What do you keep in the fridge/freezer to make a plate of food more interesting?

[lborgia]

I have spent years buying take away etc because I’m so drained by 4pm that I cannot even think about what to make to eat.

Recently I’ve started buying a few things that I know I really love, even though no-one else does, and it’s made a huge difference. I do know, though, that I’m going to end up being a bit boring, so wondered if you have any secret vices, or useful extras, that make a plate more appealing.

My dullest item is mini pitta breads - toasted from frozen, they taste freshly made, and can hold anything.

My most extravagant is a jar of artichoke hearts - for some reason I absolutely love them.

I’ve even started buying a few ready-cut vegetables because I really can’t stand cutting them! Pumpkin, sweet potato, then make a pan of roasted vegetables of all sorts and keep using them over the week.

Also, pointlessly small tomatoes, blue cheese, onion marmalade, and cornichons / pickled cucumbers, garlic paste.

None of this is mind blowing to anyone else, but between them they often get me to the point of putting a plate of stuff together, rather than just reaching for the pot of ice cream, or a ready meal.

Anything I can add to my list? I need inspiration, but also am very nosy

An old flatmate of mine had a philosophy that if you eat something ready-made or from the freezer you always add something - parsley, chopped fresh chilli, olives, sundried tomato, toasted pumkin seeds, linseeds, sesame seeds, etc.

My thing is adding either coriander or mint leaves to tomatoes and cucumber. Instantly makes it feel like an exciting salad and takes no effort.

Adding a splash of white vinegar (or lemon/lime juice) and olive oil does the same. I feel like I have a properly prepared side salad rather than just a plate of veg

Toasted cashews, gherkins, capers, parmesan. Make everything taste better! Sundried tomatoes, roasted jarred peppers add flavour to everything

Mm, washing/dealing with herbs is a bit too close to prepping veg for me, which is a pretty unimpressive thought. And the semi dried stuff is like pencil shavings.

Toasted cashews sounds good, well toasting some seeds I suppose. I’m trying to add more variety too - thank you!

I probably need more of this stuff - I get really miserable sometimes with what I cook being boring and plain.

I do have a few bits - I get mixed salad leaves instead of an iceberg lettuce. The expensive named cherry tomatoes (like sugardrop or piccolo). I also love sugarsnap peas and tenderstem brocoli - as you literally throw them in boiling water for 2 mins and done.

Sometimes having sour cream in for chilli.

Having chopped chorizo and pancetta - chorizo especially leaches a lovely oil when cooked - so baking plain chicken can be perked up by tossing chorizo in with it.

Certainly having things like naan and garlic bread in make a jar curry or spag bol seem much more appealing.

Thanks for the chorizo reminder, I haven’t bought that for ages.

I’m trying to stick to increasing veggies, because if I had naan and garlic bread on hand I’d be really unhealthy rather than just obese

Jarred 'guindilla' chillis.
Gherkins
Sauerkraut
Keep a well stocked selection of hot sauces.

Pine nuts. Sundried tomato purée. Capers. Olives. Totally with you on artichoke hearts.
For Indian, it’s all about the lime pickle, aubergine pickle and maggi tamarind sauce.

Chiu chow chilli oil and soy dipping sauce for anything vaguely Asian. I’ve always got spring rolls, onion bhajis, naan and samosas in the freezer to make quick meals feel more like meals.

I forgot sesame seeds and spring onions chopped with a scissors. Instantly make any stir fry look prettier!

Sun dried tomatoes, pickles, crispy chilli oil, plenty of spices, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and pomegranate molasses - all things that can make salad or veg more interesting. I also like to have stock of pittas, wraps etc.

I always have lemons, limes, sea salt,black pepper and olive oil in too.

Seeds and nuts to sprinkle on salads
Olives, pickles and chutneys to make sandwiches more interesting
Balsamic glaze swirled on everything

If you want to be extra decadent a fresh truffle kept in risotto rice to shave over creamy pasta, eggs or asparagus with Parmesan. Big outlay but it lasts for ages and you have wonderfully scented rice as well.

I love adding fresh green chillis and red onions to a very well defrosted frozen pizza. It doesn’t taste so frozeny if that makes sense

Also some really nice slices of mild cheddar and some cut up cucumber and lettuce. When hunger kicks in chuck it between two slices of bread and it’s better than reaching for the ice cream or crisps

Get a tub of crispy onions. & if you're trying to eat less cheese then a sprinkling of nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavour.

frozen chopped herbs. jar of capers, decent balsamic vinegar...

maldon smoked sea salt flakes. Aso capers, beetroot (vacuum packed or pickled), sundried tomatoes and decent balsamic.

Wine
A big glass
🤣

Sauerkraut and kimchi at the moment. And as they’re fermented they’re good for you too.

I love chilli marinaded olives
Yes also to capers
Garlic oil and chilli oil pep things up
Balsamic vinegar, chuck over tomato or green salad

I love love peri peri sauce. Keep a bottle of that plus use peri peri salt on everything and perinaise, mmmm.

Mini kabanos sausages, slice into salads and pasta

Chives and spring onions are great for snipping. Good with eggs or potatoes or frozen broad beans

Came to say chorizo too. Also, creme fraiche, then you can make pasta in the time it takes to boil it. Frozen spinach, you can buy frozen in portion sizes, also easy to chuck in a pasta, no veg prep. And Halloumi. It lasts forever in fridge and if sliced and fried is really meaty and filling I find.

Sliced pickled jalapenos

Good quality fresh grated parmesan on any plate of veg or pasta is nice. Garlic aioli I can put with everything, same with a nice spicy tomato relish. Pickles, onion, cucumber etc Hummus and a slice of tomato and or lettuce in those pita breads is good stuff. Frozen berries I can chuck in the blender with rice milk and banana and super green powder when I want a sweet healthy treat. Im also fond of tinned fish on toast with chopped onion and tomato, and bottled asparagus I think are delish too. Frozen chopped fresh herbs are very handy in an omelette or salad.

Chorizo
Pickled things - beetroot, onions, gherkins etc
Sweet chilli sauce
Garlic and ginger pastes
Halloumi
Greek full fat yoghurt
Beetroot
Always seem to have figs

Green olives with garlic and jalapenos (the fresh ones). If you look you for ones with a long date they last weeks in the fridge (until they’re opened). If you slice them and mix them through a salad or throw them into a wrap it adds loads of flavour. Mostly I eat them whole, on a plate with hummus, falafel and crudités. If I wasn’t trying to eat lowish carb I would definitely add your mini pittas to my next shop. Also, Ramona’s falafel. They oven cook from frozen so you can keep them in for mezze emergencies