Yesterday I posted our dinner on Facebook, that happened to have a killer garlic ginger drizzle on top. A friend asked for the recipe and when I gave it to her she said that she had to go purchase most of the ingredients to make it. That got me thinking about how we can stock our fridge and pantry with all kinds of delicious ingredients, so that when inspiration strikes, we have everything we need to create that mouth watering dish. Here are the things I believe you need for a well stocked pantry.
Dry Spices
- Cumin
- Paprika (smoked and sweet)
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chipotle
- Chili Powder
- Red Pepper Flake
- Mustard Seeds
- Celery Seeds
- Basil
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Coriander
- Dehydrated Onion
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Tarragon
- Ginger
- Old Bay
- Grinder Salt (I like Pink Himalayan)
- Boxed Salt (Kosher or Sea)
- Peppercorns
- Everything Bagel Spice (this one is new to me, and I’m putting it on everything!)
Experiment with new spices you’ve never heard of, or that catch your eye. A quick Google Search of the spice will give you a ton of ideas about how to use it.
Canned and Boxed
- Chipotle in Adobo
- Chopped Green Chiles
- Tomatoes – crushed, diced, or whole (I like Fire Roasted)
- Tomato Paste
- Water Chestnuts
- Coconut Milk
- Honey
- Canned fruit in juice (pineapple, mandarin oranges, etc.)
- Vegetable Stock
- Lentils and Beans – I’m never without chickpeas and black beans
- Almond Flour (We try to stay away from Grains when we eat at home)
- Arrowroot Starch
- A Variety of Good Pasta – Dececco is my favorite but Ronzoni works too. (I know it’s a grain, we cheat with pasta)
- Good Olive Oil
- Lighter oil (I like a light olive oil)
- An Assortment of Vinegar (I always have red wine, balsamic, apple cider, unseasoned rice wine, and white – but I love experimenting with all kinds!)
Fridge
- Mayo
- No Sugar Added Ketchup
- Dijon, Stone Ground, and Yellow Mustards
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Sriracha
- Tabasco
- Hot Sauce (You can never have too many hot sauces!)
- Chili Garlic Sauce
- Capers
- Olives (all kinds)
- Harissa
- Sweet Pickles
- Dill Pickles (all the pickles, everything that they pickle!!)
- Hoisin
- Soy or Tamari Sauce
- Fish Sauce
- Anchovy Paste
- Garlic
- Ginger (Use this trick!)
That’s my must have list for a well stocked pantry. You certainly don’t have to purchase the whole list, but every time I go to the food store, I look to see what I’m low on, and I scour the shelves for something I’ve never used before. Bonus if I’ve never even heard of it.
What about you? Did I miss any of your favorites?