Pro Chef Turns Canned Soup Into 3 Meals For Under $9 | The Smart Cook | Epicurious

Chef Dan Giusti returns to show us what's possible in the kitchen with a few cans of soup and some culinary dexterity. Watch as Dan prepares a day's worth of meals, each elevating cans of Campbell's Soup into something unexpectedly delicious. The best part? All 3 come in for under $3 a serving.
Dan Giusti, formerly the head chef of Noma, is the founder of Brigaid, a company that places professional chefs into institutional food spaces like public schools. Brigaid chefs bring their experience, knowledge and technique to institutional kitchens to improve food quality. Similar to how Brigaid works--by bringing professional chefs into institutional spaces to apply their knowledge to new environments-- The Smart Cook intends to do the same by bringing Chef Dan's experience and knowhow into your home with delicious recipes prepared on a budget.
Learn more at www.chefsbrigaid.com/
Follow Dan on Instagram at @dan.giusti and @brigaid
Looking for more cooking inspiration? Gain unlimited access to over 50,000 recipes across Bon Appétit and Epicurious bit.ly/3GyNmAb
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0:00 Introduction
1:03 Breakfast: Eggplant Croque Madame
7:30 Lunch: Portobello Mushroom Soup
12:34 Dinner: Roasted Chicken Thighs With Beans and Kale
16:52 Plating 101 with Dan Giusti
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Pro Chef Turns Canned Soup Into 3 Meals For Under $9 | The Smart Cook | Epicurious

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[@iloname5007]

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[@BARAAGAMER_YT]

I miss you so much, and you're creative keep going✨✨✨✨✨.. Sender: your brother (Baraa) from Palestine 🇵🇸🇺🇲

[@teschchr122]

I LOVE this series. Creative ideas on a budget! Win/win in all ways. So glad to see soups used besides cream of ad nauseam!

[@fancyincubus]

Out of shape? I'd climb this man like the Eiffel tower (⁠つ⁠✧⁠ω⁠✧⁠)⁠つ

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thanks everyone for taking the time to watch this episode! I’m doing my best to come up with some delicious and cost effective meals to cook at home. I’d love to hear your feedback!!!

[@fleetSRT]

I really appreciate the fact that all of your recipes are doable at home without going for any fancy ingredients or equipment. Loved this episode.

[@danielgiusti6731]

@@fleetSRT Thank you! I’m happy you find the recipes useful!!

[@BaoNguyen-tw4kj]

Honestly, I don’t really watch this series, but I decided to click on the video, and I don’t regret it. I love tomato bisque too so these recipes will become useful!

[@hakonandreasolaussen1949]

Only feedback I've got is keep these coming, they're a fantastic resource for just about anyone: students on a budget, working adults or parents with kids looking to stretch the dollar, or just people like me who are here to pick up some tips, tricks and techniques from a great chef who's also good at teaching.

[@dadcelo]

Love these! Looking forward to a ramen episode, cheap and so versatile!

[@BladedDragonia]

Really love this guy and this series. Like I don't even care about the cost, just the sheer ingenuity and imagination to take something humble and make it amazing. It is super cool.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you :)

[@lack4aname]

@@danielgiusti6731 you should compete in cutthroat kitchen!

[@naan2580]

@@danielgiusti6731 I invite you to accept Islam as your religion. Do you want to accept Islam as your religion?

[@myname-mz3lo]

@@naan2580 god is dead

[@naan2580]

@@myname-mz3lo Islam is the only true religion. I want you to go to paradise after death and be protected from hell. But for that you have to accept Islam as your religion.

[@wrpenny]

This is possibly one of the best series on this channel. Lots of variety in dishes while remaining approachable. I would love to see more Asian and Latin themed dishes in the future.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Possibly??!!! Haha :)

[@ajknote3347]

*One of the best series on KZbin tbh

[@KasonWhitsell]

I love that the former head chef at legitimately one of, if not THE best restaurant in the world doesn’t sneer at ingredients like canned soup. That’s what I grew up with. Seeing his genuine attitude towards cheaper foods gives me so much hope to learn how to be a better chef

[@electrictroy2010]

Noma restaurant or Guy Savoy restaurant? Most chefs appreciate humble ingredients if prepared properly. Gordon Ramsay said his second favorite burger he buys at In N Out. (His top favorite is GR Burger in Vegas.)

[@emk3]

literally can not thank him enough for making two of these recipes vegetarian friendly

[@weonlygoupfromhere7369]

amen

[@electrictroy2010]

I made the bean soup without the chicken. Really good :-)

[@helena8999]

I love these budget videos especially because they seem conscious about quantities you need to purchase foods in at the grocery store. A lot of the time, these budget recipes will call for like a quarter cup of beans and call it $0.25 but you still need to spend $3 to buy a full bag of beans

[@rattenwahn]

You can just make something else with the leftover beans.

[@M3th0s]

@@rattenwahn thanks chief, and here I was throwing out the other $2.75 worth of beans

[@naan2580]

@@rattenwahn I invite you to accept Islam as your religion. Do you want to accept Islam as your religion?

[@annie7395]

THIS. 1 grocery cart weekly meals is very realistic and so distinct from the logistics of planning meals around dried pulses and bulk products.

[@sunshinejewel2952]

@@annie7395 yea but dried goods are more economical and smarter to buy. When you don’t have a lot of money that means you may not always end up eating what you want.

[@alyssabaldino2765]

I love how this series takes the privilege out of cooking a good meal. He makes it so accessible to anyone, all while being hilarious and a total smokeshow.

[@Jennifermejiaa]

I LOVE this guy! he's so REAL and breaks down all the fancy techniques so that we mortals can follow. The recipes look amazing also, I want to try all of them.

[@irenesax1028]

This guy is by far the best thing on your site. Please have him more often!

[@danielgiusti6731]

☺️☺️ Thank you!

[@Jerichocassini]

Love everything about this; the chef himself, the ethos behind it, the meals... I find Dan's humility about cooking refreshing and admirable.

[@spicyyyv]

I absolutely love this series. It’s so cool how he can turn something so simple into a fancy dish. Mad respect for this guy

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you!

[@LuciaCasucci]

Impressive how Dan shares with us restaurant quality dishes that are simple, affordable and with every day ingredients we would never consider as 'elevated'. Thank you Dan

[@stefimandi186]

Dan's series is priceless. Eggplant Croque Madame, that is just the idea I needed. I would love to hear your toughs on your journey from fine dining to this well dining you are contributing with this series. I wish you could come to my country and teach chefs cooking for schools and public services. Thank you Dan, really appreciate your quality and creativity.

[@nunyabidnesss]

I really dig this series. Only 1 out of the three recipes ever appeals to me, but I love the creativity. Wish they'd also being back the "50 people try to perform a task" series, though

[@Suu.39]

I don’t really have a reply but boy i apologize for these bot comments

[@naan2580]

@Thee Bride I invite you to accept Islam as your religion. Do you want to accept Islam as your religion?

[@intraum]

i love this series because, for instance, i'm not gonna be making a eggplant croque madame at 7 in the morning - but the techniques and composition theory can be applied to simpler versions for just your average meal

[@pabloredden-gonzalez8077]

This man is one of the best teaching chefs I have seen. This video was incredible

[@cayelarissa]

Non-American viewer here. I simply love this series and, even though ingredients and costs are very different of my own reality, I'm able to have the video as an inspiration to be more budget conscious. The chef is approachable and charismatic and does not make everything look too cheffy which is great. It would be nice to see him bringing international (and affordable) cuisines to the table as well. Keep on with his videos!

[@danielgiusti6731]

I am happy you find the videos useful!!

[@cayelarissa]

@@danielgiusti6731 OH MY GOD I DO!!! I usually don't comment on YT and now I'm over the moon!!!

[@danielgiusti6731]

@@cayelarissa ☺️☺️

[@naan2580]

@@cayelarissa I invite you to accept Islam as your religion. Do you want to accept Islam as your religion?

[@itzamia]

@@danielgiusti6731 Hi Chef. I'm about to make the chicken thighs with bean and bacon, that dish looks great. Do you have any chicken thigh recipes with cream of mushroom soup?

[@terribrown5629]

Not only do all the recipes in your series look delicious and doable, I also really appreciate the tips and techniques, like using a larger bowl to whisk whipping cream and starting with chilled cream. Who knew?! You could do a whole video on water and I'd be hooked. :)

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thanks for such nice feedback!! :)

[@jasminerose3257]

Chilling the bowl and chilling the whisk also help. But I agree his tips are awesome. I've never thought about listening to my food/skillet.

[@MMallon425]

Chef Dan is doing such important work here (not to mention Brigaid). For a world class chef to extol the virtues of frozen vegetables and canned soup is a real game changer.

[@Popolar_]

Dan give me chill uncle / older brother vibes. He's awesome.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Well thank you ☺️

[@AudreysKitchen]

This is amazing. I love how he talks about ingredients like "we are going to treat this like a vegetable" and "when we add the zest and lemon flesh it gives it a different flavor that is floral rather than just the juice flavor." I feel like this approach helps us to learn to be more creative in the kitchen. Kudos, chef.

[@dadcelo]

I always have canned soups at home, so much you can do with it! Def going to try the dinner, looks so good.

[@Matteo-jd6mt]

I think I need to try the bean and bacon recipe. I did the roasted tomatoes + cucumber from his other video to entertain guests and it was an absolute hit.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Yeah?!! That’s awesome to hear!!!

[@lexjude]

I love this series. This guy is humble and informative. All of this is totally accessible but delicious!!!

[@mysundrop]

I tried making a few of the recipes from this series and they were an absolute hit. Please keep it going!

[@colleenkaralee2280]

You got my attention (and subscription) with the $3 meal. I do intermittent fasting and likewise challenged myself with a $3 daily budget for a satiating and delicious meal of the day. I did not have the tomato bisque so I took a regular can of tomato soup and added some canned coconut cream, which I had on hand as a dairy substitute. I did have an apple for dessert :-))

[@Kuzon9]

I like this guy. Unpretentious and a true man of the people.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thanks 😊

[@marycontraire3896]

Yes, so excited he's back! I love this series. It's one of the more useful things Epicurious has produced, and it's super fun also!

[@opalsirius8484]

1:04 - Breakfast: 🍅 biske 🍆🍳🧀 🍞 Butter 7:30 - Lunch: Cream 🍄 Portobello 🍄, garlic, cream, parsley 12:33 - Dinner: Bean w/🥓 🍗 Kale, shallot 🍋

[@maryhull531]

Just love these videos Dan . In these hard times it’s good to find these simple and inexpensive meals that are quick to create and cook .

[@chadloveland2821]

Dan shows his genius again! Thanks isn't enough for what he's given me in technique and cooking thought processes. All for free. I'd be lying if I said I've cooked everything in this series, but I have cooked at least one thing from all of them and use techniques from parts of all the recipes in my regular cooking. The way he explains things that sound so complex and simplifies them down is unmatched. Thank you for not only great recipes but great teaching, we use ingredient x for this effect. You want this heat because of x, y, z but if you aren't careful this bad thing can happen. The plating techniques are very, very helpful!

[@danielgiusti6731]

I’m so happy you find the videos helpful!

[@chadloveland2821]

@@danielgiusti6731 I just made a modified version of the Roasted Chicken Thighs (lime as citrus, Bok Choy for the veg) and you weren't joking it really is amazing! I would never normally use that cut of meat or soup but this turned out incredible! No wonder you were eating it at the end of the video. I couldn't stop eating it either. Thanks again for the great ideas 😀

[@plaguetree5067]

Thank you for this series! I love creating complex things from random objects in my cupboard! Excellent work Chef!

[@its.ronnie]

Dan, you're the man. I love this series. Always wait for it. Epicurious, you rock! ♥

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you ☺️

[@ZachStWard]

Just going to resonate with the other comments here, as a parent who wants a great tasting meal, but needs to stick to a budget - this episode was amazing and super creative!! Keep it coming Dan!

[@wondering8923]

OMG...this guy is amazing. Delicious recipes that are easy and inexpensive to make. Made the chicken thighs with beans and it was to die for! WE NEED A COOKBOOK!!!

[@danielgiusti6731]

That’s wonderful to hear!!!

[@CeitidhD]

Wooo! I’m trying all of these recipes! Hope this series will keep going!

[@naufalfahmi4917]

Please continue this seriess, rlly love the guy and how he bring us in the video. Great stuff!:D

[@NineteenEightyFive]

I know it's been said countless times but I love how he approaches these videos for beginners where he gives general cooking tips throughout. It still flows well too!

[@jacquelinejamesx5049]

I can easily binge watch your video. Love your energy and your stepping out of the box

[@stylchick15]

I’m obsessed with Dan Giusti and his creativity! Gourmet meal on a budget.❤

[@itsgoingtobeok-justbreathe4808]

I love this guy! He's knowledgeable without being pretentious, skilled but not cocky, confident and directive without being bossy , enthusiastic and funny without being "Lorenzo", and creative with "lower end", non-chefy ingredients

[@ricketyroy]

Dan, I've very much enjoyed watching your videos. You are very talented and easy to understand. I'm really excited to make that chicken with bean and bacon soup recipe! That looks amazing. Please keep making videos!!! Thanks for keeping it affordable.

[@loewenalia]

My husband and I are enjoying your show, we even found a few recipes that my picky husband wants to try. Keep up the great work.

[@kaemincha]

i love this type of video! this is definitely opening my eyes to what i have in my pantry already

[@jonu8537]

Just recently found this series and love your content man ❤️ you're very entertaining and the recipes are great!!

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you!!!

[@helenmcneil3339]

To set the top of my "froached eggs": a tiny bit of butter in the bottom, and at the last minute I put in a few tbs of water and put on a lid. This creates enough stem to finish setting the white across the yoke.

[@lauraleonard6105]

I was delighted to realize how easily the chicken and beans was to cut in half just for me. I ate it over brown rice and it was delightful. Ha on eating the lemon was most definitely a floral taste. With these series as motivation I am reaching out to my local single living friends trying to get a meal swap going.

[@waynegray7088]

Wow! I made the roasted chicken thighs tonight for my husband and a friend. Added some cherry tomatoes we needed to use up, and the kale came from our garden. Man. Served with some sourdough toast with olive oil. That was a hit. Fantastic series. This guy is great.

[@pacificH2O]

Hi Chef Dan Giusti! Great video. I would love to see a similar video on making canned or a jar of spaghetti sauce better! Thanks!!

[@colleenkaralee2280]

With the mushroom soup - not having raw mushrooms on hand - I subbed with a can of whole button mushrooms, and added the liquid to the soup in lieu of water. I always have canned coconut cream in the pantry so I used that instead of dairy cream.

[@lorimartin3724]

Thanks for some great ideas. I use canned soups for a base all the time and always enjoy new ideas. This video is being saved to my cooking ideas folder.

[@marenulmer7355]

Please bring back more of this dude, he's by far your best guest

[@abbysheremeta7837]

I learnt sooooo much from Dan!!!!!!! I loved how pretty much everything he said was informative

[@chellesoup]

Your creativity is off the charts. Your content is my favorite of this channel.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Well thank you very much!!!

[@yeetboy8671]

I seriously love how they explain things makes everything easily understandable

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you!

[@jpzzzz]

Dan you are my favorite dude to watch on KZbin thank you for sharing this with us

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you so much! It is my pleasure!!

[@2uwii]

As someone who isn't very good at cooking, canned food is my best friend and have always tried to improve them like this. I would love to see more recipes specially combining different canned items to make a meal.

[@celinecroes260]

I love this series. The best!! Keep them coming🙂

[@deanronson6331]

To avoid burnt, crusty whites when frying eggs sunny side up, Jacques Pepin suggests you cook them on very low heat, add a little water to create steam, and cover the pan. After about five minutes, the result is a beautiful, thin white film over the yolks and unbelievably smooth and tasty whites.

[@JuanChavez-ji9yy]

This was so fun to watch. I cook family meal for my job (not a restaurant) on Saturdays. I really miss cooking for work, but it's still a fun thing to do. My budget is around 20 a meal, and I'm definitely going to try a few of these.

[@TheCuddlebun]

I learned so much from your instructions and voiced observations, that I had to subscribe. :) Looking forward to learning from you again, Chef Giusti!

[@danielgiusti6731]

That’s great to hear!!! There will be more episodes coming!!

[@wjohnson4102]

I've watched Dan in a few of these episodes but this was indeed the best one yet. I love every dish prepared but I'm DEFINITELY going to do the Chicken with beans and bacon!

[@KNisaKA]

OMG watching this makes me want to go to the grocery store RIGHT NOW and cook the menu RIGHT NOW. It's 11pm now in Malaysia. OMG

[@danielgiusti6731]

Amazing :):)

[@iankobe]

Love this series! Love Dan! I WANT MORE!

[@PotatoMan1491]

Chef Dan is solid, I am learning a lot from him here

[@danielgiusti6731]

So happy to hear you are learning some things from the videos!!

[@kerryblogna3115]

Will try the mushroom soup for sure, I'm not a Kale fan but would replace it with spinach. Thanks for the great videos, love them!

[@gregmiller238]

This just changed my world....I just became completely confident in the kitchen again. I have to to start over again as a newly single guy and THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

[@christinedowd1820]

Look forward to your new recipes all the time. With the price of food skyrocketing, your recipes are more important than ever and still so delicious. Could you do a video with Cannelini, they are so delicious and cheap. I went to Tuscany and realized their soups are often made from leftovers and stale bread, like Ribollita and Acqua Cotta. So tasty but I don’t know how to make them. Even a stale bread recipe would be great!

[@rhondasummer]

I'm so glad to see Chef Giusti making meals again.

[@kendellchurch15]

made the chicken/beans dish today. absolutely mind blowing and i only spent 12 bucks at the store!! making it around $3 a serving, wow.

[@everybodyhasmine]

I really love this series please don’t let this series die.

[@jefftc14]

stuff like this actually really helps people with low incomes, props

[@plantpun]

Canned soups are a great base, but they tend to run high in sodium and carbs. I love how each recipe utilized fresh veg and protein to help balance macros. Would love to see you try cooking or baking with powdered pantry goods (protein powder, bouillon, or even drink mixes) since they also have great milage for their serving sizes and shelf life! Inspired by re-discovering powdered buttermilk in the back of my pantry and wanting to make more than pancakes~

[@sl57492]

Scones?

[@naan2580]

@@sl57492 I invite you to accept Islam as your religion. Do you want to accept Islam as your religion?

[@VerhoevenSimon]

thank you for the budget meal inspiration!

[@michellelloyd6256]

I made the cassoulet for dinner tonight and it was amazing 😍🤩. The only thing I would change is add more lemon but I loved it. And cassoulet takes all day to cook this was done in under an hour. WOW 💕

[@katiewatkins7562]

I feel like I've learned some pretty sneaky tricks from this video! Will re-watch and will also use some of your techniques, for sure. Thanks!

[@jaydub1979]

Dan Giusti is one of my heroes. If I weren't happy in my current job and/or Brigaid needed a video person ... I would want to work for him. Love this so much.

[@danielgiusti6731]

Well thank you so much!!! That’s extremely kind of you to say!!

[@wmbrice]

Chef Dan for the win! This series is genius, thank you.

[@sunblock8717]

Yay! I love this series!

[@nathanstoebe4647]

Made bean with bacon soup all throughout my junior and senior year of college, thank you Dan-making it tonight!

[@ineedanewname9595944]

I didn't think I'd like that first one, but I cant wait to try it!!! Yummy!!

[@sarahmsosa]

Yay my favorite guy!! I wish the whole channel was just him 😄

[@mithilaum]

Yessss!!!! More Dan Giusti please!!!

[@lenatian1078]

love this and thank you for putting measurements in

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you :)

[@nine4496]

I loved this episode! looking forward to the next one :)

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you ☺️

[@celitacantrill10]

@ Daniel, wonderful episode. You're very easy going and make delicious food. Great combo in the kitchen. You handle your kitchen reminiscent of Brad Leone. I want to see more Daniel G. Warmest regards, Celita C

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you Celita :)

[@alexishampton3943]

Excited. I actually really enjoy the Tuna pasta meal you made. So let's see what's next

[@carmendoyle9786]

U are amazing cook and explain things easy ! Thank u 🇨🇦

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you very much!!!!! ☺️☺️

[@darrenscott3544]

Brilliant series! Can't thank Chef Giusti enough

[@dorisbeale4940]

Wonderful, thanks so much

[@thea7035]

LOVE THIS!!! Will try cooking this with my partner!

[@kindlin]

I wasn't sold on the Croque until you layered them in slices of cheese.

[@tomaguilar7974]

This all looks super delicious and inexpensive! I'm going to try all 3! Is there something you can create for a low carb flower tortilla?

[@lindaellerton3680]

Can’t wait to try these. They are beautiful!!

[@danielgiusti6731]

Thank you! Make sure to check back in here to let me know how they came out!

[@Cookingwithnikkij]

Great ideas! Thank you 😊

[@carolinewoffard982]

I normally don’t buy processed foods but with the prices of foods today I just may do this. Thank you

[@kidogames3455]

My fav series on this channel

[@rwongspelling]

YES!!!! Dan is back!!!!!!

[@susanbrennan5511]

I love the fact he loves parsley as do I. My sprout aero garden has 2 parsley and one basil. I put parsley on everything!