# What's the cheapest mainstay of your diet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [May 22, 2021, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699 "2021-05-22T16:37:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jungian_camisole1/32/3646_2.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/42 "2021-05-24T00:19:45Z")
Pinto beans! Start with 2 cups of pinto beans soaked overnight in a saltwater brine. Chop 4 slices of bacon and saute in a large pot until crisp. Remove bacon and drain the grease, then return 2 tablespoons of grease to your pot. Chop an onion (yellow or white will work) and saute until edges begin to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add brined pinto beans, 32 ounces of stock of your choice (I use homemade chicken stock), and taste for salt. If needed, add powdered beef bouillon. I know it sounds weird, but it really does work. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, cover and cook for about an hour with occasional stirring. Begin testing the beans for tenderness; you may need to add another 1/2 hour of simmering if the beans aren’t where you want them. When beans are tender, add two ladles of the beans and broth to your blender jar. Add to the blender 1 14.5 ounce can of whole tomatoes, a handful of cilantro (optional), 1/2 cup of pickled jalapenos and 1/3 cup of the jalapeno vinegar brine. Blend until smooth, the add to your pot of beans. Stir and let simmer until the soup thickens. Stir in reserved bacon. Serve with cornbread and let your tummy be happy! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/43 "2021-05-24T00:39:24Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > That sounds really good. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever cooked with barley. Give it a try, barley is in my opinion easier to cook with than rice, they have directions on the bag if you don’t want it made in a soup or stew. Townsends youtube channel has a few 17th and 18th century recipes for barley gruel [better than it sounds] and barley water [a beverage] that are also interesting. You can make cabbage soup with chicken or beef or pork stock instead of plain water as well - or vegetarian or vegan stock for that matter =) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/44 "2021-05-24T00:42:56Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > barley water [a beverage] Homer Simpson: “Mmm, barley water…” ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/45 "2021-05-24T06:16:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Homer Simpson: “Mmm, barley water…” Don’t knock it until you try it. Think of it as nonalcoholic and not hopped beer. In Britain it is commonly dosed with mint and lemon and sweetened to taste, taking advantage of the minerals and vitamins extracted from the barley. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/46 "2021-05-24T10:38:11Z")
Spaghetti. One can easily make a high end meat sauce with quality tomatoes and ingredients for under two dollars a plate. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/47 "2021-05-25T08:35:55Z")
Lentil curry with homemade roti. Mushroom risotto Butternut soup with homemade bread. Spicy tuna bao (made with canned tuna) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/48 "2021-05-25T08:43:35Z")
Egg drop soup - two eggs, a can of chicken broth, and a wee bit of soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, and cornstarch. It makes a good light meal or between-meals snack especially on cold days, and if I want to make a full meal out of it I can add some frozen wontons or potstickers. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/49 "2021-05-25T11:00:36Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > and cooked in the winter on a wood stove =) > 4 cups shredded cabbage, 1 cup each barley and northern beans, 1 large onion, 1 bag baby spinach, 3 or 4 medium carrots, 3 or 4 ribs celery, Original was savory, mom preferred thyme, I prefer italian herb blend, black pepper and salt to taste, a pound of the country style boneless ribs How large a pot so you use? And how much water? I’m wondering if it would fit in my instant pot. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/50 "2021-05-25T16:47:08Z")
Homemade bread and soup is cheap. However, with Covid gym closures I am eating less bread and today’s temperature with Humidex is 36C (97F), with 50 kph (30 mph) winds. In Canada, this is very unusual. I am not eating too much soup! ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699/51 "2021-05-25T18:22:37Z")
Never made it in a pressure cooker, though I do have a 6 qt one I use for other stuff. It should fit in a 6 qt - put all the solids in and at least cover with liquid. You can make it thiner and less stewlike if you like. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-cheapest-mainstay-of-your-diet/942699.md?page=2)