Summer is nearly here and with it comes lazy picnics under large trees, slow sips at sunset and longer days that call for delicious al fresco dining. Having a list of pantry items to stock up on this summer makes creating these moments within mere minutes so much easier. The items on this list – all pantry favourites – allow for memories to be made without having to rush to the store every time you want to whip up something special.
Basmati Rice
Whether it’s for a healthy dinner with creamy herb chicken, or whether you cook it and keep it in the fridge for a rice salad the next day, it’s always good to have ample rice stocked in the pantry.
Couscous
First choice would be pearl couscous (for those who purchase with aesthetics in mind), but any couscous will do. It works wonderfully for any Mediterranean-type summer salads, but also as a fresh, lemon herb couscous paired with other dishes. It’s a wonderful add on to any meal and brings texture to the simplest of plates.
Quinoa
Similar to seeds, quinoa – especially the red one – elevates a dish instantly with colour and texture, but also taste. From mango quinoa salads to lemon herb quinoa with chickpeas, it’s one of those must-have pantry items to stock up on this summer.
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Chickpeas
Apart from the fact that chickpeas have become a rather trendy snack over the years, it also doubles up as a great base for summer salads like a chickpea peach salad with honey lime dressing, a roasted zucchini chickpea salad, or even a Greek chickpea salad. For moms who like to experiment, they’re also great to have in the pantry for when you want to whip up something unique, but healthy, like chickpea fritters, falafel, chickpea cookie bars and more.
Oats
From oats for breakfast to healthy oat bars, your pantry will be empty without a substantial amount of oats in it. Think mango coconut overnight oats, peach baked oatmeal, berry oatmeal bars, apple oatmeal bake, healthy oatmeal breakfast bars and more.
Nuts
One of the best snacks to have in your pantry, is nuts. Whether you like to drizzle them over a salad or some roasted veggies, or whether you add them to our kids’ lunchboxes, it’s one of the first pantry items to stock up on this summer. Of course, they also come in handy if you want to add an extra touch to a birthday cake, freshly baked muffins or homemade granola (which is why oats and honey are also non-negotiable pantry items to stock up on). Or, make your own berry and nut bars without any funny additives or sweeteners.
Seeds
Apart from adding additional taste to certain meals, seeds also elevate almost anything with a bit of texture and contrast. From sunflower seeds and sesame seeds to plate-elevating poppyseeds, be sure to keep some glass bottles open for these little must-haves.
Potatoes
Nothing says summer like a cold potato salad with freshly cut parsley and some crisp bacon bits. But, it’s also great to have potatoes handy for quick lunches or freshly made potato chips.
Canned Tuna
Many a Monday night have been saved with canned tuna! Sometimes, it’s mixed with mayo and onions and scooped into avocado halves for our own version of Avo Ritz. Other times, it’s been mixed into a bechamel sauce and poured over pasta, topped with fresh parsley from the veggie garden. Be it what it may, canned tuna is a must when it comes to both convenience and health.
Eggs
Eggs have a way of completing so many recipes. While it could be a meal on its own, it’s often also the glue that keeps homemade hamburger patties (mince, onion, apple, salt and pepper) together. Or, it could even serve as an added bonus to a summer potato salad. Saturday mornings in summertime often also call for boiled eggs on the veranda – the perfect family breakfast!
Peanut Butter
Healthy, tasty and all the good things, this is another staple to stock up on for summer. A piece of toast with peanut butter is the ideal mid-morning snack for toddlers (as is a teaspoon full for mom). Apart from that, peanut butter goes a long way in adding flavour to various sauces and salads. It’s also a wonderful base for chicken satay marinades and it turns what would have been a rather dull biscuit, into a delightful coffee companion. Not to mention the smoothies that could come of it!
Butter Beans
Another healthy must-have, butter beans bring lots to the table, and that without a soon-to-expire date attached to them. Mixed into some stir-fried veggies or a garden salad, they put the comfort into any course – whether it’s butter bean mash on toast or a vegan butter bean curry.
Pasta
A filler for your favourites, pasta is another one of those non-negotiable items to stock up on this summer. From your own version of Al Fredo to a light summer pasta salad – it’s always a welcome pantry find when you don’t know what to make for dinner.
Fresh Produce
Summer is peak season for fruit and vegetables and what better time to make salsas, pickles and more? Also, stock up on frozen fruit and vegetables – nothing says summer treat like a scoop of ice cream bedazzled with some frozen berries. Or, better yet, an elegant glass of gin and tonic, garnished with frozen blue berries, raspberries and fresh mint leaves.
Dried fruit
While fresh produce is great, sometimes it’s also good to have certain dried fruits in the pantry for snack plates or canapés. We often fill dried prunes with feta, cover it with a strip of bacon and fry it in a bit of butter – the perfect pre-dinner treat for those who just can’t wait for mains.
Of course, for those with kids, dried fruit also comes in handy when the fruit bowl – which had been full just yesterday – has run empty.
Spices to cool you down
According to an article on iol.co.za, certain spices are the ideal pantry items to stock up on this summer, as they boast certain cooling characteristics. Think fennel and coriander – two lovely refreshing spices to add to salads and other meals – that help cool your body and gut.
Hard cheese
Something like Parmesan goes a long way in making a meal seem elevated – from pastas through to salads and everything in between.
Soy Sauce
This is one of those ingredients that resembles a lightbulb moment in the kitchen. Want to prepare chicken for dinner, but tired of the same old recipes? Try making soy sauce chicken in the air fryer. Or, make steamed fish with ginger and soy sauce – a light and delicious summer recipe to opt for. It’s also a great ingredient to have at hand for those salad dressings you make every once in a while. Think miso sesame dressings, spicy peanut sauces and sweet soy glazes.
Balsamic Vinegar
There are few things that could elevate a simple garden salad as effectively as a balsamic vinaigrette. Balsamic vinegar is a very versatile ingredient that has a long lifetime, and having it handy has never been a bad thing.
Mustard
Cold meat always goes well with mustard. Christmas time is often the time for al fresco dining and cold meats normally form a large part of the lunch menu. A sambal here and a sauce there brings it together and mustard is undoubtedly one of those ingredients you can’t go wrong with.
Mayonnaise
A good mayo serves the exact same purpose, while also bring a favourite for toasties, quick salads and more.
Coconut Milk
As a base product for many recipes these days, having a few tins of coconut milk in the pantry isn’t a bad idea. In fact, summer recipes like coconut milk Brazilian lemonade, coconut lavender lemonade mocktails and tropical coconut milk mocktails are popping up everywhere. It’s as refreshing as it is healthy and it invites one into a whole world of additional recipes to experiment with. Make popsicles and milkshakes with it, bake cakes with it and use it as an alternative to milk where you can or need to. It’s dairy-free and delicious, for sure.
Honey
As a natural antibiotic, honey might be last on the list, but definitely not least. It’s the perfect alternative to sugar, sweetening so many things so beautifully. From fruit salads with plain yoghurt to healthy breakfast bars, it has earned its spot on the list, fair and square.
Do you have any other pantry items to stock up on this summer? Share your thoughts in the comments below and let’s build the list together.
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