Before we get started it’s time to talk pantry. That is. . . just what you are stocking in that bad boy! For me, there are certain staples that have saved the day in a last minute recipe or items that I rely on day in and day out. Here are my favorites in no particular order:
Beans/Canned: dried lentils, black beans, chickpeas, white northern beans, artichoke hearts, mayonnaise, dijon mustard, ground mustard
Tomato-Based: canned San Marzano tomatoes, tomato paste, canned sundried tomatoes (Trader Joe’s brand is my favorite), stewed tomatoes, pesto (tomato and/or basil)
Pasta: quinoa, corn, rice pastas in various shapes and sizes (penne, rigatoni, fusilli, farfalle)
Rice/Grains: quinoa, black rice, brown rice (regular and jasmine), white jasmine rice, wild rice, barley, farro, couscous, gluten-free oats (Trader Joe’s brand), corn meal, almond meal, white flour, gluten-free all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, panko bread crumbs
Nuts/Seeds/Butters/Dried Fruit: almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, peanuts, macadamia, sesame seeds, golden raisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, nut butters (peanut & almond), chia seeds, dates
Milks/Liquids: Boxed unsweetened almond milk, chicken stock, vegetable stock, bouillon cubes, Trader Joe’s boxed whipping creme
Vinegars/Oils: Olive oil, sunflower oil, vegetable oil, sesame oil, grape seed oil, coconut oil, coconut butter, balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, worcestershire, soy sauce, ghee
Spices: anything and everything . . . the more the merrier!
Sweeteners: stevia, coconut sugar, brown sugar, molasses, white sugar, honey, dark chocolate bars or chips, cocoa powder
That’s certainly not everything in my pantry but these are typically things I always have around, perfect for a last minute soup, curry or homemade sauce. Keeping your pantry stocked makes life so much easier when the unexpected guest shows up or when searching for the perfect flavor combination to take your meal over the top. You’ll see lots of the above ingredients in my recipes for sure. Stock up and get cooking!
