Kitchen Pantry Staples You Can Make At Home Recipe

I love crafting recipes that turn everyday ingredients into something uniquely hearty. Picture mixing all-purpose flour, garlic, and tomatoes with hints of basil and oregano for a rich flavor punch. This dish is perfect for food to make instead of buying and a great addition to my weekly meal plan.

I recently realized that it’s way cooler to make your own pantry staples rather than buying them every time. If you have basic ingredients like 5 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda lying around, then you’re set to DIY some staple foods that keep your meals interesting and your wallet happy.

I was surprised to see how a bit of olive oil, some chopped onions, and a few garlic cloves could transform everyday cooking into something more hands-on. It got me thinking about how much fun it is to pull out older recipes and tweak them to suit your own taste.

This isn’t just about saving money, its about taking back control in an age when food is cheaper to make than to buy. I hope you give these ideas a try and discover a whole new world of homemade meal prep.

Why I Like this Recipe

I love this recipe because it gives me a perfect blend of tangy-sweet tomato sauce and soft, hearty bread that feels so homemade. I like that I can use basic pantry items to whip up something that tastes amazing, and it’s super satisfying to see the dough come together step-by-step. I also really enjoy the cool trick of gradually mixing in water so my dough isn’t lopsided or too sticky. Plus, making it makes me feel creative and proud, knowing I saved money and gave my family a home-cooked meal they’ll appreciate.

If your kitchen is stocked with basic ingredients, then you’re all set to start making loads of pantry staples that can help you save money and keep your family well-fed. I mean, there’s over 100 recipes here for things you normally just buy from the store so why not pick a few of your favorite ones and try making them yourself? It might seem a bit daunting at first, but once you get into it, you’ll see that it’s really not that hard to plan your meals around homemade food. Enjoy experimenting, and don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out perfect every time—you’ll get better with practice.

Ingredients

• All-purpose flour: Provides essential carbohydrates, energy, and structure for our pantry staples.
• Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness with quick energy, though too much can be less healthy.
• Olive oil: A healthy fat that gives a rich, fruity flavor and boosts overall taste.
• Tomato paste: Intensifies sauce flavor with lycopene, offering a hearty and vibrant finish.
• Garlic: Small yet mighty, adds deep flavor and subtle nutritional benefits to the mix.
• Chicken broth: Brings savory depth, moisture, and umami, integrating and enriching the dish.

Ingredient Quantities

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup olive oil
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes (28 oz each)
• 1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons mustard powder
• 1/2 cup honey
• 8 cups chicken or veggie broth
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Water as needed (about 4 cups)

How to Make this

1. In a large bowl, whisk together 5 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon baking powder and 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast until they’re well combined.

2. Now, add 1 cup olive oil, 1 cup vegetable oil and about 4 cups water gradually while mixing so the dough starts to come together—this is a neat trick to avoid a lopsided mix.

3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 7-10 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic; cover it with a cloth and let it rest for an hour in a warm spot.

4. Meanwhile, prep your tomato sauce: in a big pot, sauté 6 minced garlic cloves and 2 chopped medium onions in a little olive oil over medium heat until they’re soft and smelling awesome.

5. Stir in 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes (28 oz each) with their juices and 1 can tomato paste (6 oz), crushing the tomatoes lightly as you mix.

6. Add 1 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons mustard powder and 1/2 cup honey along with 1/2 cup rice vinegar and 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar to give the sauce a balanced tangy-sweet kick.

7. Pour in 8 cups chicken or veggie broth, then season with 1 tablespoon dried basil, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if you’re feelin’ adventurous) and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes.

8. Check on your dough – it should have roughly doubled in size by now. Punch it down and shape it into a loaf or rolls as you prefer.

9. Preheat your oven to 375°F, then bake the dough for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is a golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

10. Let the bread cool slightly before serving it with a hearty ladle of your homemade tomato sauce on the side – perfect for dipping and sharing with friends and family. Enjoy your homemade pantry staple creations!

Equipment Needed

1. Large bowl for whisking together the dry ingredients
2. Whisk for mixing the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, baking powder and yeast
3. Measuring cups and spoons for all the dry spices and liquids
4. Liquid measuring jug for the olive oil, vegetable oil, water, vinegars, and broth
5. Flat, floured work surface for kneading the dough
6. Clean cloth to cover the dough while it rests
7. Cutting board and sharp knife for chopping onions and mincing garlic
8. Big pot for sauteeing the garlic and onions and simmering the tomato sauce
9. Wooden spoon for stirring the tomato sauce
10. Baking pan or loaf pan for shaping and baking the dough
11. Oven to bake the bread at 375°F
12. Ladle for serving a hearty amount of tomato sauce on the side

FAQ

Kitchen Pantry Staples You Can Make At Home Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• If you run out of all-purpose flour, you can use bread flour or even a gluten-free blend in the same amount. It might change the texture a bit but its still pretty good.
• Instead of granulated sugar, you can try coconut sugar or even brown sugar. Keep in mind brown sugar has more moisture so you might need to adjust the liquid a bit.
• If you dont have olive oil, you can use canola or sunflower oil. They dont add as much flavor but will work just fine for most recipes.
• For the chicken broth, you can use veggie broth, or even water with a bouillon cube dissolved in it. Its a great alternative when you’re low on supplies.
• When you dont have apple cider vinegar, you can swap it with white vinegar or lemon juice in equal amounts. Its a neat trick for adding tanginess.

Pro Tips

1. When mixing your dough, add water slowly and keep your mix neat – it’ll help you avoid a lopsided, overly dry dough later on.
2. Don’t rush the resting time for your dough. Let it sit in a warm spot for at least an hour so it can really rise and get all nice and fluffy.
3. When cooking your tomato sauce, take your time with the garlic and onions. Sauté them on a moderate heat until they’re soft to avoid burning and to really bring out their flavor.
4. Tweak your sauce by playing around with the vinegar and honey amounts if you like it a bit more tangy or sweeter. Experimenting a little can really make the flavor your own.