Kitchen Basics

Here Are the Best Pantry Staples Based on Cuisine

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Leslie Wu

Stocking the basics for a wide variety of cuisines is a worthwhile investment in time and effort, setting you up to cook simple dishes from around the world on a moment’s notice. As a bonus, some ingredients such as rice, beans and cilantro span continents, taking on new guises in different styles of cooking. Try adding these 20 items to your cart the next time you go shopping, to bring the flavours of India, China, Japan, Mexico and areas of the Caribbean to your kitchen table.

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Indian Food Pantry Staple: Turmeric

<p>Although recently trendy in North America, turmeric has a long history of lending vivid colour and flavour to a variety of dishes. Most commonly found in powdered form in Canada, it is also sometimes sold whole — and can be used in <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/vegetable-soup-recipes/#!giadas-winter-minestrone" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hearty soups</a>, rice and curries.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/traditional-vegetable-curry/13045/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Traditional Vegetable Curry</a></strong></p>
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Indian Food Pantry Staple: Paneer

<p>Cubes of paneer add heft to saucy <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/comfort-food/photos/satisfying-vegetarian-casserole-recipes/#!goat-cheese-enchiladas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vegetarian dishes</a> (such as the spinach-based saag paneer) or can be enjoyed as the star of its own dish. Often sold fresh (or made at home), you can find a longer lasting version in the frozen aisle of the supermarket.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/green-beans-with-paneer-/11406" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Green Beans With Paneer</a></strong></p>
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Indian Food Pantry Staple: Lentils

<p>Perfect for the pantry, dried red, yellow, brown, black or green lentils are as versatile as they are colourful. Lentils can be sold whole, split or ground into flour, which can be used for wafer thin dosa. From keto to vegan, here are the <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/pantry-staples-you-need-for-every-diet/#!almond-milk-unsplash" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">pantry staples you need based on your diet</a>. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/dal-soup/11332/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dal Soup</a></strong></p>
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Indian Food Pantry Staple: Roti or Naan

<p>Sturdy enough for wrapping around curry, but delicately airy as a dipping vessel, roti or naan are enjoyed throughout southeast Asia and parts of the Caribbean. Look for prepared versions in the bread or frozen sections of the grocery store to have on hand (or try making your own and freezing it).</p> <p>Try making <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/weekend-roti/11285/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Weekend Roti</a></strong></p>
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Chinese Food Pantry Staple: Rice Vinegar

<p>Rice vinegar, used in many cuisines across Asia, can be used anywhere you want to add a gentle acidity to dishes. From salad dressing to sushi to <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/everyday-cooking/photos/quick-and-easy-stir-fry-recipes/#!chicken-primavera-stir-fry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">stir-fries</a>, this multipurpose ingredient is sold seasoned or unseasoned.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/singaporean-slaw-salad-with-salted-apricot-dressing/8710/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Singaporean Slaw Salad With Salted Apricot Dressing</a></strong></p>
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Chinese Food Pantry Staple: Oyster Sauce

<p>This versatile sauce has a deep savoury flavour and dark colour, lending a thick glossiness to noodles, steamed vegetables, fish or meat. For the best depth of flavour, be sure to select a high quality version containing oyster extract (vegetarian versions are available) rather than cheaper imitations with too many fillers.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/chinese-new-year-pearl-noodles/15223/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Pearl Noodles</a></strong></p>
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Chinese Food Pantry Staple: Chow Mein Noodles

<p>Often sold fresh, chow mein noodles are also available in dried form, sometimes pre-cooked. Fried to a crispy finish and topped with a thin sauce and finely sliced meat and vegetables, these noodles are a simple and quick lunch or dinner midweek.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/beef-aristocratic-chinese-style-chow-mein/9890/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chow Mein</a></strong></p>
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Chinese Food Pantry Staple: Rice

<p>Rice appears in so many cuisines in different ways, but in Chinese culture, rice is a fundamental part of many meals from humble one-plate dishes in small coffee shops to elaborate multi-course banquets. Wrapped in lotus leaves and steamed, served plain or fried or made into a comforting congee, rice can appear in any meal of the day.</p> <p>Learn how to make <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/blog/how-to-make-chinese-congee/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Traditional Chinese Congee</a></strong></p>
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Japanese Food Pantry Staple: Sake

<p>Sake is not just for drinking — it can be used to steam or poach fish for subtle flavour, reduced to a syrup or added as is to a marinade or added for a tinge of sweetness to meat and fish dishes. Sake ranges in refinement (and price) depending on how much the rice grain is polished. </p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/sablefish-caramelized-with-soy-and-sake/14100/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sablefish Caramelized With Soy and Sake</a></strong></p>
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Japanese Food Pantry Staple: Udon

<p>Udon noodles are the basis of a chewy and hearty meal, ready to pull from the freezer and serve pan fried seasoned with soy sauce and other readily available pantry items.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/yaki-udon-pan-fried-noodles/22643/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Yaki Udon Pan Fried Noodles</a></strong></p>
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Japanese Food Pantry Staple: Bonito

<p>Whether used to make dashi (the stock that is foundational to many Japanese dishes) or as a wavy topping for takoyaki, the subtle smokiness of bonito is a prized flavour. You can find dried bonito in small flakes or larger pieces.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/shrimp-and-leek-soba-noodles/19690/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Shrimp and Leek Soba Noodles</a></strong></p>
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Japanese Food Pantry Staple: Dried Seaweed

<p>Another core pantry ingredient in <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/global-eats/photos/japanese-inspired-recipes/#!Godzilla-MacNCheese" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Japanese food</a>, dried seaweed is sold as sheets of kombu for dashi. In North America, seaweed is commonly seen as nori, roasted and wrapped around sushi rolls or slivered and tossed on top of noodles.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/nori-crusted-salmon/9580/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nori Crusted Salmon</a></strong></p>
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Mexican Food Pantry Staple: Cilantro

<p>Despite its <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/photos/controversial-foods-people-hate/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">polarizing nature</a> (some people are genetically predisposed to dislike it from birth), cilantro adds a vibrant flavour to dishes from Asia to Mexico. Although fresh cilantro adds a certain leafy appeal, the dried version (or the dried seeds of the plant commonly sold as coriander) is sometimes used in cooked dishes such as these chilaquiles.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/chilaquiles/15293/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chilaquiles</a></strong></p>
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Mexican Food Pantry Staple: Dried or Canned Chilies

<p>Chilies in <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/healthy-eating/photos/vegan-mexican-recipes/#!460x307-healthy-vegan-tacos" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mexican cooking</a> come in a wide range of colours and heat level, from mild green poblanos to fiery orange habaneros (like most vegetables, chilies change colour when ripening). Dried chilies can be found whole or ground into flakes for ease of use — stock them in the pantry along with canned ones in sauce for a variety of possible preparations.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/deshebrada-roja-gordita/23494/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deshebrada Roja Gordita</a></strong></p>
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Mexican Food Pantry Staple: Masa Harina

<p>A bag of masa harina in the pantry offers a multitude of possibilities, from tamales to tortillas. Made from corn rather than wheat, this soft flour is made to be malleable in rolled or hand shaped dough. Once you <a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/homemade-tortillas/11896/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">make your own tortillas</a>, you can use them in any delicious taco recipe.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/arrachera-taco/12688/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Arrachera Taco</a></strong></p>
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Mexican Food Pantry Staple: Black Beans

<p>Black beans go creamy when cooked in soup or add a pop of colour in rice dishes. As a long-lasting pantry staple, they can be stored dried or canned, offering different options depending on your available time.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/from-the-pantry-mexican-bean-rice-and-corn-bake/22739/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Black Bean Rice and Corn Bake</a></strong></p>
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Caribbean Food Pantry Staple: Coconut Milk

<p>As a region, the Caribbean consists of islands and territories encompassing an array of global cuisines and cultures. Although each area has its own distinct specialties, some ingredients are more commonly used, such as coconuts. Temper the heat of a blazingly hot Jamaican jerk chicken with soothing coconut rice.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/roger-mookings-coconut-rice/9573/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Coconut Rice</a></strong></p>
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Caribbean Food Pantry Staple: Okra

<p>Okra is a popular ingredient in Jamaican cuisine — and is sold fresh or frozen and emits a viscous liquid when cut into slices, useful for thickening sauces or stews. When coated in cornmeal and deep fried, okra (or ochroes) takes on a new personality.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/crispy-cornmeal-okra-with-chipotle-sour-cream/9750/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Crispy Cornmeal Okra</a></strong></p>
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Caribbean Food Pantry Staple: Ackee

<p>Ackee, a savoury fruit that is usually sold canned, forms a pillowy bed under sailfish in a dish reportedly transported from Ghana to Jamaica, where it is now the national fruit.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/ackee-and-saltfish-bites/22763/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ackee and Saltfish Bites</a></strong></p>
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Caribbean Food Pantry Staple: Plantains

<p>Starchy plantains are best served cooked, but as a pantry item, they can also be dehydrated or fried into crunchy chips. Try it in this Trinidadian-inspired chicken dish, fragrant with onions, chilies and plenty of cilantro.</p> <p>Get the recipe for <strong><a href="https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/trinidadian-style-chicken/9751/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Trinidadian Style Chicken</a></strong></p>
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