love making a new dish every now and then, but I also like having some go-to recipes that I can make on repeat. So I’ve been thinking about how to make shopping easier and still have what I need—or most of what I need—on hand. I still Google for substitutes, and that’s been a lifesaver more than once.
Here are my current lists, which are a work in progress. I have some favorite cookbooks and cooking blogs that I return to regularly. How about you? I’d like to hear how you make the magic happen. Reply and let me know.
15 pantry items
- Canned tomatoes
- Onions
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Dried or canned beans
- Pasta
- Baking ingredients (see list below)
- Rice/quinoa
- Frozen vegetables
- Lemon juice
- Oatmeal
- Potatoes
- Cabbage
- Celery/carrots
- Olives
10 spices*
- Salt (Kosher and sea salt)
- Pepper
- Red pepper or chile powder
- Cumin
- Italian seasoning
- Herbs de Provence
- Turmeric
- Coffee rub
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
*We also have a lot of spices for Indian cooking, but that would double the list!
Other plant-based cooking ingredients
- Tofu
- Nutritional yeast flakes
- Flaxseed and/or chia seeds
- Coconut aminos or Braggs Liquid Aminos
- Coconut cream
- Walnuts/pecans
- Hemp seeds
Baking ingredients
- Vanilla
- Sugar
- Flour
- Bread flour
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Cocoa
- Applesauce
- Chocolate chips
- Corn meal
12 recipes on repeat
- Pasta puttanesca sauce
- Bean salad sandwiches
- Plant-based sausage
- Simple artisan bread or rolls
- English muffins
- Rice porridge
- Chili
- Lentil soup
- Peach and tomato tofu salad
- Brussels sprout curry
- Fancy ramen
- Cabbage salad
