#30: Investment Ingredients for an Exciting Kitchen Part 1

Eating gourmet food in your home may be way more affordable than eating the same Fish Fillet meal in a restaurant. But of course, you will have to little by little, stock up on these items that will spell the difference on your meals. I have made a list of my favorite flavoring ingredients that I feel are not usually present in the Filipino kitchen. Investing on these items can help you to be well on your way to experimenting on new flavors with your dishes. Here are some items on the top of my head (and my kitchen shelf). 

Olive oil picture from TLC.

1. Olive Oil

Cost: 120 to 180 for a small bottle

This item only takes a drizzle to have a magical fruity effect on your savory dishes. You don't have to use this for sauteeing your pasta sauces. 

Drizzle on top of cooked tomato-based pasta sauces. A tablespoon should do. It works wonders.

Add to marinades for meats and fishes.

Flavor your salad dressing with a teaspoon or two of olive oil.

Toss this with garlic on freshly cooked pasta. Add some cheese and it's an almost-instant meal!

2. Sesame Oil

Cost: 80 to 140

This oil is so strong that a few drops of this goes a long way. This is especially useful for Chinese, Korean and some Japanese dishes. If you add this to your Pancit Canton or Chopsuey or Korean Barbecue, you will surely get that specific oriental flavor you're looking for. I also use this to marinade my stir-fry meats.

3. Italian Spice

Cost: 50 to 60 per bottle

This herb mix usually contains Oregano, Basil, Marjoram and a whole lot of other leaves. If you are still trying to play safe on buying spices and herbs then perhaps you can experiment on this first before buying a bottle of a specific herb. Obviously, this is what you use if you're aiming for something Italian-inspired, this will go with almost anything. Rub this onto your meat to flavor your marinade. Sprinkle this on your tomato-based pasta sauce and soups as well to get that Italian resto flavor you want.

4. Cumin

Cost 50 to 60 per bottle

This herb is widely used in Mexican and Mediterranean cooking. Your chili or salsa will not taste as authentic without this. Your curry, kebab, chili con carne can use a generous dash of this spice. Believe me. Take a sniff and you'll know what I mean. And hey, did you know that you can also add this (with a bit of nutmeg and black pepper) to your milk tea? Tadah! You now have a Chai Milk Tea!

The Culinary Review shows us a stem of fresh thyme and the
dried variation which is stronger than the former.

5. Thyme

Cost: 50 to 60 per bottle

Now this little bottle of dried leaf may be a stranger to the humble Filipino kitchen home because this is not typically present in traditional Filipino dishes. We only encounter this herb when we're eating out on some casual restaurant or a fancy cafe. Its flavor is bright and lemon-y. Therefore, having this in your pantry is also like having restaurant food flavors in your dining table. This goes well with almost any kind of meat. This is a part of a dish I introduced to you some entries ago named Pollo Al Ajo. I also use this to flavor my pork (or lamb) steak along with some garlic and onions for a winning meaty dinner. Perfect with chicken and fish too!Yes, this is very important indeed!

6. Vanilla Essence

Cost: 30 per bottle

If you are a veteran in baking, this is almost a no-brainer because practically most cookies and pastry desserts have vanilla in them. But if you are a newbie in the pastry and baking area, this will be very handy if you suddenly feel like experimenting on some Chocolate Chip Cookies. :-D

That will be all for now. There is still some more I'm sure but I'll take a visit in my cupboard first and see what else are in there. How about you, what can you add to this list?