Good food equals happiness. As well as your body thriving on all the nutrients in a well-balanced meal, there’s a certain flavour of joy that accompanies sitting down with a dish that you know will be satisfying. If I had all the hours in the day, and all the money in the world, I would buy the freshest, most luxurious ingredients, and spend hours making the most delicious dinners. Alas, student life is not conducive to that lifestyle. After a long day of college, the last thing I want to do is stand in my shared kitchen for more than twenty minutes and slave over a dish that uses up all the ingredients in my fridge, only to realise I have to do the same thing all over again tomorrow night. However, I’ve mostly figured out how to find the balance between the ideal and the practical, and most nights, (some nights just require takeout), I am happy with the meal I’ve prepared.
When I first came to college, finding the creativity, patience, and skill to go grocery shopping and cook dinner every night was difficult. I was living on my own for the first time, and before then, had never needed to plan out meals for the week, let alone cook them. However, with a little practice, grocery shopping has become easier, and I’ve learned how to budget where I can and how to decide what is worth spending the extra euro on (extra virgin olive oil, every time). Though I’ve experimented with some truly odd recipe combinations, most nights I have been able to find a balance between easy meals and more exciting, yet still budget-friendly recipes. Here are a few of my favorites to inspire you. I’ve included prices for ingredients that aren’t usually pantry essentials, and most can be found at Tesco.
Tomato Gnocchi Bake
Gnocchi, the outlier in the pasta community, is traditionally a simple mix of potatoes, flour, and eggs. It often gets overlooked when grocery shopping, but is great for a quick and delicious meal. My absolute favorite gnocchi dish is adapted from a New York Times recipe, and it’s been a family staple in the Criscuolo household for a few years. We whip it out for dinner parties or a quiet night in front of the TV, and it’s delicious every time. Now, at school, it’smy comfort meal, and I make it when I’m missing home.
This recipe is approximate, and can be adjusted as necessary for the amount of servings you’d like. This is enough for 2-3 servings, which means delicious leftovers!
1 tsp olive oil
1 pkg of gnocchi (Tesco brand is around €1.40)
1 pkg of cherry tomatoes (under €3), or more if you are a tomato lover like I am
Around 1 tbsp butter
1 pkg fresh mozzarella (€1.35), torn into even pieces
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Salt to taste
Optional: a bit of basil
Heat the olive oil in an oven-proof pan, and once hot, add in the gnocchi. Let these cook, covered, until they are toasty and golden brown on the outside, tossing every so often to ensure even cooking. Set aside. Melt the butter and chopped garlic in the same pan and add the cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook the tomatoes down, and burst with a spatula as they soften. Once the juice from the tomatoes thickens, stir in the gnocchi and basil, (if using), and place the mozzarella pieces on top. Broil the dish in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted and turning golden brown.
Courgette Spaghetti
One of the first cookbooks I bought for myself included a delicious recipe for courgette spaghetti, and I make it a few times a month. Originally, I was apprehensive about buying a two pack of courgettes, (what’s typically sold at Tesco), as I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the remaining courgette, but this recipe is so delicious and easy to make, you will want to make it more than once a week – perfect to use up both courgettes in the pack.
The recipe is approximate and can be adjusted based on how much pasta you would like to eat.
1 courgette (a 2-pack is €1.69), sliced in thin strips
1 Tbsp olive oil
One serving of spaghetti (€1.65/pkg)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Grated parmesan cheese (€1.99/pkg)
In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and garlic. Once hot, add the courgette and cook it down until it’s mushy and fragrant (which will take more than 10 minutes). Boil the spaghetti in a separate pot, and when draining, reserve a cup of the starchy water. Add the spaghetti to the courgette and toss, adding in some of the water if it’s too thick. Stir in as much parmesan as you would like and enjoy!
Homemade Sushi
I will always associate sushi with dinner with friends, and it’s one of my favourite foods. However, going out to get sushi can be expensive, and I only will do so on special occasions. But on days when I would like a little decadence at home, I make my own. It’s easier and cheaper than you think, and there are so many possible combinations.
A pack of Yaki Nori Seaweed is €3 for 10 sheets from Dunnes, which is well worth it, and will last for ages in your pantry.
You also don’t need to buy specific sushi rice, regular rice works just as well, and you can add a bit of white wine or rice wine vinegar in for taste if desired.
My favorite sushi combinations are cucumber and tofu, canned tuna and cucumber, broccolini and tuna (it sounds weird but it’s good, I promise), tofu and carrots, and the list goes on and on. Pretty much whatever is in your fridge will work. I like to make sure I have something crunchy and a bit of protein in there to balance it out.
When rolling the seaweed, spread the rice thinly over the non-shiny side, (there’s instructions on the package), and leave an inch gap on the end. Fill your roll, roll it carefully up, and cut into pieces. Or eat it like a burrito, that works too.
Regular soy sauce works well for dipping, or you can get even fancier and mix some honey, soy sauce, and white wine or rice wine vinegar to make a tasty sauce.
Roasted Chickpeas
Chickpeas are my absolute favorite bean, and are ideal for a little protein boost in pasta, rice, on salad, or, (if you have a blender), for homemade hummus. A can in Tesco costs 43 cents, so they’re a great pantry item to stock up on. The best way to eat chickpeas, (in my opinion), is to coat them in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and then stick them in the air fryer or on a sheet pan in the oven and cook until they’re nice and crispy. This adds a nice crunch to your meal!
I hope you’ve found some inspiration from these recipes, and that your meals this week will be better than ever. Happy cooking and even happier eating!
