Indian kitchens have a certain magic to them with all the simple ingredients that make you feel right at home. You don’t need to run to the market to stock up on exotic items to prepare a meal fit for royalty. Just a few simple ingredients from your cabinet can give you the options to make an array of dishes.
Every home has their unique set of preferences and routines. It is common to see certain households preparing dal on a daily basis, while others may always have poha, suji or besan laying around owing to their regular usage. In contrast, other homes may have sabudana as a staple owing to its significance in khichdi, vada and fasting foods.
These preferences are usually based on the kind of food one ate growing up. In addition, there is no single right or wrong answer as far as the contents of an indian kitchen pantry is concerned. The key is to identify what your household likes and work from there.
BUILDING AN INDIAN KITCHEN PANTRY
WHAT MAKES AN INDIAN KITCHEN PANTRY ESSENTIAL ?
A USEFUL PANTRY BEGINGS WITH INGREDIENTS YOU REGULARLY COOK WITH. THERE IS NO NEED TO FILL EVERY SHELF WITH PRODUCTS YOU RARELY USE. INSTAED, FOCUS ON VERSATILE STAPLES THAT SUIT DIFFERENT MEALS AND RECIPES. WHEN ESSENTIALS ARE AVAIABLE , PLANNING MEALS BECOME MUCH MORE EASIER AND SIMPLER.
DALS AND PULSES FOR EVERYDAY MEALS.
DALS AND PULSES ARE AMONG THE MOST FAMILIAR INDIAN KITCHEN STAPLES . DIFFERENT VARIETY BRING DIFFERENT TEXTURES , COLOURS AND COOKING POSSIBILITIES. AT MAYUR BRAND WE PROVIDE WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS WITH BEST QUALITY AND HYGIENE THAT EVERY CUSTOMER EXPECTS AND DESERVES.
TOOR DAL
Dals occupy a very special place as far as Indian pantry staples go. Toor dal is one of the most commonly found ingredients in almost every other Indian kitchen. It can be used to make simple dal preparations to go along with rice and roti, or can also be a major part of dishes such as sambar, etc. With a few other simple ingredients, you can also throw together a simple meal of dal and rice with some vegetables on the side.
MOONG DAL
Moong dal is another very useful item as it has a mild taste and can be used almost anywhere you would use a more regular dal.
MASOOR DAL
It is commonly used for quick and better preparations. it is ideal for daily use and pairs well with rice and roti.
URAD DAL
It is used in several traditional preparations. Keeping different dals at home gives you different meal options. Urad dal is used in numerous traditional dishes ranging all across the country and the variations of its usage are what makes it interesting.
Having a couple of dals in the house can also be used to create diversity in your meals without having to completely change things up every day
CHANA DAL
It is one of the dal widely used in cooking. can be used both as a normal dal preparation, as well as making various snacks.
BREAKFAST STAPLES FOR INDIAN KITCHENS
As far as breakfasts go, pantry staples can be used to make some quick and easy meals. Life is already busy and people do not always have the time to cook something elaborate for breakfast. This is where poha can come to your rescue.
POHA
POHA IS A POPULAR INGREDIENT FOR PREAPARING QUICK INDIAN BREAKFASTS. Poha can be made in a variety of ways with each household having their own preferences. Some people like to have onions and peanuts added to their poha, while others may prefer having potatoes or even vegetables. Coriander and lemon juice can add a nice touch of flavor to poha. Each dish may be unique, but it will still have that poha charm about it that everyone associates with breakfast. THIS MAKES POHA A PRACTICAL CHOICE FOR BUSY MORNINGS. FOR A WELL PALNNED PANTRY, POHA IS A USEFUL INGREDIENT TO KEEP.
SUJI
Suji is another very useful pantry staple that can be utilised in numerous ways. Idli is the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of ‘suji’. However, it can be used to make a variety of other breakfast items, including various snacks and desserts. Having it in the house can allow you to prepare an easy breakfast or evening snack meal depending on your mood and requirements for the day. It helps in preaparing idli , chilla and many more dishes.
BESAN
Besan is very similar to suji in terms of usage and is also used to prepare chilla, kadhi as well as various snacks and desserts. Besan ladoo is a very common dessert associated with festivals and family gatherings. You will find that suji, besan or poha can be used in various preparations and also have some other hidden potential that can be unearthed.
SABUDANA
Sabudana is a very common item that is associated with a wide variety of preparations and is also associated with fasting foods. Sabudana khichdi and sabudana vada are some of the more commonly known dishes that can be made with it. It has a slight nutty flavor to it and is very chewy. The preparation for sabudana varies from household to household with some preferring to have more peanuts in theirs while others may prefer more spices or a softer consistency. This is what makes home-cooked food so special with everyone having their own unique variations for their family.
As far as building your pantry goes, it should only contain items that are utilised on a regular basis rather than buying random things just for the sake of having them. If your family prefers to have dal for most of their meals, you should invest in the different varieties that your family members prefer. If poha is something that is commonly had for breakfast, it is a good idea to have it in your pantry. The same goes for making chilla or other besan-based snacks. It is a good idea to only buy products that your family utilises on a regular basis. This also allows you to have a better understanding of which items will need to be replenished first as opposed to those that can wait.
CHOOSING QUALITY PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCTS.
Before you go ahead and purchase a product, it is a good idea to inspect the packet to ensure that it is not tampered with and that the instructions are clearly mentioned. It is also important to store the items appropriately once you get them back home so that they are easy to locate and utilise. In addition, you can also begin developing a brand preference, especially if you are buying products on a regular basis. Good branding can make a world of a difference for the products that you buy. You will feel right at home with the familiar packaging and it allows for a good shopping experience.
Mayur Brand specialises in providing a wide range of items that are commonly found in every Indian family, including dals and pulses, poha, suji, besan, sabudana and maida, among others. These are all everyday staples that can be used to make numerous dishes that are known and loved by all.
WHY QUALITY MATTERS IN KITCHEN ESSENTIALS
Your pantry will become your lifeline on days when you have no idea what to make for meals. Just by opening the cabinet and having a look around, you can decide on your options depending on what is available at that given time. You may want to have a simple dal preparation for lunch, but if there is rice and a few vegetables available in the house, you can throw them together for a quick meal. You can do the same for breakfast when you have poha in the house along with some onions. Just a simple preparation of poha can give you some quick breakfast options without having to spend too much time. This is the main reason why having pantry staples in the house is so important.
In addition to these benefits, you can also try to utilise the same ingredients in different ways.
BUILDING A PRACTICAL KITCHEN ESSENTIAL LIST
If you always have the same dal for your meals, it may be a good idea to switch it up with another one from your collection. Similarly, if you are always making the same preparation for poha, it may be a good idea to try and include some vegetables next time around. Having suji in the house can mean making upma for breakfast, but it can also be used to make other simple meals. Besan is a great example for using the same ingredient for different meals, including making desserts.
Your pantry need not necessarily cater to the requirements of everyone, since food preferences differ from person to person. What may be common in one house may not be the same in another. It is up to you to figure out what your family requires and what they like.
CHOSSING THE RIGHT FOOD BRAND
Choosing a food brand is something most families do with care, especially when the products are used regularly at home. We look for good quality, clean packaging, and ingredients we can feel comfortable adding to our everyday meals. At Mayur Brand, we aim to keep things simple by bringing together familiar kitchen essentials that fit naturally into everyday Indian cooking.
CONCLUSION
A good pantry will always have certain essentials that can be combined in various ways to make meals for the day. All an Indian pantry needs is a few dals, some poha, suji, besan and sabudana, and one can create a world of different dishes with them.
These simple ingredients have been a part of indian cooking for generations, and can also become a part of your daily meals.
So, the next time you hear the dreaded question, ‘Aaj kya banaye?’ you just might have an answer, ready to be cooked up in no time with your trusty pantry staples.