Nigella Lawson's pantry essentials
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson recently weighed in on which ingredients everyone should stockpile.
According to Lawson, the very basics should include:
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Tinned tomatoes
- Canned sardines
- Pasta
- Olive oil
- Unsalted butter
- Parmesan
- Bacon
Freelance food editor Monaz Dumasia agreed with some of Nigella’s choices.
“Whether its tuna, salmon, sardines or mackerel, having a stock of tinned fish means cheap, ready to eat protein in a dash,” she told Good Housekeeping, while she described tinned tomatoes as the "backbone" to many dishes.
“They’re cheap, they practically last forever and they’re the backbone to many, many classics.”
“Add an onion, some dried herbs and/or spices, and you have the base for Bolognese, chilli con carne and a whole host of other meals.”
Jamie Oliver's pantry essentials
Meanwhile, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's must-haves are much more extensive.
While agreeing on tinned tomatoes, Oliver told Oprah magazine that every kitchen should also stock:
- Ground cinnamon
- Chile powder
- Dried oregano
- Ground cumin
- Ground coriander
- Curry powder
- Smoked paprika
- Five-spice powder
- Sea salt
- Black peppercorn
Frozen peas - Frozen sugar snap peas
- Frozen green beans
- Frozen sweet corn
- Frozen fruits
- Frozen raw shrimp
- Whole grain mustard
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Sesame oil
- White wine vinegar
- Bread flour
- Whole wheat flour
- Baking powder
- Dried yeast
- Superfine sugar
- Brown sugar
- Icing sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Chow mein noodles
- Canned cannellini beans
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned kidney beans
- Canned tuna
- Canned coconut milk
- Anchovies
- Quick-cook couscous
- Basmati rice
- Brown rice
- Oatmeal
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Almonds/hazelnuts or mixed nuts
- Mixed seeds
- Chicken, vegetable and beef broth stock cubes
- Jar of pesto
- Tomato sauce
- Tabasco sauce
- Mayonnaise
- Dijon mustard
- English mustard
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- All-purpose flour
- Cornstarch
- Dried pasta
- Canned chickpeas
- Baking powder
- Soy sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Plain crackers—unsalted saltines
