How to stock a spice cabinet & pantry to set yourself up for culinary greatness.

This is part one of a series, you can read part two here.

The absolute basics:

• Iodized salt

• Sea salt or Pink salt

• Black pepper (pre-ground or corns in a grinder)

• Onion powder (allium)

• Garlic powder (allium)

• Baking soda

• Baking powder

• Whatever thickening starch you best tolerate (corn, arrowroot, tapioca, etc)

• All-purpose flour (wheat, or your favorite gluten free mix)

• Cornmeal (corn)

• Plain quick cooking oats

• Ground flax seed (seed to substitute for eggs)

The herbs:

• Oregano (preferably both Italian and Mexican)

• Basil

• Marjoram

• Thyme

• Rosemary

• Dill

• Chives (allium)

• Parsley

• Bay leaves

The spices:

• Smoked paprika (nightshade)

• Sweet paprika (nightshade)

• Ground hot peppers of choice, like cayenne or scotch bonnet (nightshade)

• Whole Guajillo peppers (nightshade)

• Whole chile de arbol (nightshade)

• Whole dried smoked chipotle peppers (nightshade)

• Gochugaru dried chili peppers (nightshade)

• Ground cumin (seed)

• Ground mustard (seed)

• Ground tumeric

• Ground cinnamon

• Ground ginger

• Ground coriander (seed)

• Ground allspice

• Ground nutmeg (seed)

• Ground cloves

The “nice to have, but I can generally cook without it” :

• White pepper

• Celery seed (seed)

• Sumac

• MSG

• Roasted sesame seeds (seed)

• Mushroom powder

• Bullion powder (check ingredients for allergens)

The cooking fats:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Avocado Oil

• Coconut Oil (coconut)

• Roasted Sesame Oil (seed)

• Beef Tallow

• Reserved bacon grease

The vinegars, in order of priority:

• Distilled white vinegar, 5%

• Raw apple cider vinegar, 5%

• Rice vinegar

• Balsamic vinegar

• Red & white wine vinegars

The other liquids:

• Coconut aminos (coconut)

• Worcestershire sauce (seed, check the ingredients for soy)

• Fish sauce (fish, check the ingredients for soy)

• Hot sauce(s) of choice (nightshade)

• Liquid smoke (check the ingredients for soy)

• Boxed broth (check ingredients for all allergens)

• Vanilla extract

The mustards (all seed products) :

• Plain yellow

• Dijon

• Spicy brown

The sweeteners:

• Turbinado sugar

• Coconut sugar (coconut)

• Honey (preferably local or domestic, raw or very lightly processed)

• 100% pure maple syrup (grade B has more vitamins and more maple-y flavor, if you can find it)

• Maple sugar

The un-categorizeable:

• Plant Based Mayonnaise

• HFCS-free pickle relish

• Bottled lemon juice, or dehydrated lemon/lemon peel

  
  

Where to purchase? Check out international supermarkets, especially those owned and catering to Indian, Middle Eastern, African, Asian, Caribbean, or folks from Hispanic countries. You’ll find the freshest product at the best prices at these markets.

Nowhere like that near you? Search for the closest with an online shop, and have them ship your order. Online marketplaces like Thrive Market (I’m not affiliated with any of them) will also have many of these ingredients.

You’ll also find a small selection at places like Dollar General and Dollar Tree, especially of the must-haves and the herbs and more common spices like cinnamon.

If you’re looking to buy in large quantity, check out places like Costco, or your local restaurant supply chain.

You may be wondering why I didn’t recommend any spice mixes? That’s because you can make literally any spice mix you want to with all of these ingredients on hand. You can then blend them into your choice of the liquid ingredients to make all kinds of sauces and syrups and dressings, too. No more having to dodge soy oil in your commercially-made salad dressings.

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