5 kitchen staples that are surprisingly easy to make

5 kitchen staples that are surprisingly easy to make

Last Updated: 02 Apr 2020
Charli Peasley

Self-isolation is the time to recreate days of old and learn how to make your kitchen staples from scratch! We did some research and found these 5 staples surprisingly easy to make.

Jam

An oldie but a goodie, jam is perhaps the easiest to make of the list. To make enough for one jar, all you need is half a kilo of berries, half a cup of white sugar and a squeeze of lemon juice. Chop up the berries, combine everything in a saucepan and bring it to a boil, then let it simmer while you mash up the berries to a jam consistency. Voila!

See more here.

Oat milk

This one is particularly handy if you fancy making something from scratch without having to pop out to the shops. All you need is oats, water and salt! Simply blend 1 cup oats, 4 cups water and a pinch of salt then strain with cheesecloth. If you’re a bit of a sweet tooth, you could throw in a dash of syrup of your choice for a treat!

Check out the full recipe here.

Tomato Chutney

There’s nothing better than fresh and tangy tomato chutney on a sausage roll! And lucky for us, it’s easy as pie to make. Just chop up tomatoes, an onion, a chilli and combine in a pan with a splash of red wine vinegar and brown sugar until it looks saucy and delicious. Tomatoes are in season at the moment, so they will be as ripe as ever and perfect for a tasty chutney.

Check out this recipe from Jamie Oliver.

Hummus

A crowd favourite, hummus is an absolute classic that you can put your own personal spin on. As a base, hummus requires chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt and tahini, but the potential for variations are virtually endless. Our suggestions include adding capsicum, beetroot or pumpkin, or you could check what’s in your pantry and go nuts. Our hot tip? Buy dried chickpeas and soak them overnight for a smoother final result. You can thank us later!

See this recipe for more.

Stock

Stock arguably takes the longest to make, but it’s worth it - this stuff tastes so much better than anything you could buy in the store. Plus, it can be made with ingredients you have at home already, so it’s perfect for a lazy Sunday cooking fest. It’s typically made with onions, celery, carrot and mushrooms to make a tasty yet plain base, allowing it to be versatile across recipes. The most important thing to remember is not to add strong flavoured vegetables so as to not overpower it - so leave the garlic, brussel sprouts and turnips in the pantry.

See a full recipe here.

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