$5 DINNERS: Extremely Cheap VEGAN Meals That Taste Amazing!

[@juliaknight2548]

Thank you for showing that eating vegan doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. I also love that your appliances aren’t pristinely clean and new. You’re the real deal, a busy mom making great videos! You are perfectly imperfect, just like the rest of us. Thank you again. ❤

[@plantwhys]

Ha ha my husband always comments on how I need to clean better before I film but I only have so much time while my twins are at preschool!! Thank you for your kindness!!! Glad you are here!

[@Rachel-h3n]

Same, loving the authenticity.

[@bmg9136]

Sad watching all that lovely bean broth go down the drain. Keep some of that bean broth to add flavor, especially black beans.

[@vegan1778]

Hello!! Thanks for the ideas to give variety to our diet. A tip for making tacos so that the tortilla doesn't break is to heat it. We Mexicans use a comal but if you don't have one you can use a frying pan or the microwave to heat it.🙂 Blessings from Mexico❤

[@plantwhys]

Thank you!

[@Rachel-h3n]

Remember folks, you can sprout dry beans, lentils and peas...this releases more nutrition and is easier to digest...with less gas issues.

[@SometimesMyself]

Great. Now I’m craving those taquitos. And I may be the only person who really loves the taste of tofu, but I would absolutely have thrown some cubed tofu in with the pasta a veggies to boil for a few minutes and firm up. Would’ve been great with that peanut sauce.

[@plantwhys]

So true!! But it wasn’t at the dollar store. 😜

[@kawaiikowai08]

Why has your channel never popped up in my feed before!? Love your videos :)

[@plantwhys]

Oh thank you! You just made my day!!

[@TheSnerggly]

Pro tip, save your bean water and use it to make "dirty rice!"

[@TheSnerggly]

AWESOME meal ideas!!! Thank you

[@jocelynfoley6201]

You are just simply amazing! It always makes my day to watch your videos!

[@plantwhys]

You are so kind! This means so much!! Thank you!!! It really does mean a lot! (Especially after reading someone else’s negative comment) Keep sharing your kindness. It makes a difference. ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you again.

[@stefbmccoy8297]

you know the food is good when your little boy grabbed 3 and ran off! my oldest is 13 and so picky. i should make these recipes soon.

[@kathleenbutler9967]

It always always brightens my day when you post a video!! Love your recipes...so easy...your kids just amazing! Thx for all you do!!

[@plantwhys]

Thank you for your kindness!! It means so much!!

[@DawnH123]

If I want to buy can beans instead how many cans equals the bag of dried beans? Thank you for easy, cheap meal ideas.

[@janetbrown9208]

These are terrific ideas. I will try them all! Thank you 😊

[@ashleyratta]

Great idea to spread the refried beans all over the tortillas to help seal it!

[@plantwhys]

Awe. Thanks Ashley!

[@chrisnutter6933]

OK I just got up for the morning I must be tired… I thought your Insta pot was programmed to say hi to you when you cooked ha ha ha ha

[@plantwhys]

Ha ha ha ha that’s hilarious 😂

[@kindnessmatters5215]

Thanks! I used to buy my lentils at Dollar Tree, but they reduced the size from 16 to 12 ounces for same price.

[@plantwhys]

Yeah I noticed that too! The other beans are still cheaper at the dollar store though!

[@kindnessmatters5215]

@@plantwhys I was there yesterday, and noticed several of the beans were 12 oz. as well.

[@susanjoseph236]

​@kindnessmatters5215 I think it may depend on the Dollar Tree. We have 3 in.our are and 2 still have 16 oz pkgs of beans.

[@janicemeaders1453]

Walmart gives u less & raise the price😢

[@mariannerecchione804]

Wow these look so good. Def going to try the taquitos---I think my son would love them---and I have everything for the pasta with peanut sauce. I might make that one tonight! Thanks for the recipes.

[@plantwhys]

You bet! Let me know what you think!

[@7peacefrog]

I know I had just found you, but I feel like you are reading my mind! 🙄🥺😧Because I was wanting to look up (Shopping Vegan on a budget), and here you are. Thank you and I hope you are going to make more and share them like this?

[@plantwhys]

You bet!!

[@7peacefrog]

@@plantwhys 🤗

[@Pattycake1974]

I am going to make every single one of these dishes. Thx for the inspo!

[@plantwhys]

Yay! They are super simple!

[@nmarie360]

May I ask what you added to the dry beans.....it sounded like .' Kombu...' thanks😊

[@plantwhys]

Yes 😊 it was Kombu. Any type of seaweed works though!

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Another amazing video with 😋 cheap vegan meals Ali and love 🥰 the video and love 💕 Ali.

[@plantwhys]

Thank you!!! You are the best!

[@anonanon1982]

Great video! ❤

[@Tastytips-by5tp]

Like 😊 thanks for sharing 😊 tasty

[@andrewr3515]

Not you rinsing the rice and beans 😭 nice recipe ideas though. Love using my instapot to cook beans.

[@Kx____]

i have never heard of adding kombu to beans so that it helps with gas and bloating. can i just use nori sheets for this?

[@plantwhys]

Yes, both kombu and nori can be used when cooking beans to help lessen gas. Both seaweeds contain enzymes that can help break down the complex sugars in beans that can cause gas and bloating. Adding a piece of kombu or nori to the cooking water when preparing beans can help make them easier to digest and reduce the likelihood of gas.

[@Kx____]

@@plantwhysoh that is so intereseting, thank you very much! that is really helpful, appreciate it

[@leapintothewild]

You can also use dried espazote. I buy little bags of it at my local Mexican or international food stores, where it’s hanging with the other herbs. I’ve found the kombu at a natural foods store, but it’s further away so I don’t go there very often.

[@kimmyers9170]

All three look delicious. Instead of edamame, I'd just add some peanuts on top.

[@plantwhys]

So smart!!

[@leapintothewild]

Love these ideas!! Doesn’t fit the budget, but those taquitos would be amazing with a simple salad of lettuce, tomato and avocado with lime! Be sure to wash and pick over dry beans before cooking! You’re looking for stones and bad beans, which unfortunately do show up more in cheaper bags.

[@teresa28ist]

I love the fact you show your kids eating too. Thank you!

[@KUKAKYOTOTOKYO]

The rice wash! 😳... I appreciate all these great recipes, but I don't have an immersion blender, or air fryer, or insta-pot or whatever. I'm poor. I have a stove, and an oven. That's why I'm watching this $5 dinner video. 😕

[@johannarataj8397]

You can do all of this in the oven and on your stove ❤

[@bmg9136]

You can soak overnight and cook the beans on stove top. Don't pour all of that beautiful bean broth down the drain, (sacrilege, especially the black beans, wasting all of the flavor!) slightly wet and mash (with fork, potato masher, or a wire wisk) .Soft, well cooked beans will mash easily (go easy on the salt, it can make your beans not soften). OR... buy a can of fat free refried beans because easy fast works too. ;-)

[@DeeW112]

Then make it without these machines: soak the beans over night, cook them, mash them with a fork, put them in the oven. It's not that hard.

[@lucyrodriguez5652]

Soak beans, cook beans in a pot w/water on the stove until banana soft. Bake in oven and smash with the back of your spoon or the bottom of a cup.

[@KUKAKYOTOTOKYO]

I appreciate y'all trying to help, but I mean, she literally says you can soak the beans overnight in the video. I'm talking about alternatives to the appliances she uses like the ones I listed off. It's like saying "you can save a lot of money by making your own bread" and using a bread maker. Like, yeah, I have an oven. But making my own bread every day or two isn't practical when I have to prepare the dough on top of it. I just don't have all the appliances she has. I'd love to have an air fryer, but I'm not sure what I should do as an alternative, a pot of oil on the stove? Sounds like that would increase the cost of the whole purpose of a "low budget meal". I just wished it was more considerate towards those who might be low income and can't afford all of these appliances.

[@jennholden-myers1631]

Can you make more instant pot ans slow cooker meals please, from the dollar store. Thank you!

[@anonanon1982]

👍🏻

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

This adds to our budget lists to spend less with our cravings! 🧡🧡 So much love! Thank you. 😊

[@sherri.]

Love to see the kids’ thumbs ups. You know it will be good! 😍

[@jenethompsonart]

Thank you for this!

[@BrownEyedGirl331]

I cannot find large corn tortillas anywhere around here the only ones I can get are the very small ones. Thank you for your great ideas and letting others know being vegan is pretty fantastic, you get to save lives too-win,win!

[@plantwhys]

You are so welcome 🤗

[@leapintothewild]

You can lay them side by side with a little overlap, use a dab of water (or even the refried beans) to help them stick together. I do this all the time because I make my own and my tortilla press is small.

[@karlinashieldmaiden5073]

Sorry if I missed it, how long to cook the pinto beans in instant pot?😊

[@kawaiikowai08]

Never heard of the kombu trick! Luckily I have some :) ❤

[@plantwhys]

Amazing! Try it and let me know what you think!

[@Bobawob]

I’m all for easy meals. I live by myself and like having food on hand that I can just heat up or make a yummy bowl of ingredients

[@judeannemcintyre2112]

I love your videos! So informative and the recipes are very doable. Thanks, Ali!! ❤️

[@plantwhys]

Awe! Thank you!!

[@judeannemcintyre2112]

@@plantwhys ❤️

[@jonhester8909]

I love all the recipes, especially the last one. I will definitely try them. I'm always looking to save money at the store.

[@wandabarnett7554]

I bookmarked this video to try these recipes! Love how you use your Instant Pot. ❤

[@Pheexperiment]

The refried beans taquitos would have to be a carb cheat day for me because I'm trying to limit my carbs. Well, I could get the carb friendly tortillas. Everything looks so good...Oh and the rice (brown rice will have to do) My dollar store has tons of brown rice. 🎉

[@plantwhys]

Thats awesome that they have brown rice!

[@CitiesForTheFuture2030]

For your refried bean taquitos, are you cooking or just soaking the dried pinto beans (the video isn't clear)? I have seen on another YT video that soaking beans with a little baking soda overnight helps with bloating & gas (also rinsed away)...

[@leapintothewild]

The beans are fully cooked before she smashes them, but the soaking was optional.

[@HeatherSnyder-lf8yk]

Thank you for posting wonderful food! I just started looking for vegan food thar is simple and yummy and without fake meat you did a wonderful job of meet my needs! The price is also right. Looking forward to more in the future 🥰

[@plantwhys]

You're so welcome!

[@franciscachesca]

Love these recipes❤

[@plantwhys]

Yay!!!! ☺️

[@debramurphy4295]

Wonder what they are like with flour instead of corn.

[@plantwhys]

I’m sure it’s even more yummy! ❤️

[@lydialangfordjoiner765]

Thank you for sharing!

[@kntonks]

❤❤❤

[@shannonvanostran4531]

Please tell me the reason you cook your rice like that? I always mess up rice on the stove so i always cook it in the instant pot. But if i have to use it for something else i have to do it on the stove.

[@plantwhys]

Cooking rice like pasta is way easier than measuring everything out! Just make sure not to overcook it! Set a timer!

[@leapintothewild]

@@plantwhysI think (?) I remember that it’s also good to do because it reduces the possibility of arsenic, often found on rice - maybe on a McDougall or Grieger video? (both vegan MDs)

[@arj-peace]

Love these simple and inexpensive recipes. But please please please explain why you rinse your beans and your rice after you cook them?!

[@judithp.5962]

The taquitos sound good, but they're hardly a whole meal.

[@judithp.5962]

@@randomjournalbitsdawnbossExactly. And it needs to be a side with veggies, like a salad or a good fresh salsa.

[@TheR3alBoazB]

And everything is prepacked and produced. Yuk

[@lisaa.5378]

Perhaps because we’ve gotten so used to excessively overeating in the US

[@judithp.5962]

@@lisaa.5378 Yes, but I was mainly referring to the lack of any vegetables.

[@kpstardust8974]

Wow people are so critical. I thought these were good ideas for the base of a meal, a quick workday lunch, or a dinner for just me on a day when I don’t feel like shopping or cooking and I happen to already have these on my pantry. and it’s probably a big improvement on some people’s carn diet who may be thinking vegan food is fancy and $$$. I always learn something from other people’s ideas.

[@percypino8962]

Typically USA. Here in Germany you wouldn't call this cooking.

[@debg8053]

These are hardly whole food meals

[@plantwhys]

It’s the best whole food you can get from the dollar store. ☺️

[@crystalwarren5718]

That is Not how to make rice.lol

[@tx.tactical3165]

I'm Mexican and no self respecting Mexican microwaves tortillas,gotta give them color and crunch...

[@plantwhys]

Ha ha good point!

[@La_TangoMariaa]

I live with a Mexican, born and raised there. She'll microwave them to soften them up a little before filling then frying the taquitos.

[@leapintothewild]

So you try to roll them cold? 🙄 If you actually WATCH the video, she warms them for rolling, fills and cooks them until brown and crunchy. Ignorant comment.

[@TheR3alBoazB]

What a typical video from some1 WITH enough money so you can see she doesnt know what shes talking about. Keep it goin gorl. 😂😂😂