Our kitchen cupboards are often full of hidden gems that can be used to whip up an array of delicious dishes. However, these ingredients are usually overlooked and their true potential never reached. Give the humble can of chickpeas, lentils, soup and other long-forgotten pantry foods the recognition they deserve! Here’s 9 healthy and easy pantry meals you can try:
Veggie chilli
Spicy meets comfort in a good old chilli. And perhaps the best thing about a heart-warming chilli? You’re only ever a few cans of beans, tomatoes and a quick raid of the spice rack away from a delicious bowl of the good stuff. Need some inspiration? Have a look at our Chipotle Black Bean and Quinoa Chilli recipe.
Falafel
Who doesn’t love falafel? Especially when they’re fresh out of the oven and begging to be dunked into some hummus. Try making your own, the main ingredient is chickpeas, so if you have a can of those you’re good to go. All you need to do is add spices like garlic and cumin, blend with plain flour and oven-bake or fry. Here’s a recipe for Energy-boosting Falafels Packed with B Vitamins. You can even try making falafel with broad beans instead of chickpeas with this recipe.
Hummus
Got a flat bread? Hummus will help you eat that. A falafel salad? Hummus is never far behind. Or maybe you want to jazz up your cucumber and carrot sticks? Hummus will be more than happy to help you demolish them. Chances are, you have the ingredients in your cupboard already to whizz up this wonderful and healthy chickpea delight. Have a look at this Turmeric Hummus Recipe by Rebel Recipes and thank us later!
Soup
The under-rated hug in the bowl: we all could do with a little extra soup in our lives. It's one of the best easy pantry meals going! Go on, give that lonely can of soup hiding in your cupboard a new lease of life by heating it up and adding spices. And if you’re feeling creative, see what veggies you have lying around in the pantry or the freezer and get blending. Almost anything can be a soup if you have a food processor or blender about. Try our Spiced Sweet Potato Soup.
Casserole
Another home-cooking fave, casseroles make great healthy meals for the whole family to enjoy. With the main ingredients being beans, passata, garlic and other herbs and spices, you may be able to find all the ingredients in your pantry. Got some veggie sausages in the freezer? Even better! Give our Bonfire Night Beans and Meat-Free Casserole a whirl.
Stew
Perfect for enjoying with freshly baked bread, you can’t beat a good stew. They’re healthy, hearty and packed with vitamins and minerals. A good example of this is our Almond Lentil Stew, which makes a lovely filling lunch. Get rummaging through your cupboards and give it a go today!
Pancakes
Ah, the humble pancake! It’s been around for centuries and different countries and cultures have a different take on them. Their popularity could have something to do with how easy they are to make and how good they taste with such little effort. A rustle through your cupboards should have you on your way to a stack of yummy pancake goodness. Check out our 4 healthy pancake recipes you need to try. If you’re vegan, try substituting the eggs with mashed bananas, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds or shop-bought egg replacements like Follow Your Heart Vegan Egg.
Beans on toast just got a makeover
We know you’re probably not going to get too excited about beans on toast – but we always go back to this staple, so it must be good! Why not try jazzing it up with a few cupboard staples to make this every day meal gourmet? Check out our Posh Beans on Toast recipe.
Kimchi fried rice
A Korean cuisine stable, kimchi has been around for centuries. It came about because Korean people had to preserve food if they wanted to get through their harsh, and mostly crop-less, winters. It can last for up to 12 months in the fridge, so if you’ve got some lurking in the back of yours, now could be the perfect time to use it. Try frying it up with rice to make a gut health-boosting dish.
We hope this collection of easy pantry meals will help you make the most of your pantry and hopefully save you a few pennies too!
Last updated: 29 April 2020