5 Healthy, Budget-Friendly Recipes for a Better 2016

Deciding to save some money is always a great thing to do. Make it better by learning to prepare low-cost, quality food that you and your family can enjoy.

To help you do that, here is a compilation of five healthy, budget-friendly recipes that you can whip up anytime without the added worry of skyrocketing ingredient costs.

Chicken Adobo

This Filipino dish, featured in My Recipes, is sure to give you a savory meal at an amazingly low price.

To prepare this, heat 1 Tbsp. Canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 8 pieces of chicken thighs to pan; sauté 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan.

Add 2 cups chopped onion to pan; sauté for 3 minutes. Add 5 cloves of minced garlic; sauté 1 minute, stirring frequently.

Return cooked chicken to pan. Add 6 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce, 3 Tbsp. Water, 3 Tbsp. white vinegar, 2 Tbsp. Honey and a half teaspoon of pepper, and bring to a boil.

Once is starts boiling, reduce heat to medium, and cook 12 minutes, covered. Uncover and cook 20 minutes or until chicken is done and sauce thickens. Discard bay leaf. Serve over rice.

Barbecue Tofu

This tofu dish, presented by Wake Up and Eat, is a good replacement for the usual meat.

Start by draining a package of Extra-firm Organic Tofu, then slicing it into half-inch slices. Arrange in a greased baking dish.

Mix some Sweet and Spicy Barbecue sauce or Asian Sweet/Ginger/Sesame Dipping sauce and a tablespoon of peanut, sesame, or any high-heat cooking oil, then spread on the tofu.

Bake for 15 minutes in an oven preheated to 400 degrees. Turn over, and coat with remaining barbecue sauce mix. Turn heat down to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until brown and crispy on the edges.

Serve either by itself, as a sandwich filling, or with fried rice.

Cauliflower Rice

This rice recipe from Primal Palate will greatly accompany your Adobo and tofu.

Grate half a head of washed Cauliflower to a coarse texture, the size of rice grains.

Heat 1 Tbsp Coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat. Then saute half a cup of chopped yellow onion and 1 clove of garlic until the onion becomes translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

Add in the grated Cauliflower rice, and continue to saute for about 4-5 minutes. Lightly season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve warm.

Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)

This food idea, shared via Cheapism on MSN, will be a great alternative to pasta.

Using a spiralizer, cut Zucchini into "noodles." One large zucchini is good for an average two to three servings of a healthier "pasta."

Keep in mind that uncooked "zoodles" greatly absorb any sauce while retaining an al dente texture.

Cucumber Salad

This healthy salad idea comes from Cheapism as well.

First, get 2 cups of sliced cucumbers. Add in half a teaspoon of sesame oil, a quarter of a cup of rice vinegar, half a cup of sliced cherries, and 1 clove garlic, grated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours before eating as a side dish, sandwich filling, or as toppings on rice.

Happy cooking!