BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Cold Soba Noodle-Vegetable Salad with Tempeh

  • Prep Time 0:30
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $10.50
  • 1 Comment

This light and crunchy salad stars soba noodles, made of buckwheat flour, with an earthy taste and silky texture and tempeh, a protein product made of fermented soy beans. The tempeh can be bitter if under-cooked, so be sure to leave it in the pan long enough to develop a golden-brown crust.

The juicy vegetables are naturally moist enough that this salad’s dressing needs no oil. Feel free to add toasted sesame seeds, almonds or peanuts.

Ingredients

  • 8 oz. dried soba noodles $1.50
  • 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil Pantry
  • 8 oz. tempeh, cut into 1/2"-thick slices $3
  • salt to taste Pantry
  • 1 head Romaine lettuce, sliced $0.50
  • 2 carrots, shredded $0.50
  • 1/2 head red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced $0.50
  • 4 scallions, sliced $1 for a bunch
  • 1 tomato, cored and sliced into thin wedges $0.50
  • 4 tbsp Asian sweet chili sauce $2 for 10 oz.
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce Pantry
  • 1 handful cilantro leaves, chopped $1 for a bunch

Recipe Serves 4-6

Directions

  1. Cook soba noodles according to directions on package. Rinse under cool water until noodles are no longer warm. Drain and transfer to a serving bowl.
  2. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Cook tempeh slices for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until a nice brown crust develops. Remove from heat and sprinkle lightly with salt.
  3. Whisk together Asian chili sauce and soy sauce.
  4. Add Romaine, carrots, cabbage, scallions and tomato to serving bowl. Toss well with chili-soy sauce mixture.
  5. Top salad with cooked tempeh and chopped cilantro.
  6. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Israeli Couscous Salad with Feta

  • Prep Time 0:20
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $8.50
  • 4 Comments

Israeli couscous, with its big chewy balls (yeah, go ahead and make fun of that line), is so much more interesting to me than the regular kind. I wanted to to accentuate its interesting texture, so I paired it with simple Mediterranean flavors—tomatoes, parsley, lemon, olive oil and feta. This is a good one to bring to a barbeque and works especially well alongside Grilled Ribeye with Chimichurri Sauce.

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided Pantry
  • 8 oz. dried Israeli couscous $1.50
  • 1 handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped $1 for a bunch
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved $2.50 for a pint
  • 1/2 red onion, finely diced $0.50
  • 4 oz. crumbled feta cheese $2.50 for 8 oz.
  • juice of 1 lemon $0.50
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 3-4

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pot over medium-high heat. Add couscous and toast lightly, 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 2 1/2 cups water and cover. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to medium-low. Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until all water has absorbed and couscous is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  2. Rinse couscous under cool water in a fine mesh strainer to bring the temperature down. Transfer rinsed couscous to a bowl.
  3. Toss cooked couscous with remaining olive oil, parsley, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Grilled Ribeye with Chimichurri Sauce

  • Prep Time 0:20
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $15.75
  • 1 Comment

I’ve been interested in chimichurri sauce for a long time—mostly because I like saying the word—but it wasn’t until I had it at a restaurant in Boston last year that I fell in love. It’s great drizzled over freshly-grilled steak, as I’ve done here, but it’s also wonderful over tofu, fish, chicken or grilled veggies.

Ingredients

  • 1 16-oz ribeye steak $13
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley $1 for a bunch
  • 1 handful fresh cilantro leaves $1 for a bunch
  • 2 cloves garlic Pantry
  • juice of 1 lemon $0.50
  • 1 green jalapeño, seeded and chopped $0.25
  • 1/4 cup olive oil Pantry
  • dash balsamic vinegar Pantry

Recipe Serves 2-3

Directions

  1. Season steak liberally on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill or broil steak to desired doneness.
  2. While steak cooks, puree parsley, cilantro, garlic, lemon, jalapeño, olive oil and balsamic vinegar until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Serve steak sliced on the bias, drizzled with the chimichurri sauce.

Perfect Stir Fry Over Toasted Coconut Rice

  • Prep Time 0:25
  • Cook Time 0:15
  • Estimated Cost $13.50
  • 8 Comments

Truthfully, I hardly ever stir fry—I’m usually more interested in more complicated, impressive recipes. But recently, someone asked me for my very best stir fry recipe, and so I set about perfecting. This bright and flavorful presentation features vegetables that are cooked yet crisp and chicken that is tender and juicy—not dried out as is often the case with stir fries. The sauce is slightly sweet with a hint of lime, and the coconut rice serves as the perfect bed for the chicken-veggie mixture. Feel free to switch up the vegetables and protein and/or substitute brown rice.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dry Basmati rice $2 for 16 oz.
  • 1 14-oz. can coconut milk $1
  • salt to taste Pantry
  • 1/8 cup unsweetened shredded coconut $1
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce Pantry
  • 2 tbsp honey Pantry
  • juice of 1 lime $0.50
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch $1.50 for 16 oz.
  • 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil Pantry
  • 1 small piece ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tbsp) $0.50
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced Pantry
  • 1 small onion, diced $0.50
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1" pieces $6
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into florets $0.50
  • 2 zucchinis, sliced $1
  • 10 Crimini mushrooms, sliced $2 for 12 oz.
  • 4 cups fresh spinach $2
  • 4 scallions, sliced $1 for a bunch

Recipe Serves 2-3

Directions

  1. Rinse rice well in a strainer. Transfer to a pot. Add coconut milk, 1/2 cup water and a pinch of salt. Stir well and cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed.
  2. While rice cooks, heat a dry skillet over high heat. Add coconut and toast lightly, until coconut turns golden-brown. Shake the pan around a few times to ensure all coconut is toasted. Remove from heat.
  3. Stir toasted coconut into cooked rice. Season with additional salt if desired.
  4. Whisk together soy sauce, honey, lime juice and cornstarch. Set aside.
  5. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger and onions and cook for 1 minute, just until fragrant. Add chicken pieces and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour sauce over chicken. Add broccoli, zucchini and mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until chicken has cooked through. Turn off heat and stir in spinach. Continue stirring, encouraging the spinach to wilt.
  6. Serve stir fry over the coconut rice, garnished with sliced scallions. Serve Asian chili sauce alongside if desired.

Category: Meals

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Fig-Onion Bread

  • Prep Time 1:30
  • Cook Time 0:40
  • Estimated Cost $5.00
  • 4 Comments

This moist, incredibly flavorful bread has a thick, crisp crust and a soft, dense interior. It begs to be spread with creamy goat cheese, brie or cambazola, but would also be the perfect bread for a salami or prosciutto sandwich (just make sure to slice it lengthwise). It’ll keep for a few days after baking if wrapped tightly, but it’s unbeatable served hot and fresh out of the oven.

Feel free to add olives or walnuts if you are so inclined.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour, plus more for Pantry
  • 1 packet dry active yeast $1.50
  • 2 tbsp sugar or honey Pantry
  • 2 tbsp olive oil plus more for the bowl Pantry
  • 1 tsp salt Pantry
  • 2 tsp freshly-ground black pepper Pantry
  • 1 small red onion, finely diced $0.50
  • 8 fresh figs (any kind), finely chopped $3 for a carton

Directions

  1. Combine 1 cup warm (but not hot) water, yeast and sugar or honey and set aside in a warm place until it begins to foam (4-5 minutes). Meanwhile in a bowl, mixer w/paddle or a food processor, combine salt and flour. Slowly stream in the yeast mixture and add the olive oil. If using a mixer or food processor, turn on and allow ingredients to combine until they form a ball of dough. It might a bit dry, but don't worry, as you're about to add the onions and figs, which will add moisture. Knead for 2-3 minutes.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out into an 8" circle. Place the figs and onions in the center of the circle and gather the dough around it. This will be messy, but keep with it. Gently fold, flatten and re-fold the dough until the onions, figs and black pepper are evenly distributed. It may be necessary to add a bit more flour.
  3. Shape dough into a ball. Lightly oil a mixing bowl and place dough in it, rolling dough around in the bowl to make sure it is nicely covered with the oil. Cover with a clean dish towel and place in a warm place (like on top of a stove or even a television) for 30 minutes.
  4. Lightly flour 2 baking sheets. Set aside.
  5. Remove dough from bowl and turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 4 equal pieces. Shape pieces into baguettes (or other desired shapes). If making baguettes, be sure to use a knife to gently score the tops a few times. Place on floured baking sheets with ample space between them. Let rise in a warm spot for another 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  7. Lightly brush the tops of the loaves with olive oil. Once oven is ready, bake for 35-40 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when gently tapped on their bottoms.

Makes 4 loaves of bread.