Have the joy of Italian kitchen cooking at your fingertips - stock your pantry now, reap the benefits later.
Instructions
1. Have a melange of Italian herbs handy. Include basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Invest in a nice pepper mill and whole peppercorns.
2. Store plenty of pastas, Arborio rice (for risotto), gnocchi and polenta - these are the basis for many a meal.
3. Always, always keep onions and some garlic laying around. Almost every Itailan dish includes these.
4. Buy canned tomato paste, Roma (plum) tomatoes and, for a pinch, premade sauces. But with some garlic, onions, and canned tomatoes, you can make your own sauce easily.
5. Lay in a good supply of wine, for both cooking and drinking. Pick dry white wines for cooking, tasty chianti for drinking.
6. Store canned broths, frozen stocks and/or boullion cubes for Italian stews and braises.
7. Keep at least one grating cheese on hand for pastas. Parmesan, pecorino and romano are good choices for grating. You might also stock mozzerella for melting and ricotta for baking.
8. Buy prepared pizza crusts and doughs. The wonton wrappers sold in most supermarkets are an great shortcut to quick and easy (while not entirely authentic) ravioli.
9. Use extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for marinades, sautes and bread. Combine the olive oil, pine nuts and fresh basil for homemade pesto.
10. Store canned sardines and anchovies. They're perfect in pastas and salads and on top of pizza. Some salty capers and good black olives never hurt either.
Tags: some garlic, Store canned
