25 Must-Have Ingredients In Your Kitchen

A dream kitchen is one where the layout is perfect, there is ample counter space, sufficient storage. Where the lighting is good and it has suitable ventilation. One which has quality appliances positioned thoughtfully to ensure easy accessibility and not obstruct the workflow.

Personal touches; elements that reflect your style always add charm to the kitchen; open shelves, decorative hardware, hooks on which you hang your multiple pans, even a Bose dock for music that will add cheer to your cooking atmosphere.

A must, we feel is comfortable seating. Right there in the kitchen. A small dining table in one nook, if space allows or at least bar stools at an island or high counter to allow casual dining, even family socialising.

When all this is in place, what your kitchen and fridge then need are good ingredients. Always a pleasure to cook from a kitchen which is well-stocked. Fresh vegetables, fish and meat, for sure, but there are some things you absolutely must have in your kitchen 24x7 and all year round. Some are vital and some simply pleasurable.

Here then is our list of 25 vital ingredients that will always help in rustling up some food at whatever time of the day or night and generally keep you away from hunger!

1        Butter

2        Ghee

3        Olive oil

4        Eggs

5        Lemon

6        Garlic (fresh or powder)

7        Ginger (fresh or powder)

8        Tea

9        Coffee

10      Sugar

11      Milk powder

12      Kashmiri red chillies (full)

13      Potatoes

14      Onions (fresh or birasta)

15      Rice

16      Tuvar dal

17      Flour

18      Pasta

19      Tabasco

20      Mixed spices (cardamon, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves)

21      Masala (all powders; cumin, red chilli, coriander, turmeric)

22   Tomato sauce

23      Frozen peas

24      Frozen chicken sausages

25      Frozen mutton mince

 

25 Indulgences To stock in your fridge

1        Wine: red, white, Rose Champagne won't hurt

2        Chocolates, preferably Royce

3        Cheese; some Cheddar, some Parmesan, some cream cheese

4        Full-fat yogurt

5        Fresh truffle

6        Caviar

7        Ice-cream

8        Assorted herbs; basil, parsley rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage      

9        Turkey ham

10      Fresh coriander

11      Rose water

12      Pickles; mango, lemon, garlic

13      Probiotic drinks 

14      Double cream

15      Cakes and pastries

16      Jams: Strawberry, marmalade

17      Dry fruits & nuts: almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, raisins, apricots, figs

18      Salad leaves; iceberg, arugula, oak, butter lettuce

19      Saffron

20      Coconut milk

21      Dry porcini

22     Almond milk

23      Smoked salmon

24      Pomegranate molasses

25      Apple pie