Budget cooking: canned tomatoes
Stretching the last of your money just before your salary is deposited can be a challenge. You do want to eat well, though. Fortunately, canned tomatoes will get you a long way.
Fresh tomatoes are of course always tastier, but peeling them or making sauce from them takes some time. In addition, tomatoes in the Netherlands are often not of great quality outside the summer. So definitely stock up on a few cans of chopped or whole peeled tomatoes.
Pasta sauce
A simple tomato sauce is on the table in no time, and dried pasta costs next to nothing—or you may already have some at home. If you want a little more acidity and salt in your sauce, make puttanesca.
Chicken
Stewing chicken thighs in tomato sauce gives them much more flavor and keeps them tender. This recipe also adds rosemary and anchovies for a delicious stew.
Melanzane alla parmiggiana
The ultimate comfort food, and a real bargain. Layers of eggplant and cheese in a simmering tomato sauce—you can’t go wrong with melanzane alla parmiggiana.
Beans
Also incredibly affordable, and even tastier when you stew them in tomatoes for a long time. This recipe uses a pressure cooker; if you don’t have one, you can also leave the dish to simmer on the stove for a long time.
Shakshuka
Eggs poached in a spicy tomato sauce—this recipe is a good starting point. You can vary the herbs and spices, as long as you make sure you have good bread for mopping up the sauce.
Vegetables
Sauté some onions and garlic in olive oil and add kale, spinach or other vegetables. Fry for a few minutes, then add half a can of chopped tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and let simmer for five to ten minutes. Delicious with rice or mashed potatoes.
Curry
With a few Indian spices, you can add a lot of flavor to a curry. This version immediately takes your humble potato and cauliflower to the next level.
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