BrokeAss Gourmet

BrokeAss Gourmet

Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce

  • Prep Time 0:05
  • Cook Time 0:17
  • Estimated Cost $11.50
  • 4 Comments

There could not be a better supper or brunch to make for unexpected guests. If you already have tomato sauce on hand, it’s just a matter of cracking some eggs, crumbling some feta and chopping parsley. Feel free to switch the parsley out for cilantro, thyme, basil or even chives.

Serve this one with crusty fresh bread or English muffins for dipping.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce (or other tomato sauce) $5.50 for the whole recipe
  • 4 eggs $1.50 for 6
  • 3 oz crumbled feta cheese $3.50 for 8 oz.
  • 1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped $1 for a bunch
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry

Recipe Serves 4

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Ladle 3/4 cup sauce into each of 4 oven-proof bowls or dishes.
  3. Gently crack an egg into the sauce in each dish.
  4. Top eggs and sauce with a sprinkle of the crumbled feta.
  5. Bake for 13-17 minutes (more time will yield a firmer egg yolk).
  6. Top with parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce

  • Prep Time 0:15
  • Cook Time 0:30
  • Estimated Cost $5.50
  • 2 Comments

As I mentioned yesterday, I got a sweet deal at the Mission Community Market (at Tomatero Farm) on heirloom tomatoes. They were just $5 for 5 lbs of slightly soft organic heirlooms—perfect for cooking with.

Hint: this easy, versatile sauce looks very pretty in mason jars, making it a great, inexpensive gift.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Pantry
  • 1 onion, diced $0.50
  • 6 cloves garlic, chopped Pantry
  • 3 lbs fresh tomatoes, cored and chopped $3
  • 1 large handful fresh basil leaves, chopped $1 for a bunch
  • 1 large handful fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped $1 for a bunch

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  2. Add chopped tomatoes, basil and parsley. Stir and cover. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until tomatoes have broken down.
  3. Puree, leaving the sauce slightly chunky, using a food processor, blender and return to pot. Or, use an immersion blender and puree directly in the pot.
  4. Turn heat up to medium-high and cook, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, or until sauce reduces to about 1/2 of it's original content.
  5. Remove from heat and toss with pasta, spread on pizza or serve with fresh bread for dipping.

Makes about 5 1/2 cups sauce

Spicy Glazed Walnuts

  • Prep Time 0:02
  • Cook Time 0:06
  • Estimated Cost $3.00
  • 2 Comments

I have been known to be slightly controlling in the kitchen, so I make a point to delegate tasks when I cook with others so as to mitigate (or at least attempt to conceal) my tendency to take over. Last week, Alan executed this recipe beautifully and I was only minimally bossy about it.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 lb walnut halves $1.50
  • 1/8 cup sugar Pantry
  • 2 tsp chili powder (more or less to taste) $1.50 for 1 oz.
  • pinch of salt Pantry

Directions

  1. Heat a large dry frying pan over medium-high heat.
  2. Lightly toast walnuts in the pan for 1-2 minutes, turning pan occasionally to expose walnuts evenly.
  3. Mix sugar, chili powder and salt together in a small bowl.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and sprinkle nuts with sugar mixture. Stir gently to evenly coat nuts.
  5. Continue stirring occasionally, as sugar melts to encourage it to cling to the walnuts, 2-3 minutes.
  6. Spread glazed walnuts on wax or parchment paper and allow to cool.
  7. Once cool, break walnuts apart, using hands (the hardened caramel will make them stick together).
  8. Serve on salads or in a bowl, for snacking.

Makes about 1 cup glazed walnuts.

Fried Heirloom Tomato Salad

  • Prep Time 0:15
  • Cook Time 0:08
  • Estimated Cost $9.50
  • 2 Comments

This was invented about half-an-hour ago when I returned home from the Mission Community Market armed with fresh greens from Happy Boy Farms and a whopping 5 lbs of heirloom tomatoes (scored for just $5!) from Tomatero Farm. I was ravenous and impatient but unwilling to settle for my standby quick meal (a quesadilla and carrot sticks—I know, I’m five). The flash-fried tomatoes were crisp on the outside but oh so sweet and ripe on the inside.

This might also be nice with crumbled goat cheese or even shaved Parmesan.

Ingredients

  • 2 medium heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2" thick slices $1.50
  • 1 egg $1.50 for 6
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs $1.50 for 8 oz.
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for dressing salad Pantry
  • salt and pepper to taste Pantry
  • 4 cups mixed greens $1.50
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar Pantry
  • 2 oz. crumbled feta cheese $3.50 for 8 oz.

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. Beat egg with 1/4 cup cool water until foamy. Place bread crumbs on a plate.
  2. Dip tomato slices in egg wash and then immediately dredge in bread crumbs, patting them onto the tomato flesh. Set on a clean plate.
  3. Heat olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium-high heat. Place tomato slices (working in batches to avoid overcrowding pan) in the hot oil and cook 1-2 minutes on on each side or until crisp and golden-brown. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and pepper immediately.
  4. Toss the mixed greens with 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and the balsamic vinegar. Divide between 2 plates.
  5. Top each plate of greens with a few fried tomatoes, feta and more black pepper.

Hoisin-Sesame Grilled Chicken Breasts

  • Prep Time 0:30
  • Cook Time 0:08
  • Estimated Cost $13.00
  • 3 Comments

It’s easy to rely on versatile, healthy and relatively inexpensive chicken when you’re cooking on a budget…it’s also easy to get sick of it.

Well, I never get sick of this preparation of my good old standby, the boneless, skinless chicken breast. It is (and I hate to sound corny, but it’s true) lip-smackingly delicious. I love to slice these and then serve them atop lightly dressed spinach with toasted almonds and sliced strawberries for a gorgeous and filling full-meal salad.

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce Pantry
  • 1/8 cup hoisin sauce $1.50 for 10 oz.
  • 2 tbsp Asian sweet chili sauce $2 for 10 oz.
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar Pantry
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil $2 for 8 oz.
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced Pantry
  • 1 small (1" piece ginger, peeled and minced (about 1 tbsp) $0.50
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts $5
  • vegetable or olive oil for grill pan Pantry
  • 2 scallions, sliced $1 for a bunch
  • toasted sesame seeds for garnish $1 for 1/8 cup

Recipe Serves 2

Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin, Asian sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, garlic and ginger.
  2. Place chicken in a resealable gallon-size plastic bag. Carefully pour marinade in, seal and move bag around to ensure marinade covers both pieces of chicken. Place bag in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes and up to 2 hours.
  3. Lightly brush a grill pan with oil and heat over medium-high heat. Grill chicken until fully cooked, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
  4. Garnish with scallion slices and sesame seeds.

Category: Meals

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