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    Home » Cooking Basics

    Gourmet Recipes on a Budget

    Published: Nov 11, 2016 · Modified: Jan 5, 2021 · 19 Comments

    Gourmet Recipes on a Budget - champagne-tastes.com

    These gourmet recipes on a budget feature gourmet-style recipes that are full of flavor and flair, but won’t hurt your wallet!  

    graphic with strawberry tarts in the background, text reads "gourmet recipes on a budget"

    Does your bank account start sobbing as soon as your car pulls into the grocery store parking lot?  

    Does your credit card start to hide deeper and deeper in your wallet as you approach the checkout?

    If buying your usual groceries stretches your budget, buying “fancy food” for a party or date night might send you into a panicked frenzy!

    Never fear– fellow budget-conscious foodies!

    If you too, have “champagne tastes, but a beer budget,” these 18 Gourmet Recipes on a Budget will help you serve flavorful, gorgeous food– without stripping your savings account dry.

    Some of these recipes use foraged food, others use food that is sometimes discarded (like shrimp shells), and others use inexpensive ingredients like vegetables and legumes.  

    You’ll also find recipes with (relatively) less pricey seafood options– such as flounder or domestic caviar.

    Obviously, everyone’s budget will be different, and cooking a delicious meal for two will (almost) always be cheaper than cooking for a crowd.  

    Whatever your budget, however, these budget-friendly, gourmet recipes will help you serve your guests with style!

    Starters

    Whether you’re serving tapas, appetizers, or just want to start things off with a salad, these budget-friendly starters are here to help!

    If you want to try foraging for greens (or picking up foraged greens at a farmer’s market), try this Miner’s Lettuce and Mezuna Salad from Diversivore.

    To start your dinner with a soup, I like this French Shrimp Soup from Sprinkles and Sprouts.

    And for an easy smoked salmon appetizer, try these Smoked Salmon Canapes from Garlic and Zest.

    And then, there’s my absolute favorite party appetizers, listed below. The sardine fish cakes are my go-to appetizer!

    A Canned Sardine Recipe: Mini Fish Cakes
    These mini Sardine Fish Cakes are served with a Spicy Yogurt Sauce, and are perfect to serve as Tapas or Hors D’Oeuvres.
    Make It
    Sardine Fish Cakes in a stack with sauce on the serving tray
    Spinach Stuffed Mushrooms with Artichokes
    These easy spinach stuffed mushrooms are stuffed with spinach artichoke dip, and topped with freshly grated Parmesan. They’re a perfect vegetarian appetizer or side dish!
    Make It
    spinach stuffed mushrooms on a serving platter
    Brie en Croûte
    Brie en croûte is an easy and delicious cheese and puff pastry appetizer.  It's gorgeous as a cheese board centerpiece, and is a perfect game day appetizer!
    Make It

    Main Courses + Sides

    When it’s time to move onto the main course, try making these impressive baked potato roses from Curry Trail and this vegan pumpkin pasta with wild mushrooms from Cilantro and Citronella.

    Below are some of my favorite fancy-schmancy (and affordable) dinner ideas.

    The vegan ratatouille and salmon wellington are perfect served together!

    Lemon Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower
    This vegan Lemon Risotto is a creamy citrus rice dish that's served with spiced and roasted cauliflower.  Serve this dish as a main course for Date Night, or as a fancy side dish at your next dinner party!
    Make It
    Lemon Risotto with Roasted Cauliflower in a serving bowl
    Butternut Squash Galette with Bourbon Drizzle
    This Butternut Squash Galette is perfect for fall and winter!  It’s filled with caramelized onions and goat cheese, wrapped in a Parmesan crust, and topped with a bourbon drizzle.
    Make It
    butternut squash galette on a serving table
    Vegan Ratatouille Tian
    This vegan Ratatouille Tian is a combination of two easy French dishes, and is perfect for flavorful vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, and summer squash.
    Make It
    ratatouille tian in a serving dish
    Salmon Wellington
    This Salmon Wellington recipe features puff pastry packets filled with spring greens, mushrooms, goat cheese, and salmon, along with an easy mustard sauce.
    Make It
    Salmon Wellington and yogurt sauce on a serving platter

    Desserts

    Of course, a gourmet dinner must end with dessert!

    Try these red wine poached pears by From a Chef’s Kitchen, along with some of my top desserts that I’ve listed below.

    The apple puff pastry tartlets are one of my all-time favorite party desserts!

    Chocolate Lava Cake
    This easy chocolate lava cake is based on the French moelleux au chocolat, and is the perfect dessert for two!  Plus, check out my secret for an extra chocolatey center!
    Make It
    two chocolate lava cakes on a serving platter with berries
    Strawberry Tarts
    These easy strawberry tarts are the perfect spring dessert, and are made with puff pastry, mascarpone whipped cream, and glazed fresh strawberries.
    Make It
    These easy strawberry tarts are the perfect spring dessert, and are made with puff pastry, mascarpone whipped cream, and glazed fresh strawberries.
    Flognarde: Berry Clafoutis
    This Flognarde, or Berry Clafoutis, is a classic French cobbler that is the perfect way to show off your spring and summer berries! 
    Make It
    Flognarde Clafoutis in serving dish and in a bowl
    Apple Galette with Brown Butter
    Love apple pie? This apple galette is made with spiced brown butter and is an easy and delicious make-ahead dessert.
    Make It
    apple galette on a serving plate
    « Beluga Lentil Caviar Appetizer
    Chile Mocha »

    About Sarah Trenalone

    Sarah is the primary creator at Champagne Tastes. She's a photographer, food writer and traveler, and is certified in Backcountry Kitchen and Backcountry Navigation from the Colorado Outward Bound School and Identifying Wild Plants from Backpacker.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Meg | Meg is Well

      November 11, 2016 at 9:44 am

      This is an amazing list of recipes! It totally puts me into a party planning mood.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 11, 2016 at 9:47 am

        Thanks Meg! Time to par-tay!

        Reply
    2. Lynn | The Road to Honey

      November 11, 2016 at 11:43 am

      Such a beautiful collection of recipes Sarah. I see several that I am definitely going to check out as soon as I am finished giving this post the thumbs up. P.S.. love the idea of saving money on meals so I have more to spend on gifts. 😉

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 11, 2016 at 12:00 pm

        Thanks Lynn! Anytime I can save money and still get everything I want it’s a win! Lol

        Reply
    3. Swayam

      November 11, 2016 at 1:46 pm

      Gorgeous round up Sarah!! Definitely need to try a few of these.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 11, 2016 at 1:47 pm

        Thank you!!

        Reply
    4. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine

      November 12, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      What beautiful recipes you chose! These all look great.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 12, 2016 at 9:07 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
    5. Julie

      November 12, 2016 at 9:52 pm

      So many great meal planning ideas here. Thanks for the ideas.

      Reply
    6. Sarah | Away From the Box

      November 13, 2016 at 3:59 am

      This post speaks to me in so many ways! I recently finally shelled out the dough for some fancy, well made (EXPENSIVE) cheese to have a little wine and cheese party all by myself. Haha! I’m definitely going to save this list. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 13, 2016 at 7:02 am

        Ahhh that’s amazing lol- I’d totally do that! How fun! Now that you’re poor again, make these lololol

        Reply
    7. Kavey

      November 13, 2016 at 6:40 am

      It’s amazing what delicious food can be created on a budget, no reason to eat bland and boring food even if one is watching the pennies!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 13, 2016 at 7:02 am

        Exactly!!! A little spice will do wonders!

        Reply
    8. jayne

      November 13, 2016 at 7:00 am

      What a great round up! love the idea of gourmet on a budget, it doesn’t always have to be expensive to be fancy

      Reply
    9. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

      November 13, 2016 at 7:45 am

      Fabulous roundup, so useful at this time of year!!!!

      I need to make the lentil caviar!!!! And those potato roses!!!

      Thanks for including my recipes 🙂

      The Shrimp soup is one of my favourite meals ever!!!

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 13, 2016 at 9:23 am

        You’re welcome! I’m gonna try that soup once I’ve got enough shells saved up!

        Reply
    10. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      November 14, 2016 at 8:53 am

      A great collection of recipes, Sarah! And perfect timing with all the upcoming holiday parties 🙂 Groceries are so expensive and it’s nice knowing that it’s possible to make good food without spending a fortune 🙂 Happy Monday!

      Reply
    11. Melissa

      November 15, 2016 at 2:11 pm

      Beautiful roundup! Thanks so much for including my pumpkin and wild mushroom pasta! Will share.

      Reply
      • champagne-tastes

        November 15, 2016 at 4:18 pm

        Thanks Melissa!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I'm a traveler who loves to eat.   Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road.

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