • In a heavy-bottomed medium-sized pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it is frothy, add the brown sugar.
  • Whisk the brown sugar and butter until the sugar transforms into a caramel sauce.
  • Take the caramel sauce off the heat and add the heavy cream. Continue to whisk to incorporate the cream into the sauce.
  • Whisk in the vanilla.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Tbsp | Calories: 69kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 26mg
Overhead shot of a spoon taking caranel sauce out of a mason jar.

How to Make CARAMEL SAUCE – Step by Step Photos

Browns sugar being put in a pot with melted, frothy butter.

In a heavy-bottomed medium-sized pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once it is frothy, add the brown sugar.

Whisk stirring caramel sauce in a pot.

Whisk the brown sugar and butter until the sugar transforms into a caramel sauce, about 2 minutes.

Cream being put in caramel sauce in a pot.

Take the caramel sauce off the heat and add the heavy cream. Continue to whisk to incorporate the cream into the sauce, about 1 minute.

Vanilla being put in caramel sauce in a pot.

Whisk in the vanilla. Allow the sauce to cool before drizzling over all of your favorite desserts or fresh fruit!

Overhead shot of caramel sauce on vanilla ice cream in a white bowl.

The post EASY Caramel Sauce appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Carrot Soup

Roasted carrots and brown butter take a humble carrot soup to a new level of yum. PS this recipe got props from Chef Gordon Ramsay. Try it!

The post Carrot Soup appeared first on Budget Bytes.

When times were tight, I’d go to the dollar store for groceries. On one occasion, I picked up a bag of carrots in the hopes that my two-year-old would want to have them as a healthy snack. By the end of the week, defeated by a toddler, I found myself staring blankly at a wilting bag of carrots I could not afford to waste. And so this roasted carrot soup was born. I use brown butter for nuttiness, cream to add body, and ginger and thyme to elevate the flavors. It’s so good, it got props from Chef Gordon Ramsay when I made it on MasterChef.

Overhead shot of carrot soup in a white Dutch oven with sour cream swirled in it.

Is Roasting Necessary?

Roasting is what makes this soup special. It’s the greatest gift you can give a root veggie with very minimal effort. All you have to do is chop carrots and put them in an oven! As the carrots roast, they develop deeper flavors through caramelization. Don’t worry if a few of them charr, as that browning will add a nice smokiness to the finished product. Roasting also reduces the time you’ll need to keep your carrots simmering on a stove. Make sure to slice carrots evenly, so they cook at the same pace.

Boiling Instead of Simmering

Do your best to keep your soup at a simmer, not a boil. You’re looking for gentle bubbles and steam. Otherwise, you’re evaporating most of your liquid before the carrots are through cooking. Boiling soup also causes nutrient loss and destroys aromas. A gentle simmer > a raging boil. ( If you’re single, you can also apply that equation to your love life. You’re welcome.)

Overhead shot of carrot soup in three white bowls with sour cream swirled in it

Can I freeze carrot soup?

Yes, you can freeze carrot soup. Make sure to freeze it in individual portions, as you should only thaw it once. It should keep for up to three months. After that, you can thaw it in the fridge overnight and reheat it in a pot over low heat, or pop the individual portion into a microwave straight from the freezer—cover to avoid splatter, and cook until it’s steaming.

What can I serve with carrot soup?

This soup is very filling, but it also pairs well with these fantastic recipes:

Overhead shot of carrot soup in a white Dutch Oven with sour cream swirled in it.

Side shot of white bowl with carrot soup in it.

Carrot Soup

This roasted carrot soup transforms the humble carrot into a vibrant meal. It scores major points for being as economical as it is hearty. Keep it vegetarian or add chicken breast for a protein punch.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Total Cost $4.71 recipe / $1.03 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4 2 cups each
Calories 504kcal
Author Monti – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs carrots $1.49
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.12
  • 1/2 tsp salt $0.03
  • 4 Tbsp salted butter $0.50
  • 1 yellow onion $0.65
  • 1 tsp thyme $0.10
  • 3 cups water $0.00
  • 3 cups chicken broth $0.36
  • 1 cup heavy cream $1.12
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger $0.21
  • 2 sprigs Italian parsley (optional) $0.05
  • 4 Tbsp sour cream (optional) $0.08

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. Clean the carrots and cut them into 1/4 inch rounds. Drizzle with olive oil and salt. Roast the carrots at 400°F for about 35 minutes until they have softened and begun to caramelize.
  • Dice the onions. Add the butter to a large Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until it foams and the milk solids start to brown. Turn off the heat, add the thyme and cook for one minute, to infuse the butter.
  • Turn the heat to medium and cook the onions in the browned butter until the onions are translucent, about two minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth and water and cover. Simmer until carrots are done.
  • When the carrots have begun to caramelize, take them out of the oven.
  • Add the carrots to the chicken broth. Cook uncovered until carrots easily fall apart when pressed by a fork.
  • Add soup to a blender, Take the center cap off of your blender lid and cover with a towel. Blend in two batches and puree.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve. Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and a few leaves of Italian parsley

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 43g | Sodium: 1221mg | Fiber: 7g
Overhead shot of three bowls of carrot soup with sour cream swirled in them.

How to Make Carrot Soup – Step by Step Photos

Overhead shot of sliced raw carrots in a sheet pan.

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Peel the 2 pounds of carrots and cut them into 1/4 inch rounds. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Roast the carrots at 400°F for about 35 minutes until they have softened and caramelized.

Overhead shot of butter browning.

While the carrots roast, dice the onion. Add 4 tablespoons of salted butter to a Dutch oven and cook over medium heat until it foams and the milk solids start to brown. Add 1 teaspoon of thyme and let it cook for a minute.

Overhead shot of butter browning.

Add the diced onion to the browned butter and thyme. Cook the onion until they it is translucent, about two minutes.

Overhead shot of chicken stock being poured into soup base.

Add the 3 cups of chicken broth and the 3 cups of water. Scrape up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Cover and simmer with the lid on until the carrots are ready.

Overhead shot of sheet pan with roasted carrots.

Once the carrots have started to caramelize, take them out of the oven.

Overhead shot of carrots cooking in cream mixture.

Add the roasted carrots to the chicken broth mixture. Simmer until they soften so much they fall apart easily when pressed by a fork.

Overhead shot of blended carrot soup.

Before blending the soup, remove the center cap off of your lid and cover the hole with a kitchen towel. Add half of the soup to the blender and puree. Repeat.

Overhead shot of carrot soup in a white bowl with sour cream swirled in it.

Season to taste with salt and pepper. If you’d like to garnish your soup, try it with a dollop of sour cream, some Italian parsley, and black pepper.

Try These Other Great Creamy Soups

The post Carrot Soup appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Marche des Producteurs de Pays

This week France rather quietly announced that visitors from the U.S. and Canada were allowed to come to the country without any restrictions. Things are still moving in the direction of getting back to normal, and while last year is still sort of a haze to me, I believe the markets in Paris remained open the entire time, operating under different conditions. Outdoor markets are…

This week France rather quietly announced that visitors from the U.S. and Canada were allowed to come to the country without any restrictions. Things are still moving in the direction of getting back to normal, and while last year is still sort of a haze to me, I believe the markets in Paris remained open the entire time, operating under different conditions. Outdoor markets are extremely important in France and, of course, pre-dated les supermarchés which are now everywhere and have more agreeable hours – some are now even open on Sundays, which was controversial when it happened. But the outdoor markets take place six days a week in Paris, and in a country where holidays and vacations, and Sundays, are sacred, they remain open no matter what, even on Christmas, Easter, and New Year’s Day.

The outdoor markets are an integral part of French life and while in Paris there are over 100 marchés alimentaires (food markets), many of the stands are run by négotiants, or middle-men and women, who get their fruits, vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish from Rungis, the wholesale market outside of the city. There are many small farms in France but many stay, and sell, only in their regions due to their size. So I’m always happy when I see signs posted about an upcoming Marché des Producteurs de Pays, where you can buy things directly from the growers and producers, who bring their foods to the city.

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Creme de Marrons (Chestnut Puree)

When I was sprier (and when I could eat all that chocolate!) I used to do culinary tours. One of the most fun things to do was to take people into places and explain some of the lesser-known items that, incongruently, France is famous for. I know. I had to think about that for a minute, too. I’d point out things like fleur de sel,…

When I was sprier (and when I could eat all that chocolate!) I used to do culinary tours. One of the most fun things to do was to take people into places and explain some of the lesser-known items that, incongruently, France is famous for. I know. I had to think about that for a minute, too.

I’d point out things like fleur de sel, salted butter from Brittany (doing my best to reverse decades of people insisting that gourmands only ate unsalted butter), the esteemed (and ridiculously delicious) Madame Loïk, Amora mustard, Kiri, and caillé. I even shared some of the goofier things here on the blog, which has been up for a decade but still has only 1 share on Pinterest and 17 on Facebook. So perhaps I overestimated people’s interest in pop’n fresh-style croissant dough sold in cardboard tubes, and rosé wine pre-mixed with grapefruit flavoring.

Still, he persisted. Take crème de marrons, for example. It’s hard to get people outside of France to pay attention to it. Heck, even the Wikipedia page for it, in French, when you head over to the English version, takes you to a page about candied chestnuts, not chestnut cream. It easy to dismiss the dubiously brown paste that comes in a tin, that’s admittedly a lot prettier than what’s in it. But if you’re not familiar with it, I urge you to consider it.

Continue Reading Creme de Marrons (Chestnut Puree)...