17 Student Food Essentials for the Store Cupboard
When you head out for your next food shop (or get that shop delivered right to your door), you might be a bit bewildered as to what to fill your cupboards with. Students are known for their takeaway diets of pizza and kebabs, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle with homecooked meals is essential to your physical and mental well-being. Here are 17 essential foods for your store cupboard, we’ve even linked some recipe ideas.
1. Cooking Oil
2. Chopped Tomatoes
3. Pasta
4. Rice
5. Stock Cubes
6. Salt and Pepper
7. Flour
8. Bread
9. Potatoes
10. Baked Beans
11. Onions and Garlic
12. Tuna
13. Pesto
14. Soy Sauce
15. Chickpeas
16. Curry Paste
17. Red Kidney Beans
With that in mind, here are some essential kitchen cupboard items that you should not be without, as well as a few recipes to get you started.
1. Cooking Oil
Almost every meal starts with cooking oil. It comes in a range of different varieties than can add different flavours to your dishes. Start with a low-cost olive oil, as it is healthier than vegetable oil, and go from there. You can use it for frying pretty much everything, veg, meat and anything you like.
2. Chopped Tomatoes
Cans of chopped tomatoes are the heroes of kitchen cupboards. They’re super cheap and last a very long time, not to mention they can be used for a versatile range of dishes, like making pasta sauces from scratch or adding some flavour to a curry or soup. Make sure you always have a few of these handy in your cupboard for a quick, delicious meal.
Check out these recipes that use chopped tomatoes:
Spanish Rice and Prawn One-Pot
3. Pasta
Pasta is a student’s best friend. There are so many types, and they can be eaten with so many kinds of sauces, veg and meats to create simple, tasty meals. You could probably eat it every single day and never get bored of the stuff. You can check out these delicious recipes below, but for a super quick meal, simply mix cooked pasta and a bit of sauce, some tuna or some pesto.
4. Rice
Like pasta, rice is a true kitchen staple that will always come in handy. It’s an excellent alternative to pasta if you do eventually get bored, and it makes the perfect side to curries.
Check out these scrumptious rice dishes:
Curried Chicken and Cashew Rice
5. Stock Cubes
Stock cubes are cheap little bursts of flavour that can take any meal to the next level; they’re essential in pretty much any soup. Vegetable and chicken stock cubes are by far the most versatile, so make sure you keep a pack or two handy for those tasty meals you’re going to be making.
Here are a few recipes to get started:
6. Salt and Pepper
Even if you’re not much of a connoisseur of herbs and spices, you can’t do without salt and pepper. These two are underrated heroes of the kitchen, and with these two at your side, you’ll master seasoning in no time. Almost every recipe will tell you to season to your desired taste, so get familiar with salt and pepper, they’ll only make your dishes even tastier.
7. Flour
Occasionally you’ll be tempted to make something a little more time consuming and technical, whether that’s a cake or even some homemade bread. In these instances, flour is the perfect kitchen cupboard companion. It’s cheap and lasts practically forever, so get a bag for times like these, or for when you want to impress a date with a homemade cheese sauce or a tasty dessert.
Here are some recipes where you’ll be thankful you have flour by your side:
8. Bread
Where would we be without bread? Sandwiches are by far the quickest, easiest way to get a good meal. Practically anything can go in a sandwich, and they’re great to take with you to lectures or the library if you need an all-day study session. As it doesn’t last very long, keep half the slices in the freezer for later use, simply toast them to defrost for a delicious toasty.
Here are a few adventurous sandwich ideas:
9. Potatoes
Mash them, roast them, slice them, fry them; the possibilities with potatoes are endless. Make sure you’ve always got some to hand for that much needed hit of carbohydrates. They’re full of vitamins and will keep you feeling full. Store them somewhere dark and cool, and they should last for weeks.
Here are a few potato-based recipes to sink your teeth into:
10. Baked Beans
Baked beans can be found in every cupboard across the UK, and it’s not hard to see why. These delicious little beans can make a meal all by themselves (although a bit tastier with a nice piece of buttered toast). Slathered in a jacket potato or just as a side dish to some eggs, baked beans are perfect for a quick meal. Always keep some in your cupboard, they’re super cheap and last a long time.
11. Onions and Garlic
This duo can turn any dish into a taste sensation. Chopped up onion fried alongside some garlic is the starting point of so many recipes. Whether it’s a curry or a Bolognese, these two can certainly ramp up that flavour to the next level.
Here are a few recipes that these two make an appearance:
Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole
Italian Sausage and Chestnut Pasta
12. Tuna
Tuna isn’t for everyone, but if you like it, it’s a nutritional ingredient that isn’t too pricy and is packed full of protein. Tuna can be stored for years and works well in pasta, salads and sandwiches.
Check out these tuna recipes:
13. Pesto
Pesto is a great staple for a kitchen cupboard as it’s such a versatile flavour producer. It can be used as the central sauce for a wide variety of dishes and can be bought cheaply and kept in a cupboard until it’s ready to be opened and used.
Here are a few pesto-based recipes to take a look at:
Creamy Pesto Chicken with Roasted Tomatoes
14. Soy Sauce
If you’re a fan of Asian food, soy sauce is a great cupboard component to get. It is one of the most common sauces used in Asian cooking, and it can liven up dishes to create some delicious meals. And if you check out Asian supermarkets, you’re likely to find it for a very low price.
Check out these recipes that use soy sauce:
Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas
15. Chickpeas
Chickpeas are high in protein and make a perfect dish for anyone looking to incorporate more vegetarian meals into their life. They’re super cheap and last a long time, so make sure you grab a few tins the next time you’re doing your shop.
Check out these delicious chickpea-based dishes:
Chickpea and Coriander Burgers
16. Curry Paste
Curry sauces aren’t that hard to make, but who has the time? For an easier, less time-consuming way to make curries at home, keep a jar of curry paste handy to add a dollop every time you want to rustle up a tasty curry dish.
Here are a few curries to get you started:
Thai Squash and Pineapple Curry
One-Pot Mushroom and Potato Curry
17. Red Kidney Beans
Finally, much like chickpeas, kidney beans are a great, cheap source of protein. You can buy them in water or even in a sauce for an even quicker meal. They are the critical ingredient of a delicious chilli con carne, but also make great jacket potato fillers and curry additions.
Check out some of the ways red kidney beans can become part of your meal repertoire:
Sweet Potato Jackets with Guacamole and Kidney Beans
We hope that this list has helped inspire you the next time you’re going food shopping. At Student Housing Lancaster, we provide premium student accommodation in Lancaster. Contact us today or take a look at our available listings on our website.
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