Fresh ingredients:
1 onion
1 lemon
1 bunch sage or parsley
Dry ingredients:
1 small packet linguine or spaghetti
1 small loaf brown bread/brown roll
Dairy
75g blue cheese
Total cost Dh26
Method
Cook 225g pasta in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Peel and finely slice the onion, finely chop the sage or parsley and blitz three slices of bread to crumbs. Break the cheese into small pieces.
Heat a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and once melted, add the onion and cook for eight to 10 minutes, until golden. Reduce the heat.
While the onions are cooking, heat a tablespoon of oil in frying pan over a medium high heat. Add the breadcrumbs and fry for three to four minutes, stirring frequently, until the crumbs are golden and crunchy. Stir in the chopped parsley or sage, lemon zest and a spoonful of juice and season with salt and black pepper.
Drain the pasta, reserving some of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the saucepan containing the onions, then scatter over the crumbled cheese and three tablespoons of cooking water. Cook over a low heat for a few more minutes, until the cheese has melted and the water has been absorbed.
Divide the pasta between two bowls, scatter the crispy breadcrumbs over the top and serve.
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The Dh30 recipe works on the premise that you already have the most basic of store cupboard or fridge staples - items such as oil for cooking and dressing, vinegar, butter, salt and pepper and in this case plain flour - at your disposal.