140 Recipes and Tips to Elevate Simple,

Fresh Meals Any Night of the Week

Melissa dArabian
with Raquel Pelzel
Photographs by Ben Fink

Clarkson Potter/Publishers
New York

contents
6

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Ten Dollar Dinners

introduction // 8
making ten dollar dinners work for you // 15
how to use ten dollar dinners // 16
strategies for saving // 18
the ten dollar dinner pantry // 25
1

appetizers & snacks small bites to start things off // 29

soups a meal in a bowl // 63

salads fresh, healthy, and budget-friendly // 87

4 fish & seafood strategies for pricey proteins // 113

5 chicken the irreplaceable chicken dinner // 137
6 pork & beef here s to meat on a budget! // 169
7

vegetables as a main or a side // 201

8 starchy sides opportunities to save your budget // 237

9 pasta a budget staple // 263
10 dessert a sweet last impression // 281
11

breakfast bonus chapter! // 317

acknowledgments // 352
recipe cost index // 355
index // 359

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Ten Dollar Dinners

making

ten dollar dinners

work for you

This book is about serving delicious food to your family and friends
(and yourself) and how to do that while saving money. Some of that
happens when youre out grocery shopping: looking for managers
specials, markdowns, and advertised weekly deals (boneless chicken
breasts when theyre on sale can be more than half their usual price).
However, grocery-store cash-register success stories are only part of
the big picture. The other part happens at home. A combination of
smart recipes, ingredient-management strategies, and cost-saving tips
adds up to less waste and more economy in the kitchen (for example,
use cabbage to bulk up fennel, water adds volume to chicken broth,
and stretch shrimp with inexpensive and filling beans or pasta).
Cooking on a budget should feel greatI feel empowered knowing that I spend my familys resources wisely and still cook fantastic
meals. What I hope you will take away after reading this book is that
you can serve exciting, fresh, and tasty food without sacrifice.
Recipe costs are calculated according to how much of each ingredient is used, not by the price of the entire package of the ingredient.
The cost of a cup of sugar, for instance, counts toward the total cost of
introduction

// 15

the recipe youre making, even if you bought the sugar two months ago and it
is sitting on your shelf. Pantry ingredients such as sugar and flour are usually
good budget bets, not because they dont count but because they are usually
inexpensive commodity items bought in large quantities that last a long time.
Often-used long-lasting items also save money (as long as you use the item
before it can spoil!) because larger packaged ingredients are often cheaper per
ounce or per cup.
Some of you may already have a complete pantry outfitted with the staples.
However, for those of you setting up a kitchen for the first time, its smart to
stock your pantry over the course of several weeks so youre not facing a hefty
grocery bill the first time you go to the store. Focus on the least expensive
recipes in this book to build your arsenal of ingredients, and stock up according to what is on sale (make a copy of my list of pantry staples on pages 2627
to bring with you to the store). Before you know it, you will have a kitchen full
of basic essentials ready to support your ten dollar dinner efforts.
Being conscious of your buying choices is a game as much as it is a lifestyle.
Once you see how much money you can save by making informed buying decisions, youll be scoping out deals and bargains like a pro and saving a ton while
youre at it.

How to Use Ten Dollar Dinners

Here is my promise: you can eat a delicious meal for ten dollars. Not one dish,
but a meal. A ten dollar dinner is a main dish plus two other dishes (maybe a
side dish and dessert, or an appetizer and a salad). If you choose a pricier main
dish, then you compensate by serving two other less-expensive dishes.
To help you plan your own ten dollar dinner menus, see the convenient
scale that appears with each recipe that tells you approximately how much each
dish will cost: downright cheap, middle of the road, or pricey. (See my recipe
cost index on page 355.)
16

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Ten Dollar Dinners

Caramelized Onio

I love creating meals inspired by Parisian bistros, and this is a play off one of m
bavette aux eschallotes. I substitute a moderately priced yet flavorful skirt s
deeply caramelized
onions
French-Cut Steak
with instead of the pricey shallots. Its one of my favorite
breaking theCaramelized
bank. Onions
I love creating meals inspired by Parisian bistros, and this is a play off one of my favorite steak dishes,
bavette aux eschallotes. I substitute a moderately priced yet flavorful skirt steak and go for buttery and
deeply caramelized onions instead of the pricey shallots. Its one of my favorite ways to eat steak without
breaking the bank.

serves

preparation time:
10 minutes (plus 15 minutes to
marinate)

cooking time:
35 minutes

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

teaspoon onion powder

teaspoon garlic powder

serves

1 teaspoons kosher salt

teaspoon plus a pinch of
ground black pepper
1 pound skirt steak, halved
crosswise
4 tablespoons unsalted butter

Mix the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon

of the salt, and teaspoon of the pepper together in a small
bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over both sides of the steak, then
place the steak on a large plate and set aside for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over low heat. Once the
butter is melted, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, caramelized, and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer the onions to a bowl and set aside.

Wipe the pan with a paper towel and melt 1 more tablespoon of the butter with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil
over high heat. Add the steaks and sear until nicely browned,
about 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare doneness.
Transfer the steaks to a cutting board and loosely tent with
aluminum foil.

Pour the wine and vinegar into the pan and simmer until
reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Return the onions to
the pan with the broth and simmer until reduced by half, about
4 minutes. Add the remaining teaspoon salt and pinch of
pepper, turn off the heat, and whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Slice the steak into thin pieces, divide among
4 plates, and serve with the onions and sauce.

preparation time:
10 minutes (plus 15 minutes to
marinate)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 sweet onions, such as Maui or

Vidalia, halved and thinly sliced

cup dry white wine

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
cup beef broth

Mix the paprika, onion powd

of the salt, and teaspoon of
bowl. Sprinkle the mixture over
place the steak on a large plate an

Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoo

spoon of the oil in a large sk
cooking time:
35 minutesthe book and as a companion to each recipe,
Throughout
youllis
seemelted,
five dots add the onions
butter
with the serving information. The shaded dots relate to the
costs
of thesoft,
recipe,
ally,
until
caramelized, and g
with one shaded dot being the least pricey.
utes. Transfer the onions to a bow
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
198 \\ Ten Dollar Dinners

pork anD beef

// 199

If you choose a high-range main dish, then to balance the cost, you need

teaspoon
onion powder
tochoose
two complementary
low-range menu items.

Wipe the pan with a paper t

spoon of the butter with the
choosing your two complementary dishes.
1 teaspoons kosher salt
over
highpossible,
heat. Add the steaks an
If youre in a cash crunch and need to build the cheapest
dinner

teaspoon
plus
a
pinch
of
choose three low-range options.
about 3 minutes on each side
ground black pepper
If youre hosting a dinner party and want to pull out all
the stops,the
pick steaks
all
Transfer
to a cutting
1 pound
skirt steak,
midand high-range
recipeshalved
(knowing that youll only extend your ten
aluminum foil.
crosswise
dollar
budget by a few bucks).
Ifyou
choose a low-range
main dish, then you have more flexibility in
teaspoon
garlic powder

tablespoons
unsalted
butter
The4 dots
that accompany
each recipe
help keep the guesswork out of the
Pour the wine and vinegar i
Ten Dollar
Dinners
equation.
Splurge
on
one
course,
save
on
another,
and feel
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
reduced
by half, about 2 m
confident about creating a menu that satisfies your craving and your budget.
2 sweet onions, such as Maui or
Vidalia, halved and thinly sliced

cup dry white wine

the pan with the broth and simme

4 minutes. Add the remaining
introduction // 17
pepper, turn off the heat, and wh

Roasted Broccoli
with Parmesan Cheese
Roasting broccoli really brings out its sweetness. Add some grated Parmesan cheese and it becomes a
crave-worthy side dish. People often throw away the stems of broccoli, but instead give them a two-second
trim with the vegetable peeler and they become wonderfully tender and delicious. I keep them attached to
the florets and trim the broccoli into long and lanky trees. The broccoli looks more elegant that way, plus
my kids think its fun to eat trees for dinner! Preheating the pan gives the broccoli a boost to help it
caramelize right from the start and prevents the crowns from drying out.

serves

preparation time:
10 minutes

cooking time:
15 minutes

1 head broccoli
2 tablespoons olive oil
teaspoon kosher salt
teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
cheese

1
2

Place a rimmed baking dish on the ovens middle rack.

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Place the broccoli on a cutting board. Use a vegetable

peeler to peel away the tough outer skin of the stalk, then
halve the broccoli lengthwise. Slice each broccoli half into 3 or
4 long trees, keeping the florets attached to the stalk.

Arrange the broccoli in a single layer, cut side down, in

the prepared baking dish and drizzle with the olive oil.
Season with the salt and pepper and place in the oven to roast
until the sides start to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the
pan from the oven and turn over the broccoli. Sprinkle with
the grated Parmesan and cook until the cheese melts, about
5 minutes. Transfer to a platter and serve hot.

deals, dollars & sense: hearty vegetables

When you shop for produce, its a smart tactic to buy a few
hearty vegetables along with the more fragile ones.
Long-lasting veggies like broccoli and carrots keep well in
the crisper, ensuring you always have a vegetable on hand
even at the end of the week. Use up the more fragile
veggies, such as salad greens and mushrooms, first.

218

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TEN DOLLAR DINNERS

VEGETABLES

// 219

158

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TEN DOLLAR DINNERS

Mustard Chicken
Using Dijon mustard is very common in classic French cooking. Its a flavorful way to build an elegant and
interesting sauce for very little expense. Bold Dijon mustard gives the sauce for braised chicken depth and
character and a surprising creaminess. If you dont already have Dijon mustard in your pantry, its a worthy
addition to your shopping list.

deals, dollars & sense: sour cream

serves

preparation time:
15 minutes

I buy sour cream in small tubs because once opened, it

should be used quickly. Its great in so many dishes and can
even be used as a substitute for buttermilk, heavy cream, or
plain yogurt in many recipes.

cooking time:
1 hour, 15 minutes

1 pounds chicken thighs (about

8), rinsed and patted dry
teaspoon kosher salt
teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
pound white button
mushrooms, quartered
3 garlic cloves, finely minced or
pressed through a garlic press
1 tomato, cored, halved, and
chopped, or cup canned
chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried tarragon
cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth, plus extra
if needed
cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons sour cream
(optional)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Place the chicken on a cutting

board and remove and discard the skin. Season the meat
with the salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a
heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
Add the thighs, smooth side down, and cook until browned,
about 4 minutes. Turn over the thighs and brown the other
side, about 3 minutes more. Transfer the chicken to a plate and
set aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil along with the

onion and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, for about
5 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms and continue to cook until
the mushrooms are soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and
cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes, and then add the tomato
and flour and cook, stirring, until the tomato begins to break
down, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tarragon. Raise the heat
and pour in the wine, letting it simmer for 1 minute before
returning the chicken to the pot. Pour in enough broth to
reach halfway up the sides of the chicken, then cover the
pot and place it in the oven to braise, until the chicken pulls
recipe continues

CHICKEN

// 159

Chicken Meatballs
These meatballs are a great use for chicken breasts that you might not have considered before. Just grind
up the meat (its so easy) in the food processor with some big-flavor ingredients such as bacon for a smokysalty richness and chili powder and cayenne pepper for a bit of kick, and you have the foundation for amazing
meatballs. Youll be surprised how easy it is, plus, you can introduce new flavors to your family in a familiar
package. Turn the chicken mixture into patties for nutritious and delicious burgers with a fun twist.

away from the bone easily, about 45 minutes, removing the lid
halfway through cooking.

preparation time:

Remove the pot from the oven, use tongs to transfer the
chicken to a plate, and set aside. Add the mustard and
sour cream (if using) to the sauce and stir to combine. Then
return the chicken to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes to
bring the flavors together before serving.

deals, dollars & sense:

buying what you need
When trying out a new recipe, if you find yourself making a
long shopping list full of items you never use, stop! Instead,
think about what can be replaced (or even cut). If a recipe
calls for smoked paprika, maybe you could add a dash of
liquid smoke or bacon instead?
Im all for trying new ingredients, especially ones like
smoked paprika that can be used in so many ways (so even if
that smoked paprika is $5, itll last a long time and perk up
everything from a Sunday pasta sauce to burgers and
pan-fried potatoes). But, limiting the number of those
ingredients on your list will cushion you against sticker
shock. When you do buy something totally new, make a
point to search out recipes that call for your new ingredient,
so it doesnt sit there untouched on the shelf.

serves

25 minutes (plus 45 minutes to chill)

cooking time:
20 minutes

2 large boneless, skinless chicken

breasts (about pound),
rinsed and patted dry, sliced
into 1-inch cubes
1 bacon strip
3 slices sandwich bread, roughly
torn into small pieces
2 teaspoons chili powder
teaspoon cayenne pepper
teaspoon kosher salt
cup whole milk
1 large egg, lightly beaten
small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely minced or
pressed through a garlic press
cup grated Parmesan cheese,
plus extra for sprinkling over
the meatballs

1
2

Place the chicken and the bacon on a plate and freeze to

chill for 20 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the bread, chili powder, cayenne, and

salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until you
have fine bread crumbs. Divide the bread crumbs between
two medium bowls. Set one bowl aside and stir the milk into
the bread crumbs in the other bowl.

Add half the chilled chicken and all of the bacon to the
food processor and pulse to combine into a rough mixture. Add the milk-and-bread-crumb mixture to the food
processor along with the egg, onion, garlic, and Parmesan
and process until very well combined (the mixture will be
almost creamy). Add the remaining chilled chicken cubes to
the food processor and pulse just to combine. The mixture
will be semismooth with small chunks of chicken. Using a
1-inch small scoop, divide the mixture into about 30 small
meatballs. Place the meatballs on a parchment paperlined
rimmed baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes. Remove the
pan from the freezer and roll the meatballs through the
reserved bread crumbs to lightly and evenly coat the surface.
Return the meatballs to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
recipe continues

cup vegetable oil

Fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely
chopped (optional)

160

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Ten Dollar Dinners

chicken

// 161

Classic Apple Tart

Apple tart is my familys favorite dessert. I love it because it makes the house smell amazing and the tart
looks so polished and beautiful (taking a few extra minutes to fan out the apples makes it look like it came
from a bakery!). This is a French-style apple tart, not an apple pie, meaning a wedge of the tart is thinner
and neater than a slice of all-American apple pie. Try it topped with ice cream for that delicious la mode
taste. Rolling the dough for the tart makes for a finer-textured crust, but on many occasions I have simply
pressed the crust into place with great results.

makes one 9- or 9-inch tart

preparation time:
20 minutes (plus 15 minutes to chill
the dough and 5 minutes to cool)

cooking time:
1 hour

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into

1-inch cubes, plus
1 tablespoon, melted
1 cups all-purpose flour, plus
extra for rolling dough
teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
3 Granny Smith apples
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Set the cubed butter on a plate and place it in the freezer

for 15 minutes. Fill a cup with ice and water and set aside.
Place 1 cups of the flour, 8 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the bowl of a food processor and pulse
to combine. Take the butter out of the freezer and add it to
the flour. Pulse the mixture until it looks like wet sand, about
10 seconds. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the ice water and pulse
until the dough comes together into a ball.

Lightly flour your work surface and place the dough on

top. Then lightly flour the top of the dough and roll to
about a 10- to 11-inch circle, sprinkling more flour under
and on top of the dough as necessary. Gently drape the dough
over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 9- or 9-inch fluted tart
pan (ideally one with a removable bottom). Fit the dough into
the bottom and up the sides of the pan as evenly as possible
and press off excess dough from the fluted rim. Set the tart pan
on a baking sheet and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Peel, core, and quarter the

apples and then thinly slice them lengthwise. Place the
apples in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice, the cinnamon, and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and 8 teaspoon
salt. Remove the baking sheet with the tart shell from the
refrigerator. Arrange the apples in concentric circles so they
overlap slightly. Brush the edges of the crust with the melted
butter and then bake until the edges are golden and the apples
have cooked down, about 1 hour. Cool for 15 minutes before
slicing and serving.
DESSERT

// 291