Homecooked dinners aren’t just delicious and comforting. They can be cheap, too! If you make it a habit to cook dinner every day at home, you will realize how much money you can save. Shop in local markets and choose ingredients that aren’t heavy on the wallet: proteins like chicken and fish, or lots of locally-grown vegetables like leafy greens and chili peppers.
The cost breakdown for each recipe in this round-up was cross-checked through a couple of groceries in Metro Manila. Use these 7 dinner recipes to whip up budget-friendly dinners at home: each serving will cost you less than P100!
1 Chicken Basil Stir-Fry
Stir-fry dishes are quick-cooking, fuss-free, and cheap. Add lots of basil for a boost of herby flavor!
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P107
Recipe yield 3
Cost per serving P36
2 Calamansi Fish Fillets
Use your favorite white fish fillet and let it sit in a tangy marinade for an easy-to-make dinner.
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P216
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P54
3 Baked Chicken with Ginger-Scallion Sauce
You can’t go wrong with chicken! This dish has Asian flavors that are easy to love. Chicken is also an economical choice for a hearty protein.
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P149
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P20
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4 Menudo
The classics are hard to beat. This Filipino favorite also freezes well, so make a big batch and keep some in your freezer for weekday dinners.
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P330
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P82
5 Beef and Sausage Stew
Stews are comforting and delicious—this one has sausages that don’t need a lot of prep work and give lots of flavor to your regular beef stew.
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P252
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P63
6 Fish and Vegetables with Tausi
Need a recipe for a light dinner? This one is perfect! Toss fish and vegetables together and add tausi for extra flavor.
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P223
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P56
7 Shrimp Sinigang Rice
You can save yourself a lot of time by cooking your rice in sinigang broth. You’ll be washing less dishes, too!
Recipe cost breakdown:
Total cost P141
Recipe yield 4
Cost per serving P35
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