10 Best Kitchen Essentials
When the kitchen is stocked with nutritious foods that are versatile and also easy to cook, having healthy meals is easy, even during the times when you have a hectic schedule. Here are some absolute must-have best kitchen essentials. Check to see if you are well-stocked!
1.Dried pasta
A big box of pasta in the pantry is always helpful. You can toss it with anything you fancy, and you have a meal ready in less than 10 minutes.
2.Rice
Stock whatever kind of rice you eat. Rice with a little salt and butter in itself makes for a nice comfort meal; you can also add to it some leftovers lurking in your fridge.
3.Peanut butter
Who doesn’t love the rich, creamy taste of peanut butter? Add it liberally to sandwiches, dips, sauces desserts for some lip-smacking time.
4.Extra virgin olive oil
One of the best kitchen essentials, olive oil is one of the reasons why Mediterranean diet is considered the healthiest of all. This must-have pantry essential is great both for your cooking as well as your health. The versatile oil can be used in soups, marinades, dressings, sauces and to sauté almost all kinds of preparations. The perfect substitute for butter or margarine, the ‘healthy fat’ is wonderful for daily cooking.
5.Vinegar
Vinegar is just the right staple to add a touch of acidity to sauces, marinades, salads and what have you. The ingredient is extremely versatile, heart healthy and a must include food in your pantry.
6.Canned beans
Canned beans are easily one of the best kitchen essentials to stock. They are an excellent source of protein, iron and fibre, and you can add them to heighten the nutrient content of your meals or just bake them for a healthy snack. Keep all kinds of beans in your kitchen including black beans, chickpeas and white northern among others.
7.Canned tomatoes
Whether diced, crushed, or pureed, stock up on all kinds of tomatoes and use it in anything you like. With a can of tomatoes, the choices are endless. It’s a great way to bring richness to preparations that you are trying to keep low in fat and calories.
8.Mustard
The versatile condiment can be found in several varieties, and tastes great in sandwiches or as a marinade or dressing. Just a bit of it can bring so much tangy and spicy flavour to whatever you are preparing.
9.Nuts
It helps to keep a variety of nuts in the pantry. Nuts are versatile and can make for great additions to any meal. You can munch a handful for an extremely nutritious and filling snack too. Definitely one of the must-have best kitchen essentials!
10.Spices and herbs
Whether fresh or dried, herbs are great to bring flavour to your dishes. Stock up on rosemary, thyme, basil, parsley, oregano, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, chilli powder, bay leaves etc. for a well equipped pantry.