Be A Gourmet Cook on a Budget

photo credit: ninjapoodles

Saving money on supermarket bills is something a lot of us are striving to do, but if you’re a “foodie” and don’t want to give up your gourmet tastes, that’s a bit tougher. But a foodie can be frugal according to Mint and here are a few of their recommendations for cheap but essential foods to gourmet up your mealtimes a bit:

• Sambal Oelek chili paste - it costs less than $4 but is pure chili and you can mix it with other ingredients to make incredible dipping sauces or spreads.
• Whole grain mustard - rarely more expensive than the standard stuff and you can make your meals look fancy, or make a sandwich taste special.
• Greek yoghurt - it is sometimes a little higher in price than other yoghurts but it is always unsweetened, creamy and thick and can be used to make dips, sauces and even in curries.
• Fresh ginger - you only ever need a little bit so ginger isn’t too expensive, but using fresh ginger is just like using fresh garlic - the taste is amazingly better than using any kind of preserved or dried version.
• Fresh dill - although this goes for all herbs - they’re usually better fresh - dill is inexpensive and can be used in all kinds of dishes.