Before I start posting recipes for people to try I thought it could be worth putting together a list of kitchen cupboard essentials.
Whilst everyone has different ideas of what is essential for cooking
these are things that I like to make sure I always have in. They’re all things
that keep for ages and you only use a little bit of at a time. When first
stocking your cupboard it can feel like a bit of an investment but on the whole
they’re not things you’ll need to replace all that often but will use a lot.
Herbs and Spices
While my spice draw is by many accounts a little excessive there are a
few things which are entirely essential and I use all the time
·
Chilli powder – I tend
to have hot chilli powder but it’s a matter of personal taste and mild chilli
powder will work just as well if you’re not a fan of spicy food but still want
that little bit of warmth from the chilli
·
Paprika - I love the warm and slightly spicy taste of
paprika as well as its versatility.
·
Turmeric – Turmeric is
a key ingredient in lots of curries as well as in quite a few Spanish dishes,
its used both for its flavour and its gorgeous colour, but it does stain most
things it touches particularly if wet so be careful.
·
Nutmeg – I am a big
fan of nutmeg particularly for adding a kick to roasted root vegetables and for
adding a bit more depth to creamy sauces.
·
Oregano – The quintessential
Italian herb and a brilliant addition to any tomato sauce
·
Cumin – a warm and
earthy spice which makes a huge difference in a chilli or lasagne
·
Marjoram – a dried
herb used a lot in Italian food it can also be used to make a tea which whilst
not the greatest tasting thing in the world works wonders on a soar throat.
Tins and Sauces
Tins and sauces make up a good basic pantry and can form the basis for a
lot of meals whilst also being cheap and tasty. But just to be clear when I say
tins I mean tinned tomatoes or tinned tuna, not spaghetti hoops or baked beans.
·
Tinned Tomatoes –
One of the most versatile and economical of all store cup board ingredients I
would recommend going for the ones which are chopped and in juice.
·
Tinned tune – a quick
and easy way to make a healthy and substantial lunch.
·
Tinned sweetcorn –
sweet and crunchy and can be eaten straight out of the tin
·
Tomato Puree - makes tinned tomatoes even more tomatoey
·
Soya Sauce - A true essential if you want to make almost any Asian inspired dish, I would recommend light Soya as it is more versatile and also if you can I'd get it from an Asian supermarket, its much better value
h
Tinned peaches - I just have a soft spot for them
hThese are the essentials that I've come up with off the top of my head based on the food I cook alot, let me know if you think I've missed anything that should be on here.
Until next time
Ellie x
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