5 healthy staples I always keep in my pantry
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Everyone who knows me a bit or has been in my kitchen, already know that I have a big pantry. Not specially big in square meters but big in the number of ingredients you can find in it.
If you open any of the cupboards you will find several jars full with cereals and pulses; at least 5 types of flours; tons of mini jars with spices; extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil and my freezer is loaded with frozen fruit.
I love going to grocery stores and look for new healthy products. I usually buy them and then at home search for inspiration. Sometimes is the opposite, I have seen something online and then surprisingly I find it in the store. One way or another, I end up with millions of jars with very interesting ingredients.
And you will think, are all them really necessary? Probably the answer is not. But I have to admit, I have a kind of addiction to having many different ingredients.
This is why, I wanted to write this post. Thus I get more conscious about it and make me to believe I could survive with 5 food staples. The idea is to have these healthy staples always on hand so I could create a quick meal without compromising on flavour and health.
Right now, these would be mine 5 most needed ingredients:
OATS
I have already told you about the amaziness of oats.
I use them in porridge, make granola with them, and sometimes add them into soups. For baking you can use them just like that o ground them and substitute plain flour for it. And you already know the reason, oats are so damn good for you and why it is one of my healthy staples.
TURMERIC
I love its vibrant colour, it’s flavour and versatility. It is the new superfood and I can’t get tired of sprinkling all its healthy benefits over everything.
It has always been in my soups, stews and cooked cereals. Lately I’ve started to add it into my warm milk (see my delicious turmeric latte) and even desserts, I’m mastering a summery curcuma cake you will see soon around here 🙂
BANANAS
So versatile as delicious.
They aren’t only great as fruit itself, also they are amazing as egg substitute in baking; as healthy ice-cream version and you can find them as the base of tons of smoothies.
The truth is they add creaminess and flavour to everything. I always keep overripe bananas in my freezer, so I can add them streight the way into smoothies, pancake batter or banana bread.
QUINOA
It helps me boost my protein intake many nights.
Usually I have a quick veggie soup, then I add a handful of quinoa and ‘tanan’ super nutritious soup ready to fulfill me up. I also love it in salads, nothing beats a quinoa salad with a good and tasty dressing. You could make your porridge also with quinoa or even ground it and use it for baking.
So many delicious options to use up these amazing staple.
NUT BUTTERS
This is probably my latest addiction. I rarely used them before, maybe when baking some cookies or muffins, but right now is one of my quick breakfast to have.
I specially love almond and hazelnut butter. They are delish, yummy and exactly what I eat when I am in need rising my energy level.
On toast with some fresh fruit, on porridge, in cookies, or even as a dressing for an amazing salads.