In my opinion the key to good home cooked meals is to have a well-stocked pantry. Believe me, it is quicker to whip up a delicious meal at home if your pantry is well stocked with staples, than it is to get Uber Eats delivered. I have categorized them based on the cuisine.
Chinese
Dark and Light Soy Sauce – I tend to use dark for a richer colour and more umami flavour as it is thicker and deeper in colour. Light is used to give flavour as it is saltier.
Chinkiang Vinegar
Shaoxing cooking wine
Oyster sauce
Sesame oil
Potato starch
Corn starch
Laoganma Chilli oil
Other Asian
White miso paste
Gochujang paste
Mirin
Fish sauce
Cooking sake
Rice wine vinegar
Ketjap manis – sweet soy sauce used for Nasi Goreng
Sriracha hot chilli sauce
Italian
Green and black olives
Extra virgin olive oil
Dried oregano
Chilli Flakes
Garlic
Arborio rice
Polenta
Balsamic vinegar
Red wine vinegar
Chilli falkes
Tinned plum tomatoes – I tend to buy whole because they are plump and juicy as opposed to pre-cut ones – these tend to be a bit watery
Dried Italian made pasta in a few different shapes including linguine and spaghetti
Indian
Turmeric Powder
Chilli Powder – Hot and Kashmiri. Kashmiri chilli powder is mild and imparts a beautiful red colour to your food
Cloves
Cardamom
Cinnamon
Black Mustard Seeds
Cumin Seeds
Coriander Seeds
Garam Masala Powder – I tend to buy as a small quantity will not grind smooth enough in my spice grinder and if I make a big batch, the flavour is lost before I can use it all.
Multi Cuisine
Coconut Milk
Tahini
Worcestershire sauce
Pomegranate Molasses
Apple cider vinegar
Harissa Paste
Smoked and Hot Paprika
Liquid Honey
Capers
Tinned Tuna
Ginger
Morinaga Long Life Firm and Soft Tofu
Vegetable Oil like Canola or Sunflower oil