STAPLE INGREDIENT BEST RECIPES

We all have situations in life where we need recipes that only take a few staple ingredients to make. Easy recipes with no fuss. These recipes are for those “what to make” days, those “there is nothing in the house” days, or those “what can I make with the minimum ingredients” days.

We are here to help.

1. Easiest Bread Recipe Ever

Recipe:  Elvera Osborne

No Eggs / No Dairy

Course: side dish

Origin: South Africa

Time: 2h40m

Rating:

 5/5

Freshly home-baked bread in under 3 hours with staple ingredients from your pantry.

Ingredients

1 Kg Bread Flour
1 packet (10 g) instant yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons salt
Just enough warm water to combine everything

Method

Mix everything thoroughly – You don’t have to knead the dough. Just make sure everything has mixed well.
Let the dough rest for 20 minutes, then punch down the dough and knead until smooth to remove any air bubbles.
Put the dough into a greased cast-iron pot (preferably, but you can use any deep ovenproof dish) and let it rest for 1 hour to rise.
Bake at 160 ˚C until golden brown and done (± 1 hour).

To test if the bread is done

Give the top of the loaf a gentle tap; it should sound hollow.

How hot should the water be

If the yeast is added directly to the dry ingredients (which we are doing) the water temperature should be between 120°F – 130°F. (In other words not too hot, just lukewarm.)

Letting the dough rise

I just leave mine in a sunny or warm spot in the kitchen or dining room with a clean cloth to protect.

2. Making Gnocchi - The easy Italian way

Recipe:  Nonna Elena

No Dairy

Course: main

Cuisine: Italian

Time: 95 mins

Rating:

 5/5

A delicious potato recipe that goes with almost any sauce.

Ingredients

1 pound potatoes (± ½ Kg)
1 cup flour (125 grams)
½ teaspoon salt
1 medium egg

Method

In a large pot boil the unpeeled potatoes until tender. Then remove from the pot and let cool enough to handle. Remove the skin and mash the potatoes.
On a flat surface mix together the flour and salt make a well in the middle and add the potatoes and egg, mix together with your fingers to form a soft dough, it should not stick to your fingers.
Sprinkle a surface lightly with some flour.
Cut small amounts of dough, form ropes, and then cut into 3/4 (2 cm) pieces.
Gently slide each piece on a fork while squeezing it a little bit. (That’s how you form the gnocchi.)
Now sprinkle with a little bit of flour and toss so they don’t stick together and then let it rest for about 20 minutes before cooking.
In a large pot of boiling water, add salt en cook the gnocchi until they start to float to the top. Then you know they’re ready.
Drain and add your favorite sauce (or just a basic tomato sauce).

3. Quick and Easy Pancakes

Recipe:  Jennifer Wright

Pantry Basics

Course: breakfast, dessert, side dish

Cuisine: American

Time: 40 mins

Rating:

 5/5

Easy to prepare and you can serve them as breakfast or dessert and even a light lunch if you ad savory toppings.

Ingredients

1 cup cake-wheat flour (all-purpose)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter/margarine or vegetable oil
1 large egg
Pinch of salt

Method

Whisk together the dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl whisk together the wet ingredients.
Add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and stir just until thoroughly combined.
Heat a large pan/skillet over medium heat, and coat with some vegetable oil.
Spoon the batter into the pan and cook until the surface of the pancakes has little bubbles.
Flip and cook on the other side until golden brown.