Most people that run a household will know what it’s like to be without ingredients or food. Even affluent households know this. Sometimes, you just forgot to do your grocery shopping, other times you may have thought you had something in-stock when you didn’t. That frustrated feeling you get when you’ve opened your refrigerator after a long, hard day at work is intense, because you may not feel motivated to go to the store or want to order something in.
So, what recipes can you make with relatively few ingredients? Well, we believe there are a few. Please consider:
Vegetable Rice
Rice is one of the most popular foods for those in poorer nations, as it has a great deal of nutrients and can fill you up when needed. Vegetable rice is a great go-to meal when you're low on extra ingredients or trimmings. All you really need is rice and whatever veggies you have on hand, or perhaps an egg if you have one. Frozen veggies work just as well as fresh ones. Better yet, you can make a big batch now, fry it up in a pan, and use it as a carb-filled lunch or accompaniment to a bigger meal.
Soups & Stews
Soups and stews are perfect for using up odds and ends in your kitchen. Start with a base of onions and garlic if you have them. Add any vegetables you have around, even if they're a bit past their prime. Throw in some beans or lentils for protein. If you have stock, use that, but water works too. You don’t need complex ingredients either, as this delicious potato soup recipe shows. If you have a blender you can easily get the right texture, but throwing everything into a pot and stewing it down with some stock can be great also.
Simple Casseroles
If you have a casserole dish and some stock cubes, you may be surprised what you can do with it. A simple casserole might not be mind-blowing, but it can taste nice and fill you up with what you have on hand. Start with a starch like pasta, rice, or potatoes for a base. You can then add any veggies you have. If you have some leftover meat, toss that in too. For a sauce, you can use that pre-prepared soup, tomato sauce, or even just some milk and cheese. Mix everything together and bake it in the oven with some spices. It might not win awards, but you’ll hit every food group for a balanced meal.
“Food Group” Meals
When you're really low on ingredients, try making a meal that hits all the food groups with what you have so you at least get the good nutrients in. Pick one thing from each group: a protein, a vegetable, a carb, and a fat. For protein, this could be eggs, canned tuna, or beans depending on taste or what you have in the cuupboard. You could use a couple of slices of bread for the carbs, toasted nicely. Some butter for fat or chili oil could be nice. You may even just have some frozen peas with butter for your fiber as a side. You could even bake some onions. It’s simple, but believe it or not this is how people ate for a long, long time during the poorer periods of history. At least you’ll have enjoyed a great range of nutrients.
With this advice, you’ll eat well even with little in the fridge or cupboard.