The Prepared Pantry

By keeping a few essential items in your kitchen, you can be prepared to create fast, healthy meals using just a few fresh items each week. Here are a few of my favorite pantry must-haves. I’ve grouped the items by storage category – shelf, freezer and fridge. The items in parentheses can be chosen based on your own tastes (the ones I’ve listed are just examples, so use your imagination and get creative). As you become skilled in creating meals from your pantry, you’ll get a sense for your own essential stash.

Shelf Staples

Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Olive oil

Garlic

Onions (I like yellow! Do not refrigerate!)

Shallots

Fresh ginger root

Vinegars (champagne, balsamic, red wine)

Pasta in several shapes, long and short

Brown rice

Couscous, regular and Isreali (I like whole wheat)

Farro

Pearl Barley

Bulgur wheat

Quinoa

Canned beans (black, garbanzo, cannellini)

Canned tomatoes (diced, crushed, paste)

Lentils (French green, Black beluga, red, brown)

Tree nuts – whole, chopped, slivered (walnuts, pecans, almonds)

Pine nuts

Sweet spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice)

Savory spices (oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, ground mustard)

Ethnic spices (turmeric, curry, cumin, Spanish smoked paprika)

Brown sugar

Honey

Whole-wheat flour

All-purpose flour

Bread crumbs (traditional, panko)

Dry cooking wine, white and/or red

Chicken or vegetable stock

Pure vanilla extract

Applesauce (for baking)

Freezer

Vegetables (peas, corn, edamame, broccoli, chopped spinach)

Fruit for smoothies (peaches, mango, pineapple, berries)

Fresh pasta (ravioli, tortellini, linguine, fettuccine)

Shrimp, peeled and deveined

Vacuum-packed fish (tilapia, halibut, barramundi)

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Split chicken breasts (bone-in, skin on)

All-butter puff pastry

Fridge

Unsalted butter

Eggs

Milk

Plain Greek Yogurt (I like 2%)

Lemons

Carrots

Celery

Dijon mustard, smooth and grainy

Worcestershire Sauce

Soy sauce

Sriracha

Tabasco

Olives

Cheeses (Parmesan, Pecorino Romano, feta, fresh ricotta, goat, mozzarella)

Minced ginger (bottled)