I’m broke AF, and I’m good at making bread, which is cheap,
any recommendations about what to put in them that’s also cheap AF, I mean a tier lower than cold cuts/cheese slices? that won’t give me scurvy.
ideally something appetizing and not depression fuel. I’m open to vegan friendly options too.
If you have an air fryer, tofu slabs!
Slice a block of tofu short-ways into six to eight slices. Season on each side with oil and choice of seasoning. I use adoboe seasoning, garlic salt, paprika, and other savory flavors. Lay in a single layer in the air fryer and fry for 15 mins at 400 F, flipping with tongs halfway through. Put on bread, add condiments if you want, and eat. Leftover slices can be put into the fridge and either reheated or eaten as cold cuts.
Where I am, this works out to less than a dollar per sandwich, and makes a complete protein. Add some lettuce and tomato or other veg for more flavor, fiber, and vitamins if you can swing it.
Idk if you go to Costco but I get a $5 rotisserie chicken.
assuming a costco is near where op lives. most are not inside cities. im in a city where there is a costco inside of one they are quite a drive out with a car.
Egg mayo/salad cream?
If you have access to a hot pot or oven, braising your own meat will be cheaper than cold cuts. Pork, whole chickens, and parts of turkey will be cheaper by the pound than their equivalent meat as a cold cut.
Mashed chickpeas with vegan mayo is a good approximation of a tunafish sandwich.
Op post a budget and how many days you need it to last. That’s far more helpful.
Also what do you have to cook in? Stovetop? Oven? Microwave? Air fryer? Crockpot?
We can be far more helpful if we know some details
Zero carb tortillas / pizza sauce / cheese/pepperoni is super cheep pizza.
Cast iron pan / fresh green beans / butter / garlic
Chicken / rice/broth soup
Rice is super cheap and can be used with a combination of ingredients. And makes quite a few meals. I miss being able to eat rice.
Zucchini sliced, green pepper, red pepper, onion, andoulie sausage if you can afford it. Coat in Italian seasoning or slap ya momma.
Air fry for 15 minutes. You can easily get two meals out of that
Peanutbutter and jelly.
Peanut butter is one of the cheapest shelf stable foods, either per calorie or per gram of protein. It’s obviously delicious with some sort of fruit jelly/jam. And the protein in peanuts complements the protein in bread, covers all the essential amino acids.
Spreadable or meltable cheeses are pretty delicious on toast, and can be supplemented with seasonings. I put cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning on my sourdough slices most mornings.
There are also a ton of delicious toppings for open face “sandwiches” or toast:
- Avocado is a classic for a reason. If avocados are cheap near you, that can be an option.
- Fresh tomatoes on toast are a classic in Spain for a reason, too.
- Sardines or other canned fish/seafood, if you like that.
- Mediterranean spreads like hummus, baba ganoush, muhammara, harissa, etc.
- Shrimp, like gambas al ajillo or something similar, go really well on toast.
- Roasted mushrooms
If you’re baking your own bread, you can also try to shape some little bread bowls and fill them with soup. French onion soup takes some time but the ingredients are pretty cheap.
Not all of these options are ultra cheap, but many are flavorful enough that even small portions can work out to be really affordable on a per calorie basis, for stretching that budget with bread.
I’m Catalan, live in the US, I’d kill for tomatoes good enough for Pa amb tomaquet,
Tomato. PB. Egg.
This will sound insane, but it’s amazing. It’s a niche fast food in West Africa that I make myself a few times a year.
First, get some bean flour. Any kind will do. Black eyed pea flour is best, but it’s usually only something you find in an African food shop. Chic pea flour just as good, so is black bean flour.
Mix with salt, herbs, chicken bullion, and water into a dough and deep fry spoonfuls in a skillet into fritters.
Make up a batch of spicy tomato sauce. Lots of onions and oil and pepper.
Put those fritters in 6-10 inches (have someone else measure, guys) of the cheapest, thin baguette money can buy. Slather in sauce. Enjoy.
Entirely vegan if you want. Complete protein. Zesty, spicy deliciousness.
Online, look for kosai or chichena recipes for the fritters.
Bizarro falafel. I might try this.
Basically, yeah. Except the black eyed pea flour gives it a very light and airy texture, as compared to falafel, almost cakey. It feels like eating a savory doughnut hole sandwich. It feels wrong, and tastes like heaven.
they look delicious,thanks
Peanut Butter. As a diabetic it’s my go to when I want something sweet. As long as it’s natural.
Also I don’t know your kitchen situation but you can live off just Potatoes and they’re filling. Microwave, bake, or air fryer. They are awesome in air fryer.
But how bad off are you if you can’t even get cheese slices?
Like what’s your budget? How many days before you get paid and how long do you need a extremely tight budget for?
Canned tuna is good and cheap.
Sweet pickles or barbecue sauce on the meat between two pieces of bread, idk it isn’t bad. Definitely poverty food though.
1 little can will get you 2 or 3 sandwiches, and a big can will get you like 7 or 8.
You can also fake canned tuna with mashing up canned chickpeas, adding mayo, salt and seaweed. A 14 oz can of chickpeas is about a can of tuna.
The seaweed is probably a; bit expensive here, but you could probably omit it, just season to taste.
Peanut butter! Cheap, high calorie, with fats and proteins to balance the carbs. You can get jelly packets or even ketchup packets in a pinch (not quite as bad as it sounds) to keep it from getting repetitive.
Also consider rice and beans!
Fry/griddle with a little butter like a grilled cheese if you’re craving something warm. Just don’t over load it with the peanut butter cause it’ll sploosh out on the first bite
