At the end of the month, many people find out that a lot of money has gone out again. Unexpected presents, an impulsive purchase, a bill. At the end of the month you still have 100 euros left for a week of shopping. I always find that a nice challenge and make it a sport to eat as cheaply as possible. That’s why I give you 5 easy budget recipes for 4 people under 5 euros. And still an Italian touch!
1. Spaghetti with tomato sauce
A classic: spaghetti with tomato sauce. If you buy good spaghetti (De Cecco) and good tomato sauce (Mutti), you eat well too! For the sauce, first fry an onion with garlic and let the sauce simmer on the fire for half an hour. Stick to the cooking time for al dente pasta and salt the water before adding the pasta.
2. Beetroot risotto
beetroot risotto. It recipe is on the website from Italy Featured. You can also use regular rice or risotto instead of barley.
3. Canederli (dumplings)
You mix a hunk of stale bread (that you have torn into pieces) with milk so that it is soaked. Then add spinach, 2 eggs, 4 tablespoons of flour and make balls with the help of a little more flour. You cook this for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Kale pesto
In the summer you can make pesto with basil from your own garden. But you can also make kale pesto in the winter. Then you mix a pack of kale, with some olive oil, a clove of garlic, some cashew nuts and a piece of cheese in the blender or hand blender. Also delicious with the pasta. Or you make artichoke pesto. To do this, mix a can of drained artichokes with some cheese and olive oil.
5. Cheap pizza
You can make pizza (or calzone) with stir-fried endive and salted capers. For pizza and calzone you only need flour, yeast, salt and water. The salted capers are a bit more expensive (and you have to rinse them well) but with the cheap endive you stay under budget. Add some black olives if you like.
Do you know any easy Italian budget recipes yourself? Then pass on your tips below!
Buon appetito!