To be completely clear, I substituted the pasta because I had a new package at home (which I had purchased previously for the same price – $1.99) and I decided to add $3.99 worth of dried thyme instead of the $1.99 package of fresh thyme.
If I buy a paste based on its main ingredients, the average price is around $11, which is about the same as the cost of Padma paste.
However, as Padma already mentioned, this lunch is enough for four! So, strictly speaking, the cost of each lunch is about $3!
I added about half a cup. But I recommend adding smaller amounts each time, increasing by a quarter cup at a time, just to be safe.
Post time: Dec-12-2025