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

And chutneys! Always a good mango chutney plus plum and whatever I’ve made e.g courgette.

Smooth pickle - great on sandwiches, wraps, with salads, and burgers

Frank's hot sauce, adds a bit of spice to almost anything

Tuna - makes a meal out of a spud, also for pasta and rice and wraps

Steam veg bags - super fast and an easy way to get the veg in when you can't be arsed with prep

Chorizo - I Chuck it in omelettes, pasta sauces, on top of poached eggs!

With regards to chopping herbs, you can get herb scissors which look like they'd be perfect for chopping fresh herbs into a salad and anything else.

I've also thought, pesto is another thing - a spoonful makes any side pasta more exciting and and coat on chicken and things if needed.

Somebody beat me to it, Frank's red hot sauce. An expensive bottle of balsamic, it lasts longer so it's worth it if you can bear to pay for it! Also, sriracha drizzled over just about anything. And it's cheap. Tahini. A bunch of coriander, chop it, freeze it in a reseal bag, then you can sprinkle some on whenever you feel like. Spring onions ditto, can always make egg fried rice with those and frozen peas (always got soy sauce and sesame oil)
Feta cheese crumbled in salad or omelette.

Pickled red cabage, pickled beetroot, pickled cucumbers, saurkraut, radishes (they last months), sesame seeds in the cupboard, honey goes well on anything Middle Eastern.

We usually have kale, rocket and aubergine as well to add to meals. Oh and of course Parmesan and cottage cheese (goes well in soups etc).

Oh and flaked almonds go on everything lol

olives

If you have an Eastern European store near you Poland really knows how to jazz up a meal!

Beetroot and horseradish, pickled green tomatoes: cucumbers; mushrooms; nuts, cabbage salads, horseradish, the best mustards anywhere, pink sauce, fried onions, sausages to chop up into everything, mayonnaise based salads which are amazing. My favourite cuisine!

Go to an asian supermarket and ask for frozen steamed dumplings. Many of them are very healthy and u steam/microwave them in minutes.

Rose harissa paste - I add this pretty much everything and tbh would eat it straight out of the jar
Mango chutney
Gherkins, capers, pickled garlic, olives, anchovies

Kimchi

Same something beat me to it!

Vodka

Balsamic dressing makes any salad seem fancy.

Haribos

Kimchi/ sour cream/ herbs/nori/ butter/ wine

Nduja paste - you can spread it on bread / toast , use it with eggs and omelettes just a little blon the side makes everything taste nicer. It also goes on pizzas. Get it in m & S and Waitrose although it wouldn't surprise me if Aldi start selling it soon.

Get a jar of Korean style crispy chilli in oil.

Also bacon bits! They are not actual bacon but taste like bits of crispy bacon.

groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-the-deli-sweety-dropred-peppers-235g-150g-drained/4088600298375 These 😍