Inexpensive Indian Food
The Frugal Foodie: Monica Bhide
Forget those pricey condiments and premade timesavers. Preparing an authentic Indian meal for less than $15 is a no brainer -- if you follow these tips from The Washingtonian.
"Monica Bhide studies a row of jars filled with things like fig chutney, tamarind curry and tikka masala sauce. Aditi Spice Depot, an Indian grocery store in Vienna, is packed with these premade foodstuffs that Bhide, a food writer and cooking teacher, calls her "helpers." She often buys the chutneys, spice mixes, sauces, and pickles as time savers and thinks they are perfect for the many home cooks who find the plethora of spices and ingredients typically called for in Indian dishes intimidating.On this day, however, the only thing that's intimidating Bhide--author of the new cookbook Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen--is her budget. For this Frugal Foodie challenge, she's agreed to cook dinner for four for less than $15--not including standard pantry items such as sugar, flour, and olive oil..."
