Food Blog: The little extras your cupboard needs

Thursday, February 5, 2026

The little extras your cupboard needs

Store cupboard staples & helpful recipes. Images of ginger tea, a salad and chocolate smoothie

In our previous email, we explored the heroes of plant-based cooking - the beans, pulses and leafy greens that sit at the heart of so many of our meals. This time, we're looking at the little extras that bring everything together. The spoon of miso you reach for without thinking, the lemon you squeeze to lift and brighten, the nut butter that transforms a simple sauce into something you want to drizzle on everything. These are the ingredients that don't ask for much, but make all the difference - the quiet essentials that turn good food into something truly delicious. So here's what we always keep stocked, how we use them day to day, and a few of our favourite ways to let them shine.

A tin of coconut milk is one of those ingredients that shows up in everything - curries, soups, broths, noodles and even breakfast. A few tablespoons adds fat, which does more than just enrich flavour. It helps with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (like vitamins A, D, E and K) from vegetables, so you get more nutrition from the veg you're already cooking. That little bit of richness also helps meals feel more balanced and satisfying.

Miso adds flavour with very little effort. A spoonful gives depth and richness. Miso adds flavour with very little effort. A spoonful gives savoury richness, whether it's stirred into soups, mixed into dressings, or added to mushrooms and vegetables at the end of cooking. It's especially useful on days when food feels a bit flat and you want to elevate flavour without adding lots of extra ingredients.Cook once, eat twice. If you make a little extra at dinner and use it for lunch the next day, it takes one easy decision off your plate when energy is low. To be clear, this does not have to be a full food plan. Just simply doubling one meal means the next is taken care of. Recipes that work well for this tend to be stews, curries, traybakes or anything that can be reheated easily.

Lemons and limes are kitchen essentials because they add brightness to so many dishes. A squeeze of citrus at the end lifts flavours and keeps meals from tasting heavy, especially ones based around beans, lentils or grains. We use both the juice and the zest - zest for aroma and flavour without acidity, and juice to bring everything to life at the end of cooking.

Lemons and limes are kitchen essentials because they add brightness to so many dishes. A squeeze of citrus at the end lifts flavours and keeps meals from tasting heavy, especially ones based around beans, lentils or grains. We use both the juice and the zest - zest for aroma and flavour without acidity, and juice to bring everything to life at the end of cooking.

Nut butters - whether peanut, almond or cashew - are one of the most versatile cupboard items. A spoonful adds richness, fat and a bit of protein, helping meals feel more balanced. We use nut butter in lots of different ways: Smoothies for extra creaminess and flavour Baking to add texture and richness On porridge or yoghurt to make breakfasts more satisfying In stir-fries and curries to deepen sauce and add a touch of savoury richness

Nut butters - whether peanut, almond or cashew - are one of the most versatile cupboard items. A spoonful adds richness, fat and a bit of protein, helping meals feel more balanced. We use nut butter in lots of different ways: Smoothies for extra creaminess and flavour Baking to add texture and richness On porridge or yoghurt to make breakfasts more satisfying In stir-fries and curries to deepen sauce and add a touch of savoury richness

And finally, dates. Nature's little treat. We love them as the ultimate 3pm snack, pre- or post-workout, or blended into a smoothie with cacao, banana and a shot of espresso – just so good. Each date provides around 2g of fibre, so they add sweetness alongside a bit more substance than most sugary snacks. You don't need all the ingredients mentioned here. Just a few reliable things that make meals feel simpler. All of the recipes mentioned today are available on our app - along with thousands more for those busy moments. Team DE x

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Deliciously Ella 120 - 122 Commercial Road Bournemouth, Dorset BH2 5LT

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