When creating a well-stocked pantry, it's important to ensure you have pantry essentials to help you create meals. From staples like sugar, olive oil, and vinegar to more unique items like nuts, flour, and spices, having the right pantry essentials on hand can help you ensure that you can make a filling meal at any time.
When creating your master pantry, you should always have a few essential items. Here are some of the pantry essentials you should have to help create delicious meals.
Sugar
It has gotten a bad rap in the past few years. Use sparingly. Any baking or sauces that you make may require this ingredient. Sugar is one of the most versatile pantry essentials. You can use it in baking, making syrups, or even topping for desserts.
Olive oil is an essential part of Mediterranean cooking. It originates from the Mediterranean and has a distinctively creamy taste and aroma. This makes it great for baking, sauteeing, or general cooking. It's also perfect for marinades, salad dressings, and even as a delicious pesto sauce.
Vinegar
Add a little vinegar to create a salad dressing, marinade for chicken or pork, and even pickle vegetables. It's also essential for making pickles from your garden or green tomatoes. You can also infuse vinegar to preserve fruit, herbs, and spices for additional flavor.
Broth
The broth is a great pantry essential to have on hand. It can be used to create flavorful soups, stews, and sauces. Used to flavor rice, casseroles, homemade soups, vegetables, and gravies. It is a versatile item; lower sodium varieties can limit salt intake. It's also a great way to reduce food waste by making it with food scraps.
Nuts
Pecans, walnuts, cashews, and peanuts are used in various desserts or to eat alone. Nuts are a great pantry essential that can be used in multiple ways. For example, you can use spiced nuts to add crunch to salads, as a topping for ice cream, or even to make your own nut butter.
Flour
If you bake from scratch, it is essential. A pantry staple and all-purpose ingredient, the price of flour is often a lightning rod for debate. You can use it in sweet recipes, like cakes and cookies, or savory recipes, like biscuits. The quality of your flour will impact how successful your baking is. So, all-purpose, semolina or bread flour? Evaluate what popular foods you consume and select the flour that best fits those needs.
Salt
When you flavor food as you cook it, there is no need to add more later on. Salt is seasoning as well as a preservative. It can help bring out the natural flavors of foods, enhance the aroma and taste of various dishes, make great herbed salts, and also help prevent food from spoiling.
Spices
This includes all the dried spices you need to add flavor to various dishes. Spices are an essential pantry item that can add flavor to any dish. From cumin and coriander to turmeric and ginger, having a good base of spices on hand will help you create your own spice blends and add flavor to your dishes.
Dried herbs
Whether you're a seasoned chef or just getting started, dried herbs are a great pantry essential. Compared to fresh herbs, dried herbs can boost any dish's flavor. From oregano and thyme to rosemary and basil, this variety pack is easy to stock in your kitchen with delicious herbs that will help you create tasty meals.
Pasta
Which do you prefer: macaroni, penne, shells, linguine, or spaghetti? Dry pasta is a pantry essential used to create delicious meals quickly and easily. From spaghetti and macaroni to ravioli and lasagna, having a variety of pasta or noodles can help you make delicious meals.
Rice
Rice is an essential pantry staple that can help you create delicious meals. Brown, white, or long-grain rice is perfect for stir-fries and risotto. With a variety of rice on hand, you can quickly whip up home-cooked meals without running to the grocery store every time.
Beans
Beans are a great pantry essential used to create flavorful meals. From black beans, pinto beans, and black-eyed peas to chickpeas and kidney beans, having a variety of beans on hand can help you create delicious dishes. They are also full of protein, fiber, and calcium!
Tomato paste
Make a delicious tomato sauce with tomato paste (or, in this case, the garlic and basil tomato paste), and your family will be glad you did. The flavor boost makes them want to eat their vegetables! From creating sauces and soups to stews and curries, having tomato paste on hand can help you create delicious meals.
Honey
Honey is a natural sweetener, making it an alternative to sugar. It is suitable for sore throats and can be used in tea, coffee, or cereal. It has many uses, including sweetening drinks, desserts, and savory dishes like curries and chilis.
Peanut butter
Great on sandwiches and also on desserts. Peanut butter is a great pantry essential used to create delicious meals. From sandwiches and smoothies to sauces and dressings, peanut butter can help you with great dishes and can even be used as an egg substitute in baking.
Preserved and canned meats
Easy way to get protein for meals without thawing time. Canned and preserved meats are a great pantry essential for creating quick charcuterie boards and easy meals. Having a variety of on hand can help you make delicious meals in no time.
Dried fruit
Dried fruit is a pantry essential. Dried fruits are versatile, full of flavor, and can be used in dozens of recipes, from granola to cakes and muffins. Created for every meal of the day, dried snacks like strawberries are a great treat while on the go.
Dried vegetables
Dried vegetables are a great pantry essential that can be used to create flavorful dishes. From soups and stews to casseroles and sandwiches, having a variety of vegetables like dried leeks on hand can help you create delicious meals.
Molasses
Molasses is an ingredient that helps give your foods a deep, rich taste. It is made when sugar cane or sugar beet juice is boiled to produce sugar. This liquid has a strong flavor and is great in recipes like sweet-and-sour meats and sauces, pickles, gingerbread cakes, and cookies.
Tinned fish
Tinned fish is a great pantry essential that can be used to create quick and easy meals. From sandwiches and salads to snacking boards, having tinned fish on hand can help you make delicious meals in no time.
Ghee
Ghee is a staple in Indian kitchens and is excellent for flavoring many dishes. From curries to sautéed vegetables and stir-fries, ghee can enhance the flavor of your favorite recipes. Just melt it into hot oil at the beginning of cooking, or add it at the end for a scrumptious finishing touch.
Brown sugar
Brown sugar is a pantry essential. With a sweet caramel flavor and a soft texture, it's best for baking, syrups and desserts. Brown sugar can also be used for savory dishes like curries or chilis.
Oats
Keeping a tub of rolled oats on hand is a great resource for breakfast options and rustic desserts, and it even can be ground for flour if you are making a gluten-free treat.
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