What do Parisians eat? Where do they shop for groceries? And how far can $20 stretch in one of the world’s most expensive cities? This culinary adventure explores Parisian food markets and creates a delicious steak frites sandwich for under $20.
The challenge is simple: create a meal for two using primarily local ingredients, pantry staples allowed (salt, oil, etc.), within a one-hour timeframe (prep, cooking, cleanup). The $20 budget translates to roughly €18.33. Paris offers three main shopping options: supermarkets, specialty shops, and open-air markets. Each has its pros and cons regarding price, quality, and variety.
Supermarkets like Carrefour, Monoprix, Franprix, and G20 offer a convenient one-stop shopping experience. For this recipe, confit onions (caramelized onions with added sugar) and Comté cheese, a popular French cheese, were purchased from a supermarket.
Next stop: the specialty shops. Paris is filled with boulangeries (bakeries), fromageries (cheese shops), boucheries (butcher shops), and produce stands. These offer specialized selections, often with higher quality but potentially higher prices. A classic baguette, a staple of French cuisine, was secured from a local boulangerie.
Parisian open-air markets, like the Marché d’Aligre, offer an incredible array of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and more. These vibrant markets often have the best prices and a chance to experience local life. The remaining ingredients – skirt steak, potatoes, and fresh greens (arugula) – were sourced from the bustling market.
The final shopping list included skirt steak (labeled “hampe”), waxy potatoes similar to Yukon Golds, arugula, Comté cheese, confit onions, and a baguette. All came in just under budget. The chosen recipe: a classic steak frites sandwich.
The skirt steak, a flavorful and budget-friendly cut, was seasoned generously with salt. Potatoes were washed, cut into fry shapes, and boiled for six minutes to remove excess starch and promote crispier fries.
While the potatoes boiled, a simple sauce was prepared by combining the confit onions with mayonnaise and spicy Dijon mustard. The Comté cheese was sliced.
The parboiled potatoes were drained and shallow-fried in extra virgin olive oil until golden brown and crispy. A clove of garlic and a sprig of rosemary were added to the hot oil during the last minute of frying, infusing the fries with aromatic flavors. Finally, the fries were seasoned with salt.
The skirt steak was cooked in a hot pan with a drizzle of oil until medium-rare. It’s crucial to slice skirt steak against the grain to maximize tenderness. The baguette was sliced and the sandwich was assembled: baguette, sauce, steak, Comté cheese, arugula, and fries.
The result? A delicious, budget-friendly steak frites sandwich that showcases the flavors of Paris. The tender steak, sweet and savory sauce, sharp arugula, creamy Comté, and crispy fries, all nestled in a crusty baguette, create a symphony of textures and tastes. This culinary adventure demonstrates that delicious, authentic meals can be created even on a tight budget in an expensive city like Paris.
