My dad swore by adding a can of chickpeas to stretch any soup, and after trying it with a $3 pot of tomato soup, I got three extra servings.

He was totally right, and now I keep a few cans in the pantry for whenever a meal feels a bit light, so what's your favorite cheap ingredient to bulk up a dinner?

4 comments

4 Comments

hugotaylor1mo ago

My grandma always added a handful of rice to her chili. I see this everywhere now, people using one cheap staple to make a meal go further. It feels like a quiet, shared kind of kitchen wisdom that gets passed around.

max_cooper211mo ago

Honestly, that "stretch any soup" idea... I find it just waters down the flavor too much.

wesleythompson1mo ago

Max_cooper21 has a point, but maybe the trick is finding a filler that soaks up the broth without thinning it out.

charlies377d ago

Grandma's rice trick is a classic. It's like how some folks add stale bread to meatballs or soak oats in meatloaf. Those old tricks aren't just about saving money, they change the texture in a good way. The filler becomes part of the dish, not just empty space.