Pantry Staples for Quick Meals

When we get credit for being able to throw together delicious meals with very little effort, it’s our pantry that made it possible. With a few good staples and a trick or two up our sleeve, making dinner from whatever fresh produce is at hand is as easy as can be. Here are a few of the things we like to keep handy:

Spices:

• Salt – Maldon, Kosher
• Cumin
• Coriander
• Cinnamon
• Paprika (smoked, hot or sweet)
• Black peppercorns
• Red pepper flakes
• Za’atar

Grains & Pasta:

• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Farro
• Rolled oats
• Pasta shapes & long noodles
• Rice noodles

Oils:

• Olive oil
• Grapeseed oil
• Toasted sesame oil
• Coconut oil

Aromatics and Flavor-Enhancers:

• Anchovies
• Worcestershire sauce
• Soy sauce
• Miso
• Dried kombu (seaweed)
• Dried porcini mushrooms
• Lemons
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Herbs, dried (bay leaves, rosemary, oregano) and fresh (parsley, cilantro, basil)

Pantry Staples:

• All purpose flour
• Cane sugar
• Brown sugar
• Honey
• Panko breadcrumbs
• Nuts (pecans, almonds, walnuts) and seeds (sesame, pumpkin)

Larder:

• Butter
• Eggs
• Cream or crème fraiche
• Plain, whole milk yogurt