Prepper Pantry Recipe for Food Shortages: Extreme Budget Meal

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is often less expensive and has a neutral flavor.

Begin by discussing the affordability and healthiness of the meal, emphasizing that it can be made with pantry staples.

Use brown or green lentils; mention that cooking times may vary based on the type of lentils used.

Select elbow noodles for the pasta, but state that any type of pasta can be used, including breaking spaghetti into pieces if necessary.

Prepare a can of diced tomatoes and tomato paste; mention that tomato sauce can be a substitute if needed.

Chop one medium yellow onion and about 4-5 cloves of garlic, noting that onion powder or garlic powder can be used if fresh is not available.

Heat olive oil in the Instant Pot and sauté the chopped onion for about 5 minutes until softened.

Add chopped garlic and bay leaves to the pot after the onion has sautéed for 5 minutes.

Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste, cooking for about another minute to combine flavors.

Add cumin powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper to the mixture.

Add the dry lentils directly to the pot and stir to combine with the other ingredients.

Pour in the beef broth (or water with bouillon cubes) and stir again; secure the lid on the Instant Pot.

Set the Instant Pot to cook for about 20-25 minutes until the lentils are tender, ensuring to release the pressure fully before opening the lid.

After cooking, stir the lentils and check the consistency; add more water or broth if it seems too dry.

Add the elbow noodles to the lentil mixture, stir to combine, and cover the pot again.

Cook for another 10-15 minutes until the pasta is tender, adjusting the settings on the Instant Pot as necessary.

After cooking, check the consistency again and add more liquid if needed; serve with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste.

Optionally, garnish with parsley, chili flakes, or grated Parmesan cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens