Issue link: https://kbilokhvost.uberflip.com/i/1334131
[5 ingredients | 10 minutes] www.thestonesoup.com page 90 Again, this is just my personal list – based on the types of things I like to cook. Of course your essentials will be different depending on your cooking preferences and style. Actually I'd love to hear if there's anything you strongly disagree with or anything you feel it is a crime not to include. my minimalist pantry - the essentials 1. oil I like to stock a cheaper extra virgin olive oil for general cooking, a more expensive peppery number for dressings and drizzling and some peanut oil for frying. 2. salt You could just keep one box of sea salt flakes but it's good to have cheaper grade of sea salt for making brines and salting pasta water. 3. pepper I can't imagine a world without freshly ground black pepper. 4. sugar or honey Caster sugar is the most versatile as it is fine grained so will dissolve readily. 5. sherry vinegar 6. soy sauce Of all the sauces, soy is the most versatile. I've been appreciating it as a vegetarian source of savoury flavours. 7. dark chocolate You never know when a chocolate-critical moment is going to arise. Also great as a backup dessert. 8. tea I love my tea and couldn't imagine life without it. 9. tinned tomatoes Perfect for emergency pasta sauce. 10. tinned chickpeas If I had to narrow down my canned legume collection to one essential, chickpeas would win hands down. 11. dried french-style green lentils Also known as 'Puy' lentils, these are my favourite lentil. Small and pretty, they are very forgiving and don't turn to mush like many other lentils. 12. plain flour It's not called 'all purpose' flour for nothing. Can be used in baking, breadmaking and pasta. 13. baking powder Not essential for non-bakers, but my first choice for a leavening agent. Will turn plain flour into self raising flour in a flash – just add 2 teaspoons to a cup of plain flour. 14. natural muesli My breakfast of choice. 15. dried chilli flakes Dried red chilli flakes are my first choice for a little fire. 16. nuts For crunch in a crumble, or salad, or for a healthy snack, it's always a good to have some nuts on hand. 17. dried pasta I tend to have at least one short pasta and a long pasta like linguine in the pantry. Worth spending the extra money on the artisanal stuff. 18. basmati & arborio rice My two favourite rice. 19. potatoes As anyone with an Irish boyfriend knows, potatoes are an essential pantry item. 20. garlic It keeps for ages and makes a world of difference to many dishes. 21. lemons I have this thing that if I have lemons and parmesan (and loo paper) in the house then everything will be all right. 22. parmesan cheese There are few things that can't be improved with a grating of fresh parmigiano reggiano. I also love it as a snack. 23. rosemary Critical for roast spuds, and easy to grow. It's one of my few surviving fresh herbs. Also keeps well in the freezer. 24. free range eggs If you have eggs, you have a meal.