Scrambled Eggs with Rice

Scrambled Eggs with Rice is a simple and delicious budget-friendly meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

The post Scrambled Eggs with Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Rice is a quintessential budget-friendly ingredient, and my slogan has always been “put an egg on it!” So when I saw this recipe for Scrambled Eggs with Rice from the new cookbook The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table by JJ Johnson and Danica Novgorodoff, I knew I had to make it. Not to mention, this recipe features the ingredient I currently can’t get enough of, gochujang! If you love fried rice, you’re going to love this recipe for scrambled eggs with rice. It’s just as easy, hearty, and delicious, plus it’s totally customizable. I’m definitely going to add this one to my budget-recipe rotation!

Overhead view of a plate full of scrambled eggs with rice, garnished with green onion.

Chef JJ mentions in his book that the recipe is inspired by breakfast dishes found in both Japanese and Korean cultures. This incredibly simple yet satisfying dish is similar to fried rice, but the ratio between the rice and egg are a bit more even and the rice is stirred into the egg before it’s fully cooked, which gives the dish a slightly creamy texture. Best of all, it’s super fast and easy, so you really can make it on a typical morning (provided you have some cooked rice stashed in the refrigerator). It’s the perfect recipe for using up the leftovers in your fridge!

Ingredients for Scrambled Eggs with Rice

Are you ready to see how easy this is? You’ll only need these simple ingredients to make scrambled eggs with rice:

  • Eggs: Eggs provide fat and protein to this dish, making it extra filling and satisfying. We used large eggs for this recipe. If you have smaller eggs, make sure to add a few more, or if you have extra large eggs, you can probably go with four.
  • Oil: Use your favorite cooking oil to lightly scramble the eggs.
  • Gochujang: This savory, sweet, and spicy Korean chile paste is having a moment in the U.S. right now, so you can probably find some at your local grocery store, although you’ll have a better selection at better prices if you shop at an Asian grocery store. If you can’t find gochujang, you can substitute chile oil or sriracha. The flavor will be different, but still delicious.
  • Rice: The original recipe, in The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table, uses short-grain rice, which I’m sure would be even more spectacular, but we only had long grain on hand and it still made an amazing meal. You can use pretty much any type of rice for this flexible recipe. Whatever rice you’re using, make sure it’s pre-cooked and slightly warm.
  • Soy Sauce: A little soy sauce adds umami and depth to the flavor and enough salt for all of the flavors to pop.
  • Sesame Oil: toasted sesame oil adds a wonderfully nutty flavor to the dish, making it extra comforting and cozy.
  • Green Onions: Garnishing with sliced green onions adds a nice fresh pop of flavor to contrast the cozy meal.

What Else Can I Add?

Simple recipes like this are awesome because there is so much room for customization. Here are a few ideas for other add-ins that will take your scrambled eggs with rice to the next level:

  • Meat: Try sautéing some sliced ham, spam, shrimp, or smoked sausage in the skillet before cooking the eggs (remove from the skillet and stir back in at the end).
  • Vegetables: Just like with fried rice, you can add just about any vegetable to this dish. Onions, spinach, mushrooms, diced bell peppers, or even grape tomatoes would be awesome.
  • Toppings: I could go wild with fun toppings for this egg and rice dish. Cheddar cheese would be great, or how about some sliced avocado, kimchi, or furikake?

How to Store Leftovers

Thankfully, this recipe only takes minutes to whip up because it’s definitely best when freshly prepared. If you can’t eat it all in one sitting, store the rest in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 2-3 days. Reheat using the microwave, sprinkling just a bit of water over top first (to help rehydrate the rice).

Overhead view of scrambled eggs with rice in the skillet.
Overhead view of a plate full of scrambled eggs with rice, fork on the side.
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Scrambled Eggs with Rice

Scrambled Eggs with Rice is a simple and delicious budget-friendly meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine Japanese, Korean
Total Cost $2.28 recipe / $0.57 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 420kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs $0.63
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
  • 2 tsp gochujang (or to taste) $0.16
  • 4 cups cooked rice, warm $0.43
  • 3 Tbsp soy sauce $0.18
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil $0.30
  • 4 green onions, sliced $0.50

Instructions

  • Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat well with a fork.
  • Warm the vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the eggs and scramble them lightly, leaving them slightly runny. Toward the end of cooking, add the gochujang and stir until well incorporated.
  • Stir in the warmed rice, using a wooden spoon to break up any clumps. Cook for several minutes, until the rice is heated through, then stir in the soy sauce and sesame oil.
  • Serve hot, in individual bowls, topped with the sliced green onions.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 18g | Sodium: 865mg | Fiber: 1g
Side view of a plate full of scrambled eggs with rice and a fork in the side.

How to Make Scrambled Eggs with Rice – Step by Step Photos

Eggs in a bowl being whisked with a fork.

Crack six large eggs into a bowl and whisk with a fork.

Half-scrambled eggs in a skillet with gochujang added.

Add 2 Tbsp cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-low. Once hot, add the eggs and lightly scramble. When they’re mostly set, add 2 tsp gochujang and stir to combine.

Rice being stirred into the eggs in the skillet.

Add four cups of warm pre-cooked rice and stir to combine.

Rice and eggs being seasoned with soy sauce.

Season the eggs and rice with 3 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil. Fold to incorporate. Give the mixture a taste and add more gochujang if desired (I like it spicy, so I added more).

Finished scrambled eggs with rice garnished with sliced green onion.

Garnish with sliced green onions and serve!

Overhead view of a plate full of scrambled eggs with rice, a fork in the side.

The post Scrambled Eggs with Rice appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Honey Glazed Salmon

Impress everyone with this honey glazed salmon recipe! The easy flavorful sauce features honey, soy, miso and garlic. Here’s a…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

Impress everyone with this honey glazed salmon recipe! The easy flavorful sauce features honey, soy, miso and garlic.

Honey glazed salmon

Here’s a dinner idea that gives you maximum return on investment: this Honey Glazed Salmon recipe! In under 30 minutes, you’ve got tender, flaky salmon fillets that are bursting with flavor from a sticky glaze of honey, soy sauce, miso and garlic. That’s what we mean by return on investment: there’s little time needed to make this incredible dish that will have everyone licking their plates clean!

Ingredients in honey glazed salmon

This honey glaze for salmon can be made in just 5 minutes, making it the ideal quick sauce for weeknight meals. Mix up the 6-ingredient sauce in a bowl, then brush half of it onto the salmon. Broil it up, then pour the remaining glaze on before serving. It makes the best sticky sauce that coats everything in savory sweet flavor. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:

  • Salmon fillets, wild caught if possible
  • Olive oil
  • Yellow or white miso
  • Honey
  • Soy sauce
  • Rice wine
  • Garlic powder
  • Ground ginger
  • Olive oil, for brushing

Types of miso

Miso is a Japanese fermented soybean paste that’s full of nutrients and savory flavor. It’s known for its intense savory flavor, otherwise known as umami: the fifth flavor. You can find miso in the international foods aisle near the Japanese ingredients. There are many different types of miso, and they all taste different. We recommend using white or yellow miso for this miso butter recipe: sometimes they’re labeled as “light miso”.

  • White miso (Shiro miso): This variety has a mild, more delicate flavor and less salt than darker miso.
  • Yellow miso: This type is fermented a little longer than white miso and has a mild, lightly sweet flavor.
  • Red or dark miso: This variety is fermented longer than white or yellow miso. It has a very strong flavor and can overwhelm the flavors in a dish, so we don’t recommend using it here.
Honey Glazed Salmon

Tips for buying salmon

The most important thing when it comes to making this honey glaze salmon recipe is the quality of the fish. Lower quality salmon can taste very fishy and have a mushy texture. It can also have a lot of white stuff (called albumin) when it’s cooked: while it’s not harmful, it doesn’t look appetizing! Here’s what to know when shopping for salmon:

  • 1 to 1 1/2-inch thick fillets are good for this recipe and look impressive; you might find it labeled center cut at the store.
  • Look for wild caught salmon. Fish that is wild caught in your country is usually a sustainable choice. (There are also quality options in well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch Consumer Guide.)
  • Buy fresh salmon. Salmon that’s fresh from the fish counter usually has the best flavor. Frozen can work too, but try to find highest-quality frozen salmon. Avoid those big economy-sized bags, which we’ve found it typically thinner and can taste fishy.

How to cook honey glazed salmon

This honey glazed salmon recipe is broiled salmon, an efficient method that skips the oven preheating time and cooks the fish in just 10 minutes! You can also make this recipe oven baked or grilled (see below), but our favorite way is broiled because it’s so quick and it gets nicely crisp and browned on top. Oven baking can work, but the salmon comes out more moist and soft. Here are a few tips for this recipe:

  • Allow the salmon to come to room temperature before cooking (brine it if possible!). This can take 15 to 20 minutes, but it’s important. If the salmon is too cold when heat is applied, the outside can cook much faster than the inside. We recommend brining the salmon, which is letting it sit in salt water while it comes to room temperature. This helps to season the fish and also avoids the white stuff (albumin) when the fish is cooked.
  • Remember the thickness determines the cook time. 1-inch salmon takes 8 to 11 minutes to broil. Very thin salmon can broil in just 5 minutes, so adjust the cook time accordingly.
  • Keep an eye on the broiler! Salmon can go from pink to brown very quickly in the broiler: so don’t stray too far away, especially at the end of the cook time.
  • The salmon is done with the internal temperature is 125 to 130°F when measured in the thickest part. The fish will continue to cook after you remove it from the heat. To ensure full safety, the FDA recommended temperature for seafood is 145°F, or well done.
Honey Glazed Salmon

Other methods: baked and grilled

This honey glazed salmon recipe also works baked or grilled! Here’s how to do it:

  • Baked: Follow the instructions in Easy Oven Baked Salmon, but follow the seasoning instructions in the recipe below. Brush on half the glaze before baking, then pour on the remaining half once it’s done.
  • Grilled: Follow the instructions in Grilled Salmon, but follow the seasoning instructions in the recipe below. Brush on half the glaze before grilling and brush on half afterwards.

More salmon recipes

This honey glazed salmon recipe is one of our favorite salmon recipes to date! Here are a few more to try with this tasty fish:

This honey glazed salmon recipe is…

Pescatarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Honey glazed salmon

Honey Glazed Salmon


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4

Description

Impress everyone with this honey glazed salmon recipe! The easy flavorful sauce features honey, soy, miso and garlic.


Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets, room temperature
  • Olive oil, for brushing
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for brining
  • 2 tablespoons yellow or white miso
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari)
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
  • Chopped parsley, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Brine the salmon* (optional): In a shallow dish whisk together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons kosher salt until it dissolves. Place the salmon in the water and wait for 15 minutes.
  2. Preheat the broiler to high.
  3. Make the glaze: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the miso, honey, soy sauce, rice wine, garlic powder, and ground ginger.
  4. Prepare the salmon: Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it with olive oil. Pat each piece of salmon dry and place it on the foil skin side down. Brush the salmon with a bit of the olive oil and sprinkle with the ½ teaspoon kosher salt evenly divided among the fillets. Reserve about half of the glaze and brush the remainder on the salmon.
  5. Broil the salmon: Broil 7 to 10 minutes for 1-inch thick salmon (or less for thinner fish), until it’s just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). Pour the reserved glaze onto the salmon and garnish withe parsley, if using. Serve immediately. Leftovers last refrigerated for up to 3 days. 
  • Category: Main dish
  • Method: Broiled
  • Cuisine: Seafood
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Keywords: Honey glazed salmon

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Why You Should Season Your Soy Sauce

As a condiment, soy sauce should not be consumed straight from the bottle. This isn’t because drinking condiments is strange (there are barbecue sauces worth downing by the pint), but because soy sauce—by itself—carries an aggressive umami flavor that …

As a condiment, soy sauce should not be consumed straight from the bottle. This isn’t because drinking condiments is strange (there are barbecue sauces worth downing by the pint), but because soy sauce—by itself—carries an aggressive umami flavor that is completely out of balance. The good news? According to Food52 Resident Lucas Sin, we can rectify this imbalance (and generally improve the condiment’s potential) by seasoning soy sauce at home. Here’s how.

The Process

The strong salty notes of soy sauce obviously have immense value during cooking (there’s a reason the global soy sauce market is valued at $48 billion), but, according to Lucas, the overwhelming umami flavor doesn't make for the best condiment when poured straight from the bottle. “When we’re finishing dishes—let’s say you’re pouring something over a piece of steamed fish—you [shouldn’t] use it directly. You make seasoned soy sauce,” he said in an episode of In The Kitchen With Lucas Sin. To season, Lucas infuses soy sauce with aromatics, dilutes it with water, then balances its flavor with sugar and umami (like MSG). When complete, the condiment transforms into the perfect topping for any rice, fish, or eggs.

Read More >>

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Chicken Lettuce Wraps are full of freshness and bold flavor, easy to prepare, and satisfying in every bite!

The post Chicken Lettuce Wraps appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Of all the small plate recipes, one of the easiest to prepare and one of my personal favorites is Chicken Lettuce Wraps. The crisp lettuce leaves hold a saucy ground chicken and vegetable mixture and every bite is full of freshness and bold flavor! If you love to make Asian-inspired recipes as much as I do, then you might already have a lot of these ingredients at home, which makes this recipe simple, easy to prepare, and satisfying in every bite!

Overhead shot of chicken lettuce wraps with a small bowl of chopped peanuts and a small bowl of peanut lime dressing served on the side.

Ingredients Needed For Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This recipe includes 3 simple elements: a sauce, the chicken and vegetable filling and a dressing drizzled on top. The dressing is optional, but highly recommended :)

  • Ground Chicken – ground chicken is a very lean meat with not a lot of fat, but it comes to life with this delicious sauce poured on top. You can easily sub the chicken for ground turkey or ground pork if you prefer.
  • Vegetables – I kept things simple with some chopped water chestnuts and a diced red bell pepper. You can find the water chestnuts usually in the International food aisle.
  • The Sauce – the sauce is the star of the show in these lettuce wraps! It’s made with a simple mixture of asian sauces, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a little bit of fresh ginger and garlic.
  • Peanut Lime Dressing – when you order chicken lettuce wraps in a restaurant it’s often served with a dipping sauce, but we decided to pair ours with a half portion of our fav creamy Peanut Lime Dressing! You only need a little bit drizzled on each lettuce wrap and it adds great depth of flavor to these tasty wraps.

What Lettuce Is Best For Lettuce Wraps?

You can use a variety of different types of lettuce for chicken lettuce wraps including bibb lettuce, butter lettuce, green leaf lettuce or even romaine lettuce. We opted for these cute iceberg lettuce boats that we caught on sale, and the chicken filling fits perfectly inside each one. Bibb lettuce will wrap nicely around the filling and looks beautiful plated, but it can also be on the pricier side.

Ingredient Substitutions

I love recipes that you can easily customize with ingredients you already have in your fridge or pantry. Here are few suggestions:

  • Ground turkey – ground turkey also works well in these lettuce wraps. It’s leaner than beef and tastes great with the sauce! Just make sure you buy 93% lean ground turkey and not ground turkey breast which has almost zero fat in it. You definitely don’t want to make that mistake.
  • Vegetables – you can easily add or swap out the vegetables with some of your own favorites like diced onions, green bell peppers, or chopped baby bella mushrooms. Just make sure to dice them up into smaller bite size pieces so they fit nicely in the lettuce wraps.
  • Dressing & Toppings – we paired these lettuce wraps with our creamy peanut lime dressing, which worked beautifully, a few green onions and peanuts for extra texture; but feel free to skip the dressing and top with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or a little sriracha if you wanna add some spice!
Very close up shot of chicken lettuce wraps being drizzled with peanut lime dressing.

What to Serve With Chicken Lettuce Wraps

You can have chicken lettuce wraps as an appetizer or your main dish, but they also taste great paired with some coconut rice, a quick & easy vegetable lo mein, sesame cucumber salad, crispy rice noodles, or this simple cold peanut noodle salad. The noodle salad uses the same sweet & tangy peanut lime dressing so you can easily just make a full batch of the dressing and drizzle it on both!

How To Store Leftovers

If you’re lucky enough to have any leftovers, be sure to store the chicken filling and the lettuce separately. You can store the chicken filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Then store any extra lettuce in a food storage bag in the fridge for up to 4 days as well.

Side angle shot of chicken lettuce wraps
Overhead shot of chicken lettuce wraps with bowls of chopped peanuts, chopped green onions and peanut lime dressing on the side.
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Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Chicken Lettuce Wraps are full of freshness and bold flavor, easy to prepare, and satisfying in every bite!
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Asian
Total Cost $12.94 recipe / $3.23 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 3 lettuce wraps each
Calories 496kcal

Ingredients

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce $0.42
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce $0.14
  • 1 Tbsp rice vinegar $0.10
  • 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil $0.30
  • 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger $0.60
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced $0.16
  • 1 lb ground chicken $4.49
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04
  • 1 red bell pepper $1.25
  • 8 oz canned water chestnuts, drained $1.69
  • 2 green onions $0.22
  • 1/4 cup peanuts $0.12
  • 12 lettuce leaves $2.20

Peanut Lime Dressing

  • 1.5 Tbsp natural style peanut butter $0.11
  • 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar $0.02
  • 1 clove garlic, minced $0.08
  • 1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger $0.05
  • 1 lime $0.50
  • 1 tsp soy sauce $0.04
  • 2 Tbsp neutral oil $0.41

Instructions

  • First, make the sauce for the chicken lettuce wraps. In a small bowl combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, fresh grated ginger and minced garlic. Set the sauce aside.
  • Next chop the red bell pepper and water chestnuts into similar size pieces. Then slice the green onions and give the peanuts a rough chop. Set veggies and nuts aside.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the cooking oil. Once oil is heated, add the ground chicken, crumble and cook until browned.
  • Add the red bell pepper and water chestnuts to the skillet. Saute for two minutes.
  • Pour the prepared sauce mixture into the skillet and mix well. Cook for two more minutes to allow the sauce to soak into the chicken and vegetables.
  • Remove from heat and top with green onions and chopped peanuts. Serve 1/3 cup of the chicken and vegetable mixture inside each lettuce wrap and drizzle a little of the peanut lime dressing on top. Enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 3lettuce wraps | Calories: 496kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 32g | Sodium: 966mg | Fiber: 6g

How To Make Chicken Lettuce Wraps – Step By Step Photos

Overhead shot of a bowl of asian sauce mixture.

Start by making the sauce for the chicken. In a small bowl mix 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 2 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 Tbsp rice vinegar, 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger, and 2 garlic cloves minced. Stir well and set aside.

Chopped bell pepper, water chestnuts, green onions and peanuts on a wood cutting board.

Dice one red bell pepper. Drain and dice one 8oz. can of water chestnuts. Slice 2 green onions and give the peanuts a rough chop. Set these ingredients to the side.

Cooked ground chicken in a large stainless steel skillet.

Add 1 Tbsp cooking oil to a large skillet and heat over medium. Once oil is hot, add 1 lb ground chicken, crumble, and cook until browned.

Cooked ground chicken with red bell pepper and water chestnuts.

Mix in diced bell pepper and water chestnuts into the skillet and saute for 2 minutes.

Asian sauce mixture being poured over cooked chicken and vegetables.

Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and mix well. Continue to cook and stir for 2 minutes.

Finished chicken and vegetables with green onions and chopped peanuts sprinkled on top.

Remove from heat and add 2 sliced green onions and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts. Feel free to reserve some of the green onions and peanuts to add on top of the individual lettuce wraps.

Overhead close up shot of peanut lime dressing.

Next, make the peanut dressing. In a small bowl combine 1.5 Tbsp natural style peanut butter, 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/4 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1 lime, 1 tsp soy sauce, 2 Tbsp neutral oil. Mix well.

Chicken and vegetable filling being added to chicken lettuce wraps.

Serve chicken filling inside lettuce with a drizzle of the peanut lime dressing and enjoy!

close up shot of chicken lettuce wraps with peanut lime dressing being drizzled on top.

More Asian Inspired Recipes

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Ramen Noodle Salad

This light and fresh ramen noodle salad features crisp cabbage, shredded chicken, crunchy ramen noodles and a simple homemade vinaigrette.

The post Ramen Noodle Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

This Ramen Noodle Salad is something we ate often when I was growing up and I still love it just as much today. Why? Because it’s light, fresh, filling, uses simple and inexpensive ingredients, and holds up well in the fridge so you can eat the leftovers for days (less cooking, more eating!). Keep this recipe bookmarked because it’s going to get you through those long hot days of Summer!

Close up overhead image of ramen noodle salad on an oval platter.

What is Ramen Noodle Salad?

This Ramen noodle salad is simply a mix of finely shredded cabbage, chicken, carrots, green onion, almonds, and …drum roll… uncooked instant ramen noodles for a little extra CRUNCH! The salad also features a simple light dressing that has Asian inspired flavors, like ginger, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. A lot of people call this salad Chinese Chicken Salad, but it’s not an authentic Chinese recipe, so we’re rebranding it with a more accurate name, Ramen Noodle Salad.

What Kind of Cabbage to Use

This salad is usually made with Napa cabbage, which has a slightly lighter and more delicate texture than regular green cabbage, but it’s totally flexible. Napa cabbage was a little on the expensive side when I was at the store this week so I swapped it out for some green cabbage and added a little purple cabbage for color. You can use all green cabbage if you want, or if you want to take an even bigger short cut just use two bags of pre-shredded coleslaw mix (cabbage and carrots) instead of shredding your own. …But freshly shredded always tastes better. ;)

What Else Can I Add?

I love salads because you can add so many different things to them and this Ramen Noodle Salad is no exception! Here are some other fun ingredients you can add to the ramen noodle salad, if you have them on hand:

  • Mandarin oranges
  • Sesame seeds
  • Cashews
  • Avocado
  • Cucumber
  • Edamame
  • Peanuts
  • Shredded broccoli stems

HOW TO STORE THE LEFTOVERS

If you plan to meal prep this ramen noodle salad (highly recommend), you have a couple of options. If you want the ramen noodles to stay super crunchy, don’t stir them into the salad before storing. Simply sprinkle them over each serving just before eating. I kind of like the way the ramen soaks up the flavor of the dressing over time, but you do you! The almonds will also soften slightly as the salad is refrigerated. The salad will last about 3-4 days in the fridge.

Overhead view of three bowls of ramen noodle salad.
Overhead view of ramen noodle salad on an oval serving platter.
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Ramen Noodle Salad

This light and fresh ramen noodle salad features crisp cabbage, shredded chicken, crunchy ramen noodles and a simple homemade vinaigrette.
Course Lunch, Salad
Cuisine American
Total Cost $8.33 recipe / $1.39 serving
Prep Time 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 6 1.5 cups each
Calories 292kcal

Ingredients

Vinaigrette

  • 1/4 cup neutral salad oil* $0.16
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar $0.60
  • 2 Tbsp honey $0.50
  • 2 tsp soy sauce $0.04
  • 1 tsp ground ginger $0.10
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.02
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil $0.10

Salad

  • 6 cups shredded cabbage $1.10
  • 1 carrot $0.14
  • 4 green onions $0.45
  • 1 3oz. package instant ramen $0.39
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds $0.73
  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken $4.00

Instructions

  • Make the dressing first. Whisk together the salad oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, and toasted sesame oil. Set the dressing aside.
  • Shred the cabbage as finely as possible. Shred the carrot and slice the green onions. Crush the instant ramen noodles (discard the seasoning packet or save it for another use).
  • Place the cabbage, carrot, green onion, almonds, crushed ramen noodles, and shredded chicken in a large bowl. Pour the prepared dressing over top. Toss the salad until everything is evenly combined and coated in dressing. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*Use any light flavored or neutral oil like canola, peanut, sesame (not toasted), light olive oil, or avocado oil. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 16g | Sodium: 581mg | Fiber: 3g
Close up side view of ramen noodle salad in a serving platter.

How to Make Ramen Noodle Salad – Step by Step Photos

Dressing being whisked in a bowl.

Make the dressing first. Whisk together ¼ cup neutral salad oil, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp honey, 2 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp ground ginger, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp toasted sesame oil. Set the dressing aside.

Shredded green and purple cabbage on a cutting board.

Shred about six cups of cabbage for the salad. You can use green cabbage, purple cabbage, Napa cabbage, or any mix of the above. Shred the cabbage as finely as possible.

Shredded carrot and sliced green onion on a cutting board.

Shred one carrot and slice four green onions.

Shredded rotisserie chicken in a bowl.

Shred about two cups of cooked chicken breast. We used a rotisserie chicken, but you could cook your own chicken breast or even use canned chicken breast.

Salad ingredients in the bowl with dressing being poured over top.

Place the shredded cabbage, carrot, green onion, and chicken in a bowl. Crush one 3 oz. package of instant ramen noodles (discard seasoning packet or save for another use). Add the crushed ramen noodles and ¼ cup sliced almonds to the bowl. Pour the prepared dressing over top.

Salad being tossed with wooden utensils.

Toss the salad well until everything is evenly mixed and coated in dressing.

Finished Ramen Noodle Salad in a bowl with wooden spoons.

Serve the ramen noodle salad immediately or refrigerate up to four days. Always give the salad a good stir just before serving to redistribute the dressing.

Overhead view of three bowls of ramen noodle salad.

Enjoy that crunchy fresh goodness!!

The post Ramen Noodle Salad appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Lettuce Wraps

Lettuce Wraps always remind me of the restaurant P.F. Changs. Anyone else? Their lettuce wraps are nostalgic for me. I ordered them MANY times during my college years. I haven’t been to that restaurant in years because lettuce wraps are SO easy t…

Lettuce Wraps always remind me of the restaurant P.F. Changs. Anyone else? Their lettuce wraps are nostalgic for me. I ordered them MANY times during my college years. I haven’t been to that restaurant in years because lettuce wraps are SO easy to make at home and they taste just as good, maybe even better!…

Peanut Noodles with Chicken

These Peanut Noodles with Chicken are an easy meal with a rich, creamy, sweet, and savory flavor that is completely addictive.

The post Peanut Noodles with Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Are you looking for a quick, creamy, lusciously rich, and easy dinner? I got you. These Peanut Noodles with Chicken are straight-up addictive with their sweet-savory-spicy-rich sauce and tender chunks of chicken breast. Plus, the whole recipe comes together in a cinch, so this is a great last-minute meal for those days when you just need something easy and GOOD. I think you’re going to love this one!

Overhead view of peanut noodles with chicken in a skillet with tongs.

What Are Peanut Noodles

This dish features noodles (any kind) and small bites of tender chicken breast drenched in a creamy sauce that’s inspired by Thai peanut sauce. The sauce is a rich mix of creamy coconut milk, savory peanut butter, spicy sriracha sauce, fresh garlic and ginger, a little soy sauce and brown sugar, and a splash of lime juice to keep everything bright. This easy sauce is absolutely divine and you’re going to want to spoon it over everything!

Can I Sub the Chicken?

Absolutely! If you’re not a chicken fan you can easily substitute it with shrimp, cubed tofu, or even just leave it out and enjoy the noodles plain. It’s all about that sauce, anyway. ;)

What to Serve with Peanut Noodles

I would consider these peanut noodles a meal in and of themselves, but if you’re a side dish kind of person I would suggest pairing these rich noodles with something super light. Try Sesame Cucumber Salad, Sesame Slaw, or Roasted Broccoli Salad with Almonds.

How Are the Leftovers?

This dish is definitely the best when eaten right away because the creamy, luscious sauce tends to get soaked up by the noodles when it’s stored in the refrigerator. That being said, I probably wouldn’t turn down a plate of these noodles after reheating, but I also wouldn’t expect them to be as saucy and creamy. So if you’re big on texture making a half batch might be a better option than counting on eating the leftovers.

Peanut noodles on a plate with a fork twirled in the noodles.
Close up overhead view of peanut noodles in the skillet with tongs.
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Peanut Noodles with Chicken

These Peanut Noodles with Chicken are an easy meal with a rich, creamy, sweet, and savory flavor that is completely addictive.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American, Thai
Total Cost $9.20 recipe / $2.30 serving
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 727kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup smooth natural-style peanut butter $0.40
  • 2 Tbsp sriracha $0.23
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar $0.08
  • 1 fresh lime (2 Tbsp juice) $0.59
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce $0.06
  • 1 clove garlic, minced $0.08
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger $0.10
  • 1 13.5oz. can coconut milk $2.99
  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about ⅔ lb.) $3.33
  • 1 Tbsp cooking oil $0.04
  • 8 oz. noodles* $0.89
  • 1/4 cup chopped peanuts $0.19
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro $0.22

Instructions

  • Prepare the peanut sauce first. In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, sriracha, brown sugar, soy sauce, 2 Tbsp lime juice, soy sauce, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
  • Add the coconut milk to the peanut sauce and whisk until smooth again.
  • Cut the chicken breast into small ½ to 1-inch sized pieces.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Once hot, add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides. Be careful not to overcook the chicken.
  • Add the prepared peanut sauce into the skillet, turn the heat down to medium-low, and stir to dissolve any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce over low, stirring occasionally, while you cook the noodles.
  • Cook your noodles according to the package directions, then drain in a colander.
  • Add the cooked and drained noodles to the skillet with the peanut sauce and chicken. Toss until everything is evenly mixed and coated in sauce.
  • Top the noodles with chopped peanuts and cilantro, then enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*We used fettuccine for this dish but you can use any type of long noodle like spaghetti, rice noodles, or ramen noodles. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 727kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 43g | Sodium: 632mg | Fiber: 4g
Close up overhead view of peanut noodles in the skillet with tongs.

How to Make Peanut Noodles with Chicken – Step by Step Photos

Peanut sauce ingredients in the bowl, not mixed together.

Make the peanut sauce first so the ingredients have a few minutes to mingle and the sauce is ready to go when you need it later. Add ⅓ cup smooth natural-style peanut butter, 2 Tbsp sriracha, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1 clove of garlic (minced), 1 tsp grated fresh ginger, and 2 Tbsp lime juice to a bowl.

Coconut milk being poured into the peanut sauce.

Whisk the ingredients together until smooth, then add in one 13.5 oz. can of coconut milk. Whisk until smooth again and then set the sauce aside.

Chicken cut into chunks on an orange cutting board.

Cut one large boneless, skinless chicken breast (about ⅔ lb.) into small ½ to 1-inch chunks.

Cooked chunks of chicken in a skillet.

Heat 1 Tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet. Once hot, add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides. It’s okay if the chicken isn’t cooked through at this point. Avoid overcooking the chicken or it will become tough.

Peanut sauce being poured into the skillet with the chicken.

Pour the prepared peanut sauce into the skillet with the chicken. Turn the heat down to low and stir to dissolve any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce over low, stirring occasionally, as you cook the noodles.

Cooked linguine added to the skillet.

Cook 8 oz. noodles according to their package direction, then drain in a colander. You can use linguine, spaghetti, rice noodles, ramen noodles, or any kind of long noodle.

Finished peanut noodles in the skillet without toppings.

Add the cooked and drained noodles to the skillet and stir to combine.

Peanut noodles in the skillet topped with chopped peanuts and cilantro.

Top the peanut noodles with ¼ cup chopped peanuts and ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro.

Overhead view of a plate full of peanut noodles with a fork on the side.

Enjoy the peanut noodles hot. If you have any leftover lime, cut it into wedges and squeeze a bit over top just before eating.

Overhead view of peanut noodles in the skillet with open tongs.

SO GOOD.

The post Peanut Noodles with Chicken appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Use your slow cooker to make this incredible Beef Stew full of aromatic rosemary and garlic, fork-tender beef, and colorful vegetables.

The post Slow Cooker Beef Stew appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Whoa. Just, WHOA. I’ve never smelled anything as lovely and drool-inducing as the scent in my house while I cooked this Slow Cooker Beef Stew. The aroma had me checking the clock every 15 minutes to see if it was done yet. I couldn’t wait to lift the lid and take a quick taste. And when I finally did? INCREDIBLE. This is definitely a recipe you want to make before winter is over!

Overhead view of a beef stew in the slow cooker.

Ingredients for Beef Stew

Beef stew, in its most basic form, is really simple. It’s just chunky pieces of beef, vegetables, broth, and some herbs and spices, all cooked down until it forms a delicious cozy gravy. But I took this beef stew up a few notches with some extra special ingredients that add more umami and flavor to the stew gravy. The ingredient list may look long, but I promise it’s worth it. Here’s what you’ll need for the most incredible beef stew ever:

  • Beef Stew Meat – Stew meat, which is usually cubed chuck steak, tends to be a tougher cut, but it softens to an extremely tender texture when cooked low and slow (like in a slow cooker).
  • All-Purpose Flour – Lightly coating the stew meat in flour and then searing it before it goes into the slow cooker increases the Maillard reaction and deepens the flavor. The flour also helps thicken the stew’s gravy.
  • Vegetables – We use a hearty and flavorful mix of carrots, onions, celery, and potatoes to create a naturally flavorful gravy. The vegetables also help thicken the gravy as they break down into the broth.
  • Beef Broth – Broth acts as the base for the gravy and provides a nice moist environment for the meat to cook to tender perfection. Make sure to use a broth with great flavor. We like to use Better Than Bouillon to make our broth.
  • Seasonings – This is where we really take the flavor to the next level. For this recipe, we combined garlic, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, rosemary, and thyme to make an over-the-top good gravy that is full of layered flavor and umami goodness.

Tips for the Best Beef Stew

  • Sear the meat first. Browning the beef gives it an extra deep flavor that can’t be achieved in the moist environment of the slow cooker alone.
  • Add extra umami. Adding ingredients to the broth that contain a lot of umami, like Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce, ramps up the flavor in the stew and makes the flavor extra “meaty”.
  • Don’t rush it. Stew meat needs to cook low and slow for a long time in order for the tough connective tissues to break down and become tender. If your stew meat is tough, reduce the heat and cook it a little longer.
  • Don’t skip the veggies. Including a variety of vegetables in your stew not only adds texture and color, but the vegetables add a ton of extra flavor to the gravy, so you’ll get a delicious, multi-dimensional flavor in the final stew.
Overhead view of a bowl of beef stew with a spoon.

How to Thicken Beef Stew

There are multiple ways to thicken a beef stew, but I prefer to allow the stew to thicken naturally as the vegetables cook and begin to break down into the broth. The stew may look a little watery when you first lift the lid, but once you begin to stir the vegetables (especially the potato) will begin to thicken the liquid in the slow cooker.

Alternately, if you prefer a firmer vegetable, you can add them in the last hour of cooking and then use a cornstarch slurry (3 Tbsp cornstarch + 3 Tbsp water) to thicken your stew. Once the cornstarch is mixed into the broth and brought to a boil, it will thicken into a gravy. This method will result in a less flavorful gravy and a glossy appearance.

What Else Can I add?

This slow cooker beef stew is pretty lush as is, but there are always options if you want to add more! Try adding 8 oz. mushrooms with the vegetables in the beginning (sliced in half) for more vegetable goodness. If you have some red wine on hand, deglaze the skillet used to brown the beef with the wine before proceeding with the gravy. Want it to look extra fancy? Sub 8 oz. pearl onions in place of the chopped onion in the recipe below.

What Do you Serve with Beef Stew?

Beef stew is a pretty well-rounded meal on its own, but you’ll want to sop up every drop of that deliciously thick brown gravy. I suggest serving your Slow Cooker Beef Stew with some bread on the side, like my Focaccia Rolls, or over a bowl warm rice or egg noodles.

Side view of beef stew in the slow cooker.
Close up overhead view of beef stew in a bowl.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Use your slow cooker to make this incredible Beef Stew full of aromatic rosemary and garlic, fork-tender beef, and colorful vegetables.
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Total Cost $16.20 recipe / $2.03 serving
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 1.25 cups each
Calories 269kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. red potatoes $2.40
  • 1 yellow onion $0.37
  • 3 carrots $0.44
  • 4 stalks celery $0.44
  • 4 cloves garlic $0.32
  • 1.5 lbs. beef stew meat $11.24
  • 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour $0.03
  • 1/4 tsp salt $0.02
  • 1/4 tsp Freshly cracked black pepper $0.02
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil $0.08
  • 2 cups beef broth $0.27
  • 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard $0.13
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce $0.06
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce $0.06
  • 1.5 tsp brown sugar $0.02
  • 1.5 tsp dried rosemary $0.15
  • 1.5 tsp dried thyme $0.15

Instructions

  • Dice the onion and red potatoes. Slice the carrots and celery. Mince the garlic. Place the prepared vegetables in a four or five quart slow cooker.
  • Place the stew meat in a bowl and sprinkle the flour, salt, and pepper over top. Toss the meat until it's evenly coated in flour.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Once very hot, add the cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet. Add the stew meat and cook, without stirring, until browned on the bottom. Stir and then allow the beef to brown on a second side. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker.
  • Turn the heat under the skillet down to medium-low. Add the broth, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, rosemary, and thyme to the skillet. Stir and cook over medium-low until all the browned bits have dissolved off the bottom of the skillet.
  • Pour the broth over the ingredients in the slow cooker and everything a good stir.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours.
  • After cooking the meat and vegetables should both be tender. Stir the stew well to allow the potatoes to slightly break down and thicken the gravy. Taste the stew and adjust the salt or other seasonings to your liking. Serve hot!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cups | Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 8g | Sodium: 591mg | Fiber: 3g

Love Beef Stew? You’ve got to try my Chicken Stew next! 

How to Make Slow Cooker Beef Stew – Step by Step Photos

Vegetables for beef stew on a cutting board.

Prepare the vegetables for the stew first. You’ll need to dice 2 lbs. red potatoes and one yellow onion, slice 4 stalks of celery and 3 carrots, and mince 4 cloves of garlic.

Vegetables in a slow cooker.

Place all of your chopped vegetables in a 4 or 5 quart slow cooker. 

Stew meat in a bowl coated with flour, salt, and pepper.

Place 1.5 lbs. stew meat (beef chuck) in a bowl. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp pepper over the meat. Toss the beef until it’s evenly coated in flour, salt, and pepper.

Browned beef in a skillet.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. When it’s very hot, add 2 Tbsp cooking oil and swirl to coat the surface of the skillet. Add the stew meat and let it cook until browned on the bottom, then stir and allow it to brown on the second side again. Do not stir often, or the beef will not have a chance to brown. Transfer the beef to the slow cooker.

Ingredients for the gravy added to the skillet.

Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium-low and add 2 cups beef broth, 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 tsp brown sugar, 1.5 tsp dried rosemary, and 1.5 tsp thyme. Heat and stir the ingredients until all of the browned bits are dissolved off the bottom of the skillet.

Broth being poured over the ingredients in the slow cooker.

Pour the broth over the ingredients in the slow cooker. It’s okay if the broth does not fully cover the ingredients in the slow cooker at this point.

Slow cooker being covered with a lid.

Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for four hours or low for eight hours.

Cooked beef stew in the slow cooker.

After four hours on high (or eight hours on low) the stew should look a little like this. The meat and vegetables should both be tender. The gravy may look a little thin at this point, but don’t worry…

Stirred beef stew in the slow cooker.

Give the stew a good stir and the potatoes will break down a bit and thicken the gravy into a nice rich consistency. Depending on the type of broth used, you may want to taste the stew and add salt to your liking (I did not add any).

Close up overhead view of beef stew in a bowl.

Serve the Slow Cooker Beef Stew as is or spooned over a bowl of hot rice or pasta. THIS will keep you warm and full on cold winter days!

The post Slow Cooker Beef Stew appeared first on Budget Bytes.

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.
Print

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

The post Veggie Pot Pie appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Dumpling Soup

Easy Dumpling Soup is the perfect quick lunch or dinner because it’s endlessly versatile, insanely budget-friendly, and can be made in 15 minutes.

The post Easy Dumpling Soup appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Easy Dumpling Soup is one of my absolute favorite things to throw together if I want a quick-and-simple homemade lunch or an effortless dinner that’s still wholesome, comforting, and budget-friendly. I’ve designed this recipe to be as versatile as possible, dressing up mostly store-bought ingredients, in order to scratch that “itch” for whatever takeout favorite I’m craving when ordering out isn’t on the menu.

A large white bowl filled with dumpling soup and surrounded by a small bowl of white sesame seeds, an open jar of chili crisp and an orange decorative towel.

What is dumpling soup?

Our version of dumpling soup is a quick, semi-homemade soup inspired by dumpling soups found in Chinese, Korean and Japanese cuisines. The soup features a savory clear broth, delicate meat-filled dumplings, fresh greens, and an array of condiments to sprinkle on top. Here’s what you need for this Easy Dumpling Soup:

  • Frozen dumplings — You can find Asian-style dumplings in the freezer section, usually filled with pork, vegetables, shrimp, or a combination of those ingredients.
  • Broth — We fortified our vegetable broth with soy sauce and toasted sesame oil!
  • A handful of fresh greens — like sliced green onions, fresh spinach, or baby bok choy
  • Condiments — Use anything your heart desires! Try chili crisp, sesame seeds, black vinegar, cilantro, and more!

Is this an authentic recipe?

No, this is not an authentic dumpling soup, but we highly encourage you to read more about the wide variety and rich culture surrounding dumplings. Also, check out these recipes for authentic Chinese potstickers and Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Korean mandu, and Japanese gyoza.

What kind of dumplings to buy

Most grocery stores offer a variety of frozen dumplings options of different sizes, shapes, and fillings (usually pork, vegetable, shrimp, or a combination of those flavors)—and any type of frozen dumpling will work for this recipe. If you’re operating on an extra-tight budget, visiting an Asian grocery store is a great place to find a wider selection, larger quantities, and even lower prices.

How to know the dumplings are fully cooked:

Frozen dumplings are usually on the smaller side, so they cook quickly when added to boiling broth. However, since our suggested cook time is only based on the handful of brands we’ve tried (and there are so many others!), I highly recommend consulting the package directions on your dumplings to ensure you are cooking them long enough—as well as checking the suggested serving size to make sure you are preparing enough for two people.

Are the leftovers ANY good?

I would not recommend saving these leftovers. As it sits, the dumplings will keep soaking up the broth until they bloat and then fall apart. Instead, just make the amount you think you will eat, which is why I’ve developed the recipe for two servings rather than four. Since it comes together so quickly, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you decided to make it twice in one night! 

A close up view of dumpling soup in a white bowl topped with white sesame seeds and chili crisp.

Take your Dumpling Soup to the next level

Some great flavor and topping additions for this soup are: 

  • Cubed tofu, cooked chicken, or another prepared protein
  • Mushrooms, or other fresh or frozen vegetables
  • Half of a hard-boiled egg
  • Fish sauce
  • Kimchi
  • Cilantro
  • Mirin 
  • Rice Vinegar or Lime Juice
  • Miso paste
  • A prepared sauce like Scheuzan chili oil, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, teriyaki sauce, or a prepared “dumpling sauce”
  • Sesame seeds, crushed nori, or a store-bought Furikake blend

My go-to Topping combinations

Plan to add any extra condiments and toppings directly to each serving bowl, so each person can mix and match them to suit their tastes. My go-to topping combinations are (per bowl): 

  • 1 Tbsp kimchi + handful of torn cilantro 
  • ¼ tsp Szechuan chili oil + hardboiled egg 
  • Sliced mushrooms + nori + sesame seeds
A close up view of dumpling soup in a white bowl topped with white sesame seeds and chili crisp.
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Easy Dumpling Soup

Easy Dumpling Soup is the perfect quick dinner because it’s endlessly versatile, insanely budget-friendly, and can be made in 15 minutes.
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Total Cost $2.98 RECIPE / $1.49 SERVING
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 2 bowls
Calories 290kcal

Ingredients

  • 10 frozen dumplings* $2.00
  • 2 cups vegetable broth** $0.24
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce $0.06
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil $0.06
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated $0.11
  • 1/2 cup fresh spinach*** $0.15

Garnishes, optional

Instructions

  • Combine the vegetable broth, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, and the white parts of a sliced green onion in a medium-sized pot. (If using, also add the fish sauce, pre-cooked proteins or tofu, and any fresh or frozen vegetables that need time to soften.)
  • Bring the broth up to a boil on medium-high heat. Once boiling, add the dumplings.
  • Cover the pot and allow the soup to come back up to a boil. Boil the dumplings for about 2 minutes or until they are cooked through. (Consult package directions.)
  • Turn off the heat and stir in the green parts of the sliced green onion and a handful of spinach.
  • Split the soup into 2 serving bowls and top with any desired condiments.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*You can use any flavor (pork, vegetable, chicken, etc.), but I prefer ones with pork and vegetables.
**We use Better Than Bouillon mixed to make all of our broths. If substituted with a low-sodium broth, the final dish may need more salt. 
***or baby bok choy

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl of soup | Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 9g | Sodium: 1809mg | Fiber: 3g
A single dumpling parcel on a black spoon raised above a large white bowl filled with dumpling soup topped with white sesame seeds and red chili crisp and an orange decorative towel.

How to Make easy dumpling soup – Step by Step Photos

A measuring cup of soup is poured into a small saucepan containing soy sauce, toasted sesame oil and the white parts of a green onion.

In a medium-sized pot, combine 2 cups of vegetable broth, 1 Tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil, and the white parts of a thinly sliced green onion (set the green parts aside for garnish), and cook over medium-high heat. You should also add the fish sauce now, if using — as well as any other extra ingredients that require some cooking time, like leftover cooked proteins from the fridge, tofu, mushrooms, or any other fresh or frozen vegetables that need time to soften.

Frozen dumplings in a white bowl being poured into a pot of boiling broth.

Bring the broth up to a boil on medium-high heat. Once boiling, add 10 frozen dumplings. Cover and allow the soup to come back up to a boil. Boil the dumplings for about 2 minutes or until they are cooked through. (Check out the suggested cooking time on your dumpling packaging to insure this will be enough time to cook them all the way through — at the same time, also check the nutrition label to make sure you add the correct amount for two servings.)

A pile of fresh spinach sitting on top of a pot full of warm dumpling soup.

Turn off the heat and stir in 1/2 cup of fresh spinach and the reserved green onion slices.

A medium-sized pot of finished dumpling soup.

Split the soup into two serving bowls and top each bowl with your desired garnishes. We chose to sprinkle ours with a few sesame seeds and a heaping spoonful of Sichuan Chili Crisp!

A close up view of dumpling soup in a white bowl topped with white sesame seeds and chili crisp.

GET IN MY BELLY!

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