Stocking your pantry

One of the major challenges when getting started on any new cooking adventure, including a gluten-free or a grain-free one, is in how to stock a healthy and safe kitchen pantry.  Thanks to “The Gluten Free Table” by Jilly Lagasse and Jessie Lagasse Swanson, life has gotten a little easier as their book dedicates a full chapter on how to set up a well-stocked pantry. While the following list is a rather lengthy, it is not by any means a complete list of ingredients to get you started:

For Baking:

• Gluten-free all-purpose baking mix
• Almond Meal / Flour
• Coconut Meal / Flour
• Baking powder and baking soda (gluten free)
• Xanthan gum
• Guar gum
• Honey, molasses, agave syrup, coconut sugar
• Applesauce (all natural unsweetened)
• Fruit preserves (good quality)
• Shredded coconut
• Almond milk
• Coconut milk
• Condensed milk
• Chocolate (good-quality milk, dark, white)
• Dried fruit (cherries, cranberries, raisins, currants, etc.)
• Nuts (walnuts, pecans, peanuts)
• Salt
• Butter
• Vanilla and almond extracts (all natural)
• Spices (all-natural cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)

Pasta, Cereals & Grains (Gluten-Free, Not Grain-Free):

• Gluten-free pastas (any blend of corn, rice, quinoa in any brand and shape you prefer including lasagna noodles)
• Gluten-free rice noodles (vermicelli and pad Thai–cut rice noodles, bean thread noodles)
• Gluten-free oats and oatmeal
• Gluten-free cereals
• Corn tortillas
• Corn grits and polenta
• Quinoa
• Rices (brown, white, jasmine, basmati, wild)

Dried Legumes:

• Dried beans (red kidney, black, black-eyed peas)
• Dried peas
• Lentils

Canned and Bottled Goods, Sauces, and Seasonings:

• Canned crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce
• Canned beans (red kidney, black, black-eyed peas)
• Vinegars (apple cider, red, white, balsamic, cooking sherry)
• Oils (olive, coconut, vegetable, sunflower)
• Peanut butter and almond butter (all natural)
• Fruit preserves (all natural)
• Salsas
• Gluten-free soy sauce and teriyaki sauce
• Condiments (catsup, mayonnaise, mustards)
• Spices and seasonings (all natural)
• Gluten-free beef, chicken, vegetable stock or stock cubes

Once stocked with these essential items, your pantry get your creatives juices going, allowing you to create a bountiful feast of nutritious and delicious meals. For more pantry ideas, check out “The Gluten Free Table” by Jilly Lagasse and Jessie Lagasse Swanson along with their very informative Lagasse Girls website.