Easy pasta recipe and Grocery list for a new immigrant student
- Savitha Enner
- Sep 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 generous portions
Ingredients
1 can (15 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
½ of an 8 oz can tomato sauce (about ½ cup)
Salt to taste
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon chili flakes
3 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup yellow/red onion, finely chopped
2 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
1 tablespoon olive oil (plus extra for roasting broccoli)
1 cup penne pasta (or any pasta shape)
or sub all the base sauce ingredients with a 1/2 of jarred marinara sauce
Instructions
Prepare the Broccoli
For fresh broccoli: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss broccoli florets with a drizzle of olive oil on a baking sheet. Roast for 12 minutes until tender and lightly browned.
For frozen broccoli: Thaw completely and set aside (no cooking needed).
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente
Drain pasta, reserving ½ cup pasta water if needed
Make the Sauce & Assemble
In a large mixing bowl, combine tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, chili flakes, minced garlic, chopped onion, and 1 tablespoon olive oil
Mix thoroughly to create the sauce base
Add drained and rinsed cannellini beans to the bowl
Add hot cooked pasta and roasted broccoli (or thawed frozen broccoli - the heat from the pasta will warm it)
Toss everything together until well combined
If the mixture seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water or warm water
Serving & Storage
Serve immediately while warm
Leftovers: Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days
Reheating: Add a few tablespoons of warm water to loosen the pasta before reheating
Few notes
This recipe works well with any pasta shape - try fusilli, penne, rigatoni, or bow ties
For extra flavor, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice / or a splash of vinegar before serving
Feel free to substitute other white beans, like great northern or navy beans
The dish is naturally vegetarian and can easily be made vegan
Add crumbled cheese for an added creamy taste
fresh herbs like parsley or mint will be great in this dish.
Cost
Ingredient | UK | United States |
Penne pasta (1 cup) | £0.20 | $0.25 |
Cannellini beans (1 can) | £0.49 | $0.89 |
Broccoli (2 cups) | £0.60 | $0.75 |
Tomato sauce (½ can) | £0.15 | $0.35 |
Garlic (3 cloves) | £0.10 | $0.15 |
Onion (¼ cup) | £0.08 | $0.12 |
Olive oil (1 tbsp) | £0.05 | $0.08 |
Seasonings | £0.05 | $0.08 |
Total Cost | £1.72 | $2.67 |
Cost Per Serving | £0.86 | $1.34 |
Prices based on budget supermarkets and average grocery stores (2024)... sourced from Claude AI
Essential Grocery List for New Immigrant Students
PRIORITY 1 - Essential Items (Buy First)
Utensils & Kitchen Basics
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
4 plastic containers with lids | €3.99 | $4.97 | Multi-purpose: storage, mixing, lunch |
Ziplock bags (box) | €2.49 | $3.24 | Essential for storage |
Aluminum foil | €1.99 | $2.98 | Easy cleanup |
Chopping board | €2.99 | $3.97 | Plastic or wood |
Can opener | €1.49 | $1.88 | Manual is fine |
Sharp knife | €4.99 | $7.97 | Most important tool |
Absolute Cooking Essentials
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
Olive oil (500ml) | €2.99 | $3.98 | For cooking & salads |
Table salt | €0.49 | $0.88 | Basic seasoning |
Black pepper | €1.49 | $1.98 | Ground pepper |
Red onions (2lb bag) | €1.99 | $2.48 | Use in everything |
Garlic (3 bulbs) | €0.99 | $1.28 | Flavor base |
Eggs (12 pack) | €2.49 | $2.98 | Protein + versatile |
Rice (2kg bag) | €2.99 | $3.48 | filling staple |
Pasta (500g) | €0.89 | $1.24 | Quick meals |
Priority 1 Subtotal: ~€24 / ~$31
PRIORITY 2 - Build Your Pantry
Spices & Seasonings
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
Apple cider vinegar | €1.99 | $2.48 | Better than white vinegar |
Chili powder/cayenne | €1.29 | $1.98 | Heat & flavor |
Oregano | €1.19 | $1.68 | Italian dishes |
Cumin powder | €1.29 | $1.98 | Essential for many cuisines |
Turmeric powder | €1.49 | $2.28 | Anti-inflammatory + color |
Taco seasoning mix | €0.99 | $1.18 | Easy flavor packet |
Canned Goods & Staples
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
White beans (can) | €0.79 | $1.18 | Protein + fiber |
Chickpeas/garbanzo (can) | €0.79 | $1.18 | Versatile protein |
Black beans (can) | €0.79 | $1.18 | Great for Mexican dishes |
Tomato sauce (can) | €0.89 | $1.28 | Curry/pasta base |
Potatoes (3lb bag) | €1.99 | $2.98 | Filling & cheap |
Priority 2 Subtotal: ~€13 / ~$19
PRIORITY 3 - Fresh & Convenience Items
Breads & Wraps
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
Whole wheat bread | €1.29 | $1.98 | Healthier option |
Tortilla wraps | €1.99 | $2.48 | Quick meals |
Refrigerated Items
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
Milk (1L) | €1.09 | $3.48 | Cereal, tea, and cooking |
Sliced cheese | €2.49 | $3.98 | Sandwiches |
Plain yogurt | €1.49 | $2.98 | Healthy snack |
Deli turkey/chicken | €3.99 | $4.98 | Sandwich protein |
Frozen Essentials
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Notes |
Frozen peas | €1.49 | $1.98 | Quick vegetable |
Frozen broccoli | €1.79 | $1.98 | Nutritious |
Priority 3 Subtotal: ~€16 / ~$24
Others
Item | Aldi EU (€) | Walmart USA ($) | Why Essential |
Pasta sauce | €1.99 | $1.99 | easy flavor |
Cooking pot | €7.99 | $9.97 | Can't cook without it |
Cereal/oatmeal | €2.49 | $3.98 | Quick breakfast |
Bananas (1kg) | €1.49 | $1.58 | Cheap fruit |
Dried lentils | €1.99 | $2.48 | Cheap protein |
Soy sauce | €1.99 | $1.98 | Umami flavor |
Hot sauce | €1.49 | $1.98 | Makes everything better |
SHOPPING STRATEGY
Week 1: Survival Kit (~€35 / ~$45)
Priority 1 items + rice + basic pot
Focus on: eggs, pasta, rice, onions, oil, salt
Week 2: Expand Flavors (~€25 / ~$35)
Add spices, canned beans, frozen vegetables
Now you can make varied meals
Week 3: Convenience & Fresh (~€20 / ~$30)
Bread, deli meat, cheese, yogurt
Sandwiches and quick meals
TOTAL COMPLETE LIST: ~€80 / ~$110
MONEY-SAVING TIPS
Shop Aldi first - significantly cheaper in Europe
Buy store brands - often 30-50% cheaper
Check unit prices - bigger isn't always better
Seasonal shopping - vegetables in season cost less
Meal prep - cook large batches, freeze portions
SIMPLE MEAL IDEAS WITH THESE INGREDIENTS
Fried rice: Rice + eggs + peas + soy sauce
Pasta with beans: Pasta + white beans + tomato sauce + oregano
Bean quesadilla: Tortilla + black beans + cheese
Egg sandwich: Bread + scrambled eggs + cheese
Lentil curry: Lentils + onion + garlic + turmeric + tomato sauce
Full disclosure: all prices are sourced through Claude AI
Namaste
Savitha
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