BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Hearty Quinoa Salad

  • Prep Time 0:20
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $10.00
  • 5 Comments

Quinoa is by far one of the healthiest grains available and this easy preparation is one of my favorite ways to eat it. When I know that I’ll have a busy week, I make a big batch on Sunday night and eat it all week.

Hint: Remember to buy your quinoa, raisins and pine nuts in bulk!

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dry quinoa $2
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts $2
  • 1/2 cup raisins $2
  • 1 apple, cored and diced $0.50
  • 1 6" cooked sausage link, any kind, diced $2
  • 1 small bunch parsley, chopped $1
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced Pantry
  • 1 tbsp olive oil Pantry
  • juice of one lemon $0.50
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 2-4

Directions

  1. Cook quinoa according to directions. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to lower temperature.
  2. Toss together cooked, cooled quinoa, pine nuts, raisins, sausage, apple, parsley, and garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Stir gently to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Category: Meals

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Eggplant-Tomato Stacks with Goat Cheese and Leeks

  • Prep Time 0:05
  • Cook Time 0:10
  • Estimated Cost $9.50
  • 1 Comment

This is one of those warm-weather dishes that is so perfect in its simple flavors that it needs little more than a dash of salt. Serve the stacks as a starter or a vegetarian entree.

Ingredients

  • 1 regular or 2 small eggplant(s), sliced into 1/2"-thick rounds $1.50
  • 2 large red slicer tomatoes, sliced into 1/2"-thick rounds $1.50
  • 2 oz. soft goat cheese $4
  • 1 leek, sliced, $1
  • 1 tbsp olive oil Pantry
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes $1.50 for 1 oz.
  • salt Pantry

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a grill pan over high heat. Grill the eggplant slices for 4-5 minutes on each side or until grill-marks form and the eggplant's flesh softens (this can also be done over a gas/charcoal grill) Sprinkle slices lightly with salt.
  2. In the same pan, cook the leek slices for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
  3. To assemble the stacks, layer in this order: eggplant, goat cheese, tomato, goat cheese, eggplant, goat cheese, tomato, leeks. Garnish with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.

Category: Meals

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Baba Ghanoush Burgers

  • Prep Time 0:15
  • Cook Time 0:10
  • Estimated Cost $8.50
  • 5 Comments

Beautiful eggplants and fresh parsley I picked up on a recent visit to my neighborhood’s new farmers market inspired these delicious pita pockets. Add some fresh yogurt cheese for an extra-special treat.

Ingredients

  • 2 pitas, cut in half to form 4 pita pockets $2
  • 1 15-oz can garbanzo beans, drained and smashed well with a fork $1
  • juice and zest of one lemon $0.50
  • 1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped $1
  • 1 cup eggplant, very finely chopped (1 small eggplant or 1/2 regular eggplant $1
  • 1/2 white onion $0.50
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Pantry
  • 1/8 cup Greek yogurt plus extra for garnish $1.50
  • 2 cups fresh spinach $1
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Pantry

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl combine smashed garbanzos, lemon juice, eggplant, onion, garlic, yogurt and most of the parsley (reserve a pinch for garnish). 
  2. Mix well to incorporate and season well with salt and pepper. Form into 4 patties.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 4-5 minutes on each side. They may be a little flaky but don't worry--they'll still be delicious.
  4. Fill each pita pocket with spinach, a patty, a little Greek yogurt, a pinch of lemon zest and some fresh parsley.

Kielbasa with Apples and Onions

  • Prep Time 0:05
  • Cook Time 0:10
  • Estimated Cost $7.50
  • 3 Comments

This is my favorite way to serve sausages. The apples caramelize slightly when grilled and the amazing taste of lightly charred onions is outstanding. This dish is even more awesome prepared on an outside charcoal or gas grill.

Ingredients

  • 2 kielbasa sausages, sliced on the diagonal $6
  • 2 tart apples, sliced thinly $1
  • 1 white onion, sliced into rings $0.50
  • 2 tbsp olive oil Pantry
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 2-4

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large grill pan or cast iron pan over high heat. Grill onions, apples and sausage slices in batches on both sides.
  2. Season with salt and pepper.

Category: Meals

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Savory Matzah Brei

  • Prep Time 0:15
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $7.50
  • 6 Comments

In the late eighties, my mom decided to get herself a Ph.D.This meant many nights of graduate school and dissertation writing…and that my father would be cooking dinner. While he can’t cook like my mother, this matzah brei was a favorite standby in our house.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter $1 for a stick 
  • 1 medium onion, diced $0.50
  • 2 cups milk $1.50 for 1 qt
  • 2 eggs $1.50 for 6
  • 6 sheets matzah $3 for a box
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Directions

  1. Pour the milk into a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs until fully incorporated. Break the matzah into pieces and place in the egg-milk mixture, pushing down the matzah to ensure that it is fully covered by the liquid. Set aside and allow to soak for 8-10 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large frying pan. Add the onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. When the matzah has soaked for long enough, add the whole bowl's contents to the frying pan and allow to cook, scraping the pan occasionally with a spatula, until the almost all of the liquid has been absorbed. The texture should resemble scrambled eggs.
  3. To serve, divide it onto 2 plates and garnish with onion salt and freshly cracked pepper.

Category: Meals

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