Serious question, what's your best cheap meal that actually feels like a treat?

I started making a big pot of red lentil dal with just onions, garlic, and spices from the dollar store, and it costs about $5 total for enough to feed my family of four for two nights.

4 comments

4 Comments

troy_king721mo ago

Oh man, homemade french fries! Cut a couple potatoes, toss them in a little oil and salt, bake them until they're super crispy. Feels like a total cheat day but it's just a potato.

cora8131mo ago

Super crispy" is the goal, but I've found soaking the cut potatoes in cold water for like 30 minutes first makes a huge difference. Gets more starch out so they actually crisp up in the oven.

matthew8971mo ago

Air fryer changed the game for me, gets them crazy crispy without needing to soak.

karen_hill31mo ago

That red lentil dal is such a solid idea. I did something similar last week with a bag of dried chickpeas, made a huge batch of hummus for under three dollars. It feels so good to make a meal that's both filling and feels a little special, like you're beating the system.