How to cook lunch for 50 rubles: 10 budget recipes

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is not necessary to sit on bread and water in order not to waste a fortune on food. The life hacker picked up a few simple and quick-to-prepare dishes and calculated how much one serving would cost.

For the calculations, we used the site of the O'Key online store with delivery in St. Petersburg. Constant prices are taken for all products, excluding stocks. Most of the products are not the cheapest in their segment, and the price of a dish can be reduced by choosing more affordable options, buying products from local manufacturers, or following special offers.

Salt and soda are not included in the calculations, since a teaspoon of these ingredients costs 5-10 kopecks, which affects the total amount very little. Spices are added to the taste and the chef's wallet, so they were also not included in the calculations.

For calculations, the average serving size is chosen. It can be changed according to your appetite and needs. Accordingly, in this case, the cost will have to be adjusted.

1. Jellied pie with cabbage and canned fish

Ingredients for 4 large servings:

• 2 glasses of kefir;
• 2 eggs;
• 1 cup flour
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda;
• ½ teaspoon salt;
• 1 can of canned fish;
• 500 g of cabbage;
• 1½ tablespoon of sunflower oil.

Preparation

Chop the cabbage and fry it in one tablespoon of oil. Remove the fish from the jar, mash with a fork and mix with cabbage. Beat eggs with salt, add kefir, flour and soda. The dough should resemble sour cream in consistency.

Grease the mold with the remaining butter, pour half of the dough into it, put the filling, and on top - the remaining dough. Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180 degrees.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Kefir "Merry milkman", 1%	60.99 per bottle (950 g)	~30
Egg "Sinyavinskoe" C1	69, 90 for a dozen	14
Flour "Makfa"	43, 90 per 1 kg	~8
Herring "Marine seal" natural with oil	48, 19 for 1 can (250 g)	48, 19
White cabbage	12, 90 per 1 kg	6, 45
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~2
Total: 109 rubles per pie, 27, 25 rubles per serving.

2. Pilaf with chicken

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 600 g chicken thighs;
• 230 g of rice;
• 1 large onion;
• 2 medium carrots;
• 1 head of garlic;
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil;
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

Preparation

Pour vegetable oil into a deep frying pan or cauldron and heat it up. Chop the onion finely, fry. Grate or cut the carrots into half rings, add to the onion. Chop the thighs into large pieces and place with the vegetables. Season the mixture with salt and season. Fry the contents of the cauldron until half cooked.

Disassemble the garlic into cloves and, without peeling, place on the meat. Pour in rice, flatten. Gently pour water into the cauldron so that it is 1, 5–2 cm higher than the rice. Bring the rice until cooked.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Chicken thigh, chilled "Northern PF"	164 per 1 kg	98, 40
Krasnodar rice "National"	83.69 per pack (900 g)	21, 40
Onion	19, 99 per 1 kg	~3
Unwashed carrots	21, 90 per 1 kg	~3
Garlic	139 per 1 kg	~6, 50
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~3
Total: 135, 30 rubles per dish, 22, 60 rubles per serving.

3. Chicken meatballs with pasta

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 130 g chicken breast fillet;
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil;
• 2 tablespoons canned tomatoes in their own juice
• ¼ bulbs;
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ glass of water;
• 60 g pasta.

Preparation

Turn the chicken fillet into minced meat, add chopped onions, spices and a pinch of salt to it. Roll small meatballs with wet hands. Pour oil into a frying pan, fry the meat balls until golden brown. Then fill them with water, add canned tomatoes and leave to simmer under the lid until tender (7-10 minutes). Boil the pasta in water with a pinch of salt, place the meatballs on top of them and pour over the sauce.

The dish will be cheaper if you buy a chicken breast on the bone and cut the fillets yourself.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Chicken breast fillet "Petelinka"	279 per 1 kg	36, 27
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Onion	19, 99 per 1 kg	~0, 50
Shebekinskiye pasta	49.99 per pack (450 g)	6, 67
Canned tomatoes Gustodoro	62.4 per can (400g)	~5
Total: 49.90 rubles per serving.

4. Pollock stewed with vegetables + garnish

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 1 pollock carcass weighing about 200 g;
• 1 carrot;
• ½ onion;
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil;
• ½ teaspoon salt;
• 1 large potato tuber.

Preparation

Cut the pollock carcass into large pieces, chop the onion, and grate the carrots on a coarse grater. Grease a frying pan with oil, lay out pieces of pollock, cover the space between them with vegetables, add a little water and simmer until tender. Peel the potatoes, cut into large cubes and boil in salted water.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Gutted pollock "Russian Fish Company"	189 per 1 kg	37, 80
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Onion	19, 99 per 1 kg	~1
Carrot	21, 9 per 1 kg	~1, 40
Potato	24, 99 per 1 kg	~4
Total: 45, 70 rubles per serving.

5. Chicken drumsticks with potatoes baked in a sleeve

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 2 chicken drumsticks;
• 2 medium potato tubers;
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 clove of garlic;
• ½ spoonful of salt.

Preparation

Combine oil, garlic, salt and your favorite spices. Spread this mixture over your shins. Cut the potatoes into circles or cubes, put them in a roasting sleeve, put the drumsticks on top. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes at 200 degrees.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Chicken drumstick "Northern PF"	199 per 1 kg	~36
Potato	24, 99 per 1 kg	~5
Garlic	139 per 1 kg	~0, 30
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Baking bags Master Fresh	31, 90 per pack (5 items)	6, 38
Total: 49.20 rubles per serving.

6. Buckwheat with mushrooms in a pot

Ingredients for 1 serving:

• 80 g buckwheat;
• 100 g of champignons;
• ½ small onion;
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil;
• ½ spoonful of salt.

Preparation

Slice the mushrooms and fry in oil until golden brown. Reduce heat, add finely chopped onion and salt, cook for 5 minutes. Rinse the buckwheat. Place all ingredients in a pot. Foods should occupy no more than half of the dish's volume. Pour boiling water so that it is 1 cm higher than the cereal, stir. Season to taste. Place the pot in an oven preheated to 200 degrees for 40–45 minutes.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Buckwheat groats "National"	66 per pack (900 g)	5, 90
Champignon	259, 90 per 1 kg	25, 99
Onion	19, 99 per 1 kg	~1
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Total: 34, 40 rubles per serving.

7. Potato casserole with sour cream and garlic

Ingredients for 6 servings:

• 700 g potatoes;
• 200 g sour cream;
• 2 eggs;
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil;
• 3 cloves of garlic.

Preparation

Boil the potatoes in their skins, peel, cut into circles and place in a greased dish. Whisk sour cream with salt, eggs and chopped garlic, pour the mixture over the potatoes and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes at 200 degrees.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Potato	24, 99 per 1 kg	17, 50
Garlic	139 per 1 kg	~1
Egg "Sinyavinskoe" C1	69, 90 for a dozen	14
Sour cream "Prostokvashino", 10%	56, 79 per package (315 g)	36
Total: 70 rubles per dish, 11, 70 rubles per serving.

8. Chicken liver with pancakes

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 300 g chicken liver;
• 8 tablespoons of cream;
• 2 tablespoons of oil;
• 2 potato tubers;
• 1 egg;
• 20 g flour;
• ¼ bulbs;
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

Preparation

Cut the liver into small pieces, salt, fry a little on a spoonful of butter, then pour in the cream and simmer until tender. Grate potatoes and squeeze out excess liquid. Combine the potato mixture with salt, flour, egg and finely chopped onion. Shape the pancakes and fry until tender with the remaining oil.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Chilled chicken liver "Northern PF"	199.9 for 1 kg	60
Cream "House in the village", 10%	45, 59 per pack (200 g)	~16, 80
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~3
Potato	24, 99 per 1 kg	~5
Egg "Sinyavinskoe" C1	69, 90 for a dozen	7
Flour "Makfa"	43, 90 per 1 kg	0, 88
Onion	19, 99 per 1 kg	~0, 50
Total: 93, 20 rubles per dish, 46, 60 rubles per serving.

9. Chicken meatballs with cabbage

Ingredients for 8 servings:

• 700 g chicken fillet;
• 200 g of rice;
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil;
• 600 g cabbage;
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

Preparation

Make minced chicken fillet, add salt and pepper to taste. Cook rice until half cooked, refrigerate. Mix it with minced meat. Form meatballs. Chop the cabbage.

Lubricate the bottom of a saucepan or deep saucepan with thick sides. Lay out a layer of cabbage, then a layer of meatballs. Fill the voids with cabbage. Repeat the manipulations until the meatballs and cabbage run out. Stir the tomato paste in a glass of water, pour the liquid into a saucepan. Cover and simmer until meatballs are tender (about an hour).

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Chilled chicken fillet "Petelinka"	279 per 1 kg	195, 30
Krasnodar rice "National"	83.69 per pack (900 g)	18, 60
White cabbage	12, 90 per 1 kg	7, 80
Tomato paste "Glavprodukt"	70 per can (380 g)	~6
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Total: 229.20 rubles per dish, 28.65 rubles per serving.

10. Pangasius in batter with mashed potatoes

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 300 g pangasius fillet;
• 4 medium potato tubers;
• 1 egg;
• 20 g flour;
• 150 ml of milk;
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil;
• 1 tablespoon of salt.

Preparation

Cut the pangasius fillet into medium pieces. For batter, beat the egg with a mixer, add salt, spices and flour. Dip the pieces of fish in batter and fry in a greased pan.

For mashed potatoes, peel and boil the potatoes with a pinch of salt. Drain the water, mash the tubers in mashed potatoes, adding a little warmed milk.

Calculations

Ingredient	Package price or 1 kg of product, rubles	The cost of an ingredient in a dish, rubles
Pangasius fillet "Russian Fish Company"	224 per 1 kg	67, 20
Sunflower oil "Sloboda"	95, 39 for 1 liter	~1, 50
Potato	24, 99 per 1 kg	~10
Egg "Sinyavinskoe" C1	69, 90 for a dozen	7
Flour "Makfa"	43, 90 per 1 kg	0, 88
Pasteurized milk "Prostokvashino", 1.5%	54.99 per bottle (930g)	9
Total: 95, 60 rubles per dish, 47, 80 rubles per serving.