We all have those days when we don't have anything special planned for dinner. You know, the days when you don't feel like going to the grocery store to pick a few things up either. For the resourceful vegetarian, having a well-stocked pantry can make all the difference in the world. With a few staples, you can come up with something quick and delicious just with what's on hand. Here is a list of recommended items for every vegetarian kitchen.
| Pantry Dish Ideas Chili Macaroni and Cheese Vegetable Pot Pie Twice-Baked Potatoes Onion Dip Millet-Quinoa Pilaf Pepper Tempeh and Rice Veggie Burgers |
Pantry Staples
- canned or dried beans
black beans, chick peas, pinto beans, kidney beans
- whole or diced chiles
- tomato sauce
- stewed tomatoes
- millet
- quinoa
- basmati rice (brown or white)
- short-grain rice (brown or white)
- chili kit (just add beans instead of meat and voila!)
- onion soup packets (great for onion dip)
- nutritional yeast flakes (adds a cheesy flavor to dishes)
- canola oil
- sesame oil (good for frying tempeh)
- olive oil
- soy sauce
- vinegar (red wine, balsamic, apple cider, rice)
- barbecue sauce
- elbow macaroni
- spaghetti
- linguine
- fettucine
- orzo (great for pasta salad)
- onions (red, white, yellow)
- potatoes (new, russet, Yukon gold)
Regfrigerated or frozen
- vegetarian burger patties
- frozen fruit (think smoothies!)
- frozen vegetables (try mixed vegetables, spinach, corn, and peas)
- frozen breads (buns, flatbread, tortillas, pita)
- puff pastry (fill with fruit for instant dessert, fill with tofu and mixed vegetables for an instant meal)
- tofu (firm, silken, dried, seasoned)
- tempeh (an excellent and filling protein source)
- bell peppers
- minced garlic (I'm too lazy to mince my own so I buy the biggest jar I can find and use it in everything)
Another tip to keep in mind when trying to plan ahead: make extras of foods that freeze well. Whenever I make barbecue sauce from scratch, I freeze about two-thirds of it for use on days I don't feel like cooking. Casseroles, soups and veggie meatloafs freeze very well and make great menu savers on those lazy days in the kitchen.
*** This article was originally written by Connie, the previous vegetarian host. I am featuring it again, because I think it's a very helpful article.
~Veronica Armstrong~
Vegetarian Host
