Otherwise known as, the cheapest meal I’ve ever made.

I’m pretty poor in general but during the summer I really live below the poverty line because I don’t get my research stipend anymore. I’m about to head to the dollar store to pick up some coin wrappers so that I can wrap up all the spare change in my car. Okay, and the spare change in the GS’s car. I told him I’d make him dinner with the money.

The other day I accidentally bought tuna fish in vegetable oil instead of in water which makes me gag. Instead of sucking it up and forfeiting the $2, I brought it back to the store in my purse and stealthily swapped them out. I felt like I was stealing. They probably caught me on camera and I’m still waiting for the cops to show up looking for that girl in sunglasses who appeared to be stealing two cans of Bumblebee.

I couldn’t make that my only mission at the store because that would really feel like crime, so I spent 77 cents on a can of black beans and $1.12 on a sweet potato. Burger buns didn’t happen- that’s what bread ends are for. The Greek yogurt got incorporated because Kelly accidentally bought plain instead of vanilla. Saved me a whole $1.33.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Burgers

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed well

about 1 cup raw grated sweet potato

1-2 tbs chopped chives or scallions

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/4 cup oatmeal

1 tbs Cajun seasoning

caramelized onions

buns

Start your onions caramelizing in some butter and olive oil- this part takes the longest.

Gently mash the beans with a fork, then add your sweet potatoes. This is what it looks like when you use a peeler that cost $1 on a sweet potato.

Combine the beans, sweet potato, chives, and oatmeal. Mix the seasoning with the yogurt and then add it to the rest of the ingredients to make sure that it is evenly distributed. You can buy Cajun seasoning, or make your own. I basically threw a pinch of all of these ingredients into a bowl and mixed that in. If you’re not a Cajun seasoning fan, you could use this fajita seasoning, or whatever else you like.

Form into thin patties and cook on the stove with a thin coating of olive oil until each side is crispy and brown.

Top with caramelized onions and serve on a bun (or bread ends..) with the smallest schmear of mayo.

Seriously, these are amazing. Living on a budget is paying off for you.