Store cupboard essentials

Discussion in 'Recipes' started by longk, Nov 14, 2013.

  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2011
    Messages:
    11,386
    Location:
    Oxfordshire
    Ratings:
    +23,104
    I'm not thinking about the usual stuff (flour, stock cubes etc.), but the little things that you keep in the cupboard that cause others to say "oooh, what's in this?" or just make that little difference that lifts a dish.

    I have a few;
    Black cummin seed - they have a slightly softer flavour than the more common cummin seed.
    Fennel seed. Great with pulses or added to a tomato sauce.
    Onion seed. A real all-rounder. Add to bread or pizza dough, baked beans, creamed leaks or many other savoury dishes.
    (all the above are used in pukka pillau rice along with cinnamon, cardamon pods, cloves and saffron)
    Palm sugar and dried lime leaves - essential in most S/E Asian curries.
    Waitrose own brand anchovies in extra virgin olive oil. These are intense! Half of one of these added to a tomato sauce lifts it to another level (without making it fishy strangely enough).
    Pearl barley and dried mung beans.
    Cider and blackcurrant vinegars.
    Mama Sitas' vegetarian oyster sauce.
    Black beans with ginger - add to most S/E Asian dishes in small amounts.

    That's a start. What do you keep in your cupboard?
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Phil A

      Phil A Guest

      Ratings:
      +0
      I got a jar of Lahore Fish Masala spice mix, it's lasted years, made the mistake of putting a whole teaspoon in a dish when I first got it, had to throw the food out, too hot to eat :phew:
       
      • Funny Funny x 1
      • Madahhlia

        Madahhlia Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Mar 19, 2007
        Messages:
        3,678
        Gender:
        Female
        Location:
        Suburban paradise
        Ratings:
        +3,090
        Sumac -a brown citrussy powder, great for garnishing hommous, also for sprinkling onto roast chicken for a Middle Eastern touch. Also would be good on a potato salad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumac

        Chinkiang black vinegar
         
        • Like Like x 2
        • Informative Informative x 1
        • Ellen

          Ellen Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 20, 2013
          Messages:
          2,562
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Volunteer at Cats Protection
          Location:
          Bakewell
          Ratings:
          +1,984
          Vanilla pods
           
          • Like Like x 2
          • noisette47

            noisette47 Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jan 25, 2013
            Messages:
            6,446
            Gender:
            Female
            Location:
            Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine
            Ratings:
            +15,722
            Tamarind paste, Coconut toddi vinegar, kashmiri masala paste, rice and gram flours....anything to get through another wet, miserable european winter:SUNsmile:
             
            • Like Like x 2
            • Agree Agree x 1
            • Lolimac

              Lolimac Guest

              Ratings:
              +0
              Sugar coated Rose Petals....
               
              • Like Like x 3
              • Creative Creative x 1
              • Gay Gardener

                Gay Gardener Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Nov 16, 2011
                Messages:
                1,258
                Gender:
                Male
                Location:
                The Wash, Fens
                Ratings:
                +1,978
                Harissa
                Ras El Hanout
                Both give a special something to Morocccan/North African dishes.
                Caraway Seed (out of fashion I think, but delicioso in winter cabbage soup and also on homemade bread)
                Tamarind (I have a block of it for curries)

                Some interesting things posted by others I will be looking up with a view to using, good topic.

                GG
                 
                • Like Like x 2
                • Informative Informative x 1
                • Jenny namaste

                  Jenny namaste Total Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Mar 11, 2012
                  Messages:
                  18,483
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  retired- blissfully retired......
                  Location:
                  Battle, East Sussex
                  Ratings:
                  +31,939
                  recently discovered "pancha phoran" as a base to build up a curry sauce from. Lovely with tarka dhal,
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Dave W

                    Dave W Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Feb 6, 2006
                    Messages:
                    6,143
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Anything I fancy and can afford!
                    Location:
                    Tay Valley
                    Ratings:
                    +3,035
                    Jar of 100% Polish spirit with strawberries soaking in it. It's kept for a long time as we're scared stiff of it!:rolleyespink:
                     
                    • Funny Funny x 4
                    • Like Like x 2
                    • mowgley

                      mowgley Total Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Aug 16, 2005
                      Messages:
                      3,564
                      Gender:
                      Male
                      Occupation:
                      Wanna be gardener
                      Location:
                      Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
                      Ratings:
                      +6,627
                      Where do I start

                      Lemon grass, Tamarind paste, lime leaves, palm sugar and nam pla (fish sauce) for my thai dishes.

                      Smoked paprika, saffron for my paellas

                      Sichuan peppercorns
                       
                      • Like Like x 2
                      • longk

                        longk Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Nov 24, 2011
                        Messages:
                        11,386
                        Location:
                        Oxfordshire
                        Ratings:
                        +23,104
                        Jessie!!!!:loll:

                        Have you tried rose water? Uber decadent, but worth the effort occasionally.

                        Is this it? I have everything that I need to make that.

                        I'm struggling to find Dulce pimenton around here at the moment, although I can get the Picanté pimenton easily enough.
                         
                        • Funny Funny x 2
                        • Phil A

                          Phil A Guest

                          Ratings:
                          +0
                          • Funny Funny x 2
                          • Like Like x 1
                          • Agree Agree x 1
                          • Jenny namaste

                            Jenny namaste Total Gardener

                            Joined:
                            Mar 11, 2012
                            Messages:
                            18,483
                            Gender:
                            Female
                            Occupation:
                            retired- blissfully retired......
                            Location:
                            Battle, East Sussex
                            Ratings:
                            +31,939
                            Yes - that's the stuff. Just fry it in hot oil until it starts to brown and pop then remove from heat to stop it burning then add other spices as required,
                            Jenny
                             
                            • Informative Informative x 1
                            • mowgley

                              mowgley Total Gardener

                              Joined:
                              Aug 16, 2005
                              Messages:
                              3,564
                              Gender:
                              Male
                              Occupation:
                              Wanna be gardener
                              Location:
                              Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
                              Ratings:
                              +6,627
                              Got mine from ebay with a whole load of other stuff
                               
                              • Like Like x 1
                              • Agree Agree x 1
                              • Madahhlia

                                Madahhlia Total Gardener

                                Joined:
                                Mar 19, 2007
                                Messages:
                                3,678
                                Gender:
                                Female
                                Location:
                                Suburban paradise
                                Ratings:
                                +3,090
                                I like to eat it with that pasta that grows on trees.
                                 
                                • Agree Agree x 1
                                Loading...

                                Share This Page

                                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                  Dismiss Notice