We all have cupboards full of ingredients we do want to use and many other items we have bought for that special recipe and haven’t needed again. How many times do we need cardamon seeds or tapioca flour?
Well, I am having a good spring clean and have made a list of the basics I need to cook a variety of dishes. The problem is knowing when to stop! I just tried to keep it to simple basics with which you can turn out a quick and tasty meal in a flash
Olive Oil Sunflower or Rapeseed Oil Sesame oil - perfect for adding flavour to a stir-fry. Sea Salt Ground Black Pepper Ground Coriander Ground Ginger Ground Mixed Spice Garlic salt Paprika Turmeric Baked beans - a quick crumble with equal amounts of oats, grated butter and grated cheese. just pop in the oven until golden. Add some dried herbs for extra flavour. Balsamic vinegar - try with sliced strawberries and use to top meringue nest and cream. Butter beans or Haricot beans - perfect to turn into a quick mash with olive oil and herbs - serve with sausages or topped with pesto grilled cod Chick peas-a quick hummus's always useful Coconut milk - great to add flavour to a homemade soup or a Thai curry. Use any leftover milk as part of the liquid to cook rice. Chopped tomatoes - multiple uses Tomato puree Crushed chillis- a pinch adds that little bit to oomph to many a dish. Curry paste - curry mayonnaise, soups, Dry pasta in all shapes and sizes Flour - self-raising and plain Dried Herbs – rosemary, thyme, tarragon and mixed herbs Marmite Mustard- it's got to be Colmans English with me Noodles Olives - chopped and added to a can of tomatoes with herbs and paprika makes a quick pasta sauce. Olive oil Paprika Raisins - use to add a fruity flavour to curries Rice Runny honey - roasted vegetables Soy sauce Stock cubes Tabasco Tomato ketchup Mayonnaise White wine vinegar
