How would you build up a kitchen store cupboard from scratch?

[mumof1littlebun]

I'm trying to use up what we have, partly to save money and partly to use up everything so I can start again. We don't eat horrendously but would like to have a fresh start and try to get healthier. What would be basics that we should always have in? Trying to cook a lot more from scratch as find we spend a fortune!

[Magpiefeather]

Tinned tomatoes
Passata
Tomato purée
Herbs - basil, Oregano, rosemary, thyme
Spices - turmeric, chilli, Garam masala, cumin, paprika

Stock cubes
Salt
Pepper

Flour
Sugar
Baking powder

You can tell we eat a lot of pasta dishes, curries and chillis! All healthy though :)

[IShitGlitter]

i scratch cook most days and my staples are:
stock cubes beef chicken and veg
garlic paste
ginger paste
soy sauce
wocheshire sauce
siracha sauce (i use it in my stir frys)
honey
tomato puree
flour
lentils
paprika
chilli powder
chilli flakes
cumin
ground corriander
oregano
mixed herbs
5 spice
mixed spice
cinnamon
turmeric
salt
pepper

[IShitGlitter]

oh yes tinned tomatoes we use alot of them as a base oh and a good curry powder

[mumof1littlebun]

Thank you for the replies. We actually have a lot of those items in! Think I need to look for new recipe ideas instead of the same chilli, meatballs etc!

[Magmatic80]

I would go about it the opposite way. Buy olive oil, salt and pepper, but then meal plan religiously and buy staple things you need that week as you go along at your weekly shop. If you’re changing your staple diet, you’ll need different things and you won’t know what routine you’ll get into with regards to favourite ‘new’ meals until you get into it.

Plus it’s cheaper to build up week by week.

[Magmatic80]

We meal plan together on a Friday after work by going through the recipe books, then go shopping after dinner that evening. Is lovely and quiet because all those with lives aren’t shopping on a Friday night so is pleasant experience looking around for new things to have, which don’t get bought then, but are thought about at next week’s meal planning session. We prob have at least one new meal a week. Look in weekend papers and supermarket mags for recipe ideas too, some my best ever meals have come from the Waitrose mag!

[AnnPerkins]

Red and green lentils
Chickpeas
Noodles

All good alternatives to pasta, rice, potatoes if you fancy a change.

Tinned fish: tuna, anchovies
Olives
Capers

If you don't already, try the world foods aisle in the supermarket for cheaper store cupboard staples like spices, dried pulses, tinned pulses etc. You might get some inspiration for something different there as well.

[caperplips]

we generally have tinned goods like tomatoes, cannelloni beans, kidney beans, baked beans.

Olive oil, sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil and rapeseed oil

sugars - granulated, caster, soft brown and dark brown

Honey, chocolate spread, jam & marmalade

Flour - plain, self raising and OO bread flour

baking soda and baking powder

sultanas, choc chips, good quality vanilla extract, food colourings and cake decorations (sprinkles etc), bun cases

Stock pots - chicken, beef and veg

Herbs and spices - loads of these but most commonly used - sea salt and black pepper in grinders, oregano, thyme, chilli flakes, rosemary, paprika etc

tea - breakfast, earl grey, peppermint

coffee - ground beans for the filter machine and a tin of good instant expresso for baking

cadburys hot chocolate, bournville cocoa

pasta - lots of shapes usually including macaroni, spaghetti, penne

Rice - long grain white, arborio risotto and brown rice

breads of various types

biscuits and treats

condiments - mustard - wholegrain, dijon and english. Sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, plum sauce, tabasco, worstershire, ketchup, mayo,
pickles, chutneys, etc

this and a similarly stocked freezer allows meals to be made quickly no matter what else is happening

But it has taken a long time to build it to this level and it does take some maintenance to make sure things don't go out of date if shoved to the back etc

[Frith2013]

My store cupboard contains:

Tomatoes
Kidney beans
Butter beans
Baked beans
Stock
Herbs and spices
Vinegars
Oils
Sugars
Salt
Pasta
Rice
Cous cous
Big cous cous!
Yeast
Flours
Soy sauces
Fish sauce
Tomato and brown sauce
Mustards
Mixed fruit
Sultanas
Sesame seeds
Almonds
Coconut - dessicated, milk and cream
Emergency jars of pasta sauce and pesto
Lasagne sheets
Dried milk for yoghurt making
UHT for yoghurt making
Icing sugar
Honey
Treacle
Chutney
Jams
Nutella
Marmite
Marmalade

[Frith2013]

And!

Tuna
Sardines
Anchovies
A jar of hotdog sausages

[TanselleTooTall]

We always uave in:
Dried noodles
Jasmine rice and brown rice
Quinoa
Pasta
Tuna, salmon, anchovies, sardines tins
Corned beef
Dried legumes

Canned sweetcorn from Aldi/Lidl/Waitrose. The only tinned corn that is better than frozen. Very crisp, sweet and fresh textured.

Tinned potatoes. I used to turn my nose up at items like this (don't ask! Mother was a snob!) I now realise how brilliant they are. Slice and toss with corned beef (plus other extras of course) for a quick hash. Slice and sautè in butter with seasoning for a no fuss side dish. Good texture as they are waxy pots.

Tinned legumes for emergency food

The standard flour, baking flour, sugar etc as mentioned already.

A couple of jars of sauces or curry sauces for quick meals - like for chilli, tikka, sweet and sour, honey mustard chicken sauces, pasta sauce etc. Great for last minute meal. These are usually on standby as I make everything from scratch.

Golden syrup and maple syrup

Jumbo oats

Large selection of Baxters soup tins. I found these are the nicest for the price bracket. Me and son love the Scotch Broth with a handful of cooked pasta thrown in. Cheap and filling. Daughter loves any soup flavour so long as it's covered in cheese!

Pank breadcrumbs. Make the crispiest, lightest coating with a lovely crunch. I cover breast strips in panko or fish fillets. Really good.

Condiments like tartare, english mustard, horseradish, cranberry and mint. Pretty much covers for everything, meat wise. Ketchup and mayo, obviously.

We always have a few bottles of HiJuice stashed in my cupboard.
Longlife juices

Many tins of Condensed milk, coconut milk (only from Aldi or Lidl as theirs is 97% coconut content - the highest and best out there for just 69p per tin!) And evaporated milk.

I think that's it.

[TanselleTooTall]

Oh blimey. Don't tell me I've gone a ruined the thread!
I was only trying to help..!