Make a gourmet dinner for only $40

At La Bernardin restaurant in New York, diners pay hundreds of dollars to eat the meal of a lifetime — it's a world class experience. Well now everyone can try it... at home. Chef Eric Ripert shares his recipes for a delicious three course meal for four people, at $40 dollars or less. On the menu: Mussels, chicken ratatouille, pear maple clafouti.

Steamed mussels with a white wine broth and spicy sausage
4 servings
Total - $17.43

INGREDIENTS

The mussels
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons thinly sliced shallots
3 tablespoons thinly sliced garlic
4 ounces spicy Italian sausage (casings removed), crumbled ($1.25)
4 pounds mussels, cleaned and beards removed ($11.96)
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock ($.99)
1/4 cup butter
1 lemon, cut in half and wrapped in cheesecloth ($.75)
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Garnish
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped ($1.49)
1 baguette, cut in 4 ($.99)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, cut in half


DIRECTIONS

Place olive oil in a sauté over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the shallots, garlic and sausage. Lower the heat to medium and add the mussels. Deglaze with white wine and chicken stock. Cover the pan and steam the mussels until they open. Add the butter and toss to combine. Squeeze in lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Toast the baguette, drizzle with olive oil and rub with garlic half. Divide the mussels between 4 bowls. Sprinkle with chopped parsley. Serve immediately.


Braised chicken ratatouille with steamed rice
Serves 4
Total - $16.42

INGREDIENTS

The braise:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 whole chicken legs, split ($4.06)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 cup red bell pepper (about 1 large pepper), seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice ($2.49)
2 cups zucchini (about 2 small) cut into 1/2-inch dice ($2.90)
1 ½ cups eggplant (about 1 medium), peeled and cut into ½-inch dice ($1.90)
2 cups crushed tomatoes with juices ($1.49)
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Garnish:
4 leaves fresh basil, juilenned ($1.99)

Rice:
1 cup Jasmine rice ($1.59)
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons butter
Fine sea salt and freshly ground pepper

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