Sometimes we just don’t want to break the bank to have a decent lunch or dinner at home… So the best way is to cook it! And this is not as expensive as you think. Just have a look at this collection of budget recipes and you’ll see that cooking for cheap doesn’t mean boring or tasteless!
Pumpkin Gnocchi
1 1/3 (600g) pumpkin flesh, cut into cubes but not too big — 1 bouquet garni — 1 egg — 1/3 lb (150g) of flour — 1 3/4 (50g) grated parmesan — 1/2 clove of garlic — Nutmeg — Fleur de sel (or coarse salt) — Pepper — Sage leaves for the sauce. Get the pumpkin gnocchi recipe here
Bacon Egg Casserole
4 large and fresh organic eggs — 2 red peppers — 1 onion — 1 clove garlic — 1/2 can of peeled tomatoes — 1 sprig of thyme — 3 1/2 ounces (100 g) of thinly sliced bacon — 4 slices of country bread — 3 1/2 tbsp (50 g) Chili pepper compound butter (a good salted butter is ok) — Salt, pepper, Espelette pepper powder — 1/2 cup (10 cl) of olive oil. Get the recipe here
Stir Fried Zucchini & Mushrooms Pasta
1/2lb (250g) Pasta (penne) — 2 zucchinis — 1lb (500g) mushrooms — 1 onion — 2 cups (50cl) chicken broth — 1 3/4 ounces (50g) Parmesan — Olive oil — Salt and pepper — Turmeric. Get the recipe here
Zucchini and Goat Cheese Frittata
6 eggs — 1/2 cup (10 cl) of milk — 2 small zucchinis — 6 medium potatoes — 1 onion — 2 slices of ham — 1/2 fresh goat cheese — 6 basil leaves — Salt and pepper — Olive oil. Get the frittata recipe here
Homemade Granola Bars
3 tablespoons almonds — 3 tablespoons pine nuts — 3 tablespoons hazelnuts — 3 tablespoons unsalted pistachios — 3 dried apricots — 2 plums — 1 1/3 ounces (40g) brown sugar unrefined — 2 egg whites. Get the recipe here
Avocado and Rice Vermicelli Salad
3 1/2 ounces (100g) rice vermicelli — An avocado — 2 tsp rice vinegar — 2 tsp soy sauce — 1 tsp sugar — A small knob of fresh ginger — Gomasio — Basil. Get the avocado and rice vermicelli salad here 
Sweet Peppers Stir-Fry with Bacon
6 sweet peppers: 2 red, 2 green, 1 yellow, 1 orange. — 3 onions — 1/2 lb (200g) of smoked bacon — Olive oil — Salt and pepper. Get the recipe here
Quinoa and Leek Gratin
10 ounces (300g) quinoa — 10 ounces (300g) leeks — 1 3/4 ounces (50g) cheddar — Herbes de Provence (thyme, oregano, rosemary) — Salt and pepper — Baking soda (optional) — 1 vegetable cube stock (or do it by yourself, it’s even better). Get the quinoa and leek gratin recipe here
Spaghetti Carbonara Recipe
1/2 lb (200g) of spaghetti — About (50g) pancetta (or bacon) — 1 whole egg + 2 yolks — 4 tablespoons of grated pecorino — tablespoons of grated parmesan — 1 clove garlic — Olive oil — Salt and pepper. Get the recipe here
Bacon Potato Salad
1 1/2 lb (700g) of potatoes — 4 slices of bacon, cut into strips — 1 leek — Mustard — Wine vinegar — 2 tablespoons oil — Salt and pepper — Chives. Get this recipe here
Smoked Salmon Potato Salad
Baked potatoes — Smoked salmon — Avocado — Spinach — Onion stem — 2 tbsp of sour cream — 1 tbsp of lemon juice — Salt and pepper. Discover the salmon salad recipe here
Chicken soup with ramen and lemongrass
3 chicken breasts — 1 tablespoon olive oil — 2 cloves of garlic — 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger — 1 tablespoon soy sauce — 2 1/2 pints (1.2 liters) of chicken stock — 1/4 lb (100g) of ramen — 1 stick of lemongrass (or 2 drops of citronella essential oil). Get the recipe here.
Chic Club Sandwich with Smoked Trout and Avocado
4 large slices of bread grain — 1 case of olive oil — 80 g of fresh goat cheese — 2 slices of smoked trout — 1 avocado — Sprouts. Get the recipe here
Sauteed Crunchy Vegetables Pasta
1 Large zucchini — 4 Carrots — 1 Shallot — 1 Green pepper — 7 ounces (200 g) of fresh pasta with egg — Parsley — Salt, pepper — 2 tbsp of olive oil — 1 knob of butter. Get the vegetable pasta recipe here.
Feta Turkey Wraps
6 large wheat tortillas (or 12 smalls) — 1 cup (250ml) vinegar, honey and mustard mix for the marinade — 4 turkey scallops — 7 ounces (200g) feta cheese — 10 ounces (300g) fresh spinach leaves — 10 dried tomatoes that were kept in oil. Get the turkey wraps recipe here
Duck Confit Gratin
4 legs of duck confit — 4 lbs of homemade mashed potatoes — 2 cups of milk — 3 1/2 tbsp (50g) butter — Salt and pepper. Get the recipe here
Spaghetti with Marinated Cardoons
1 1/3 lbs (600g) chardoon stalks, prepared — 1lb (500g) spaghetti — 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil — 6 cloves garlic, crushed — Juice of one lemon — 1 small red pepper, chopped, or a pinch of cayenne pepper powder — 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves — Salt and pepper. Get the recipe here.
Potato Salad With Pancetta
3/4 lb (350g) small potatoes — A nice red onion — 1 handful of arugula — 6 slices of pancetta fine — 2 tablespoon olive oil — 2 tablespoons of Sherry Vinegar — 1 pinch of Espelette pepper — Salt and pepper. Get the recipe here
Walnuts and Honey Tart
1/2 lb (250 g) flour — 7 ounces (200 g) butter — 1 egg — 1/3 cup (50 g) of sugar. Discover the walnuts and honey tart here
Gourmet Butternut Squash Soup
2 lbs (1kg ) butternut squash — 1 onion — 1 cube of chicken stock — Chavignol goat cheese — 3 tbsp pine nuts — 2 tablespoons of pine honey — Sprigs of fresh rosemary — Olive oil, salt, pepper. Get the recipe here
Vitamin Salad with Orange and Pomegranate
1 fennel bulb — 1 orange — 1 / 2 pomegranate — few seedlings of lettuce — fresh herbs (parsley, chives, fennel sprigs). Get the salad recipe here
Goat Cheese Rolled Omelet
6 fresh goat cheeses (small) or cottage goat cheese — 10 eggs — 6 mint sprigs — 2 tablespoons of peanut oil — 2 tablespoons of olive oil — Salt & pepper. Get the recipe here
Onion Soup
1.2 kg of large onions — 50 g of duck fat — 150 cl of chicken stock — 100 g of Beaufort cheese — salt, pepper. Get the onion soup recipe here
Spaghetti with vegetables recipe
1 lb (400g) spaghetti — 1 zucchini — 1 large carrot — 1 yellow pepper — 2 shallots — 2 teaspoons olive oil — 1 cube stock — 1 pinch cream, light or 30% fat. Get the recipe here.
