My Store Cupboard Essentials!

I find getting meals on the table so much quicker and easier with a cupboard stocked with basic ingredients that I know I always have in. It also saves precious time and money at the supermarket! My Mum always had a good pantry and made most things from scratch, so I’ve learnt from her.

The meals and snacks I make often rely heavily on the ingredients in my store cupboard. When I’m not making a meat-and-two-veg type of dinner, the things I make the most are: spaghetti with meatballs or bolognese, chilli con carne, chowder, gravy, savoury mince, Thai red curry, san choy bow, chicken curry, chicken casserole, beef stew, 15-minute pizza and macaroni cheese. The things I bake the most are shortbread, muffins, banana bread, cookies, and bread rolls.

I have other things in my cupboard too, but the lists below are my absolute essentials.

Tins

1. Chopped tomatoes (pasta sauces, curries, chilli, soup)
2. Coconut milk (curries)
3. Tuna (pasta bake, fish cakes, salads or sandwiches)
4. Sweetcorn (pasta bake, salads, chowder)
5. Baked beans
6. Red kidney beans (for chilli or salads)
7. Chickpeas (for houmous, soup or curries)

Bottles and Jars

1. White wine vinegar (salad dressing, Chinese recipes instead of rice vinegar)
2. Soy sauce (Chinese recipes)
3. Sesame oil (Chinese recipes)
4. Fish sauce (Thai recipes)
5. Worcestershire sauce (to season savoury mince and burgers)
6. Tomato paste/puree (pasta sauces, pizza sauce, Mexican recipes and casseroles)
7. Dijon mustard (condiment, salad dressings, macaroni cheese, sauces)
8. Tahini (for houmous)
9. Maple syrup (granola, pouring on pancakes or into yoghurt)
10. Peanut butter (breakfast, snacks and baking)
11. Honey (breakfast, snacks and baking)
12. Vegemite/Marmite

Spices, Herbs and Seasonings

1. Ground cumin (Mexican, curries and Moroccan recipes)
2. Ground coriander (Mexican recipes and curries)
3. Oregano (Italian, Mexican and Greek recipes)
4. Thyme (roasts and casseroles)
5. Turmeric (curries)
6. Garam Masala (curries)
7. Thai red curry paste (Mae Ploy is my favourite brand, it’s very good)
8. Chicken and beef stock in cartons, cubes or tubs of powder (sauces, soups or gravy)
9. Salt
10. Whole peppercorns or ground black pepper

Packets and Cartons

1. Pasta (I always keep spaghetti and macaroni, sometimes fusilli or penne)
2. Rice (I use basmati, brown rice and arborio)
3. Egg noodles (stir fry and soups)
4. Wraps or tacos (for quick dinners)
5. Pretzels (snacks)
6. Popcorn (snacks)
7. Crackers (snacks)
8. Muesli bars (snacks)
9. Almonds (granola and snacks)
10. Oats (porridge, bircher muesli, granola, baking)
11. Breakfast cereals
12. Dried fruit (baking and snacks)
13. Desiccated coconut (breakfast and baking)
14. UHT milk (making yoghurt, for taking camping and for when I’ve run out of fresh milk)

Baking

1. Plain flour
2. Self-raising flour (although you could use plain flour and baking powder)
3. Bread/Baker’s flour (white and wholemeal)
4. Cornflour
5. Yeast
6. Baking powder
7. Bicarbonate of soda (aka baking soda, also good for lots of cleaning jobs!)
8. Caster sugar
9. Soft brown sugar
10. Vanilla extract
11. Chocolate chips

With this lot in my cupboard, the number of times I need to go shopping and the amount of money I spend is greatly reduced. If you don’t do this already, it could be a game-changer!

What cuisines do you like to cook? What do you like to keep in your pantry? Tell me in the comments!