How to: cooking when coronavirus panic sets in

Okay, okay, we can’t avoid it anymore… We don’t want to put ideas in anyone’s head, but just imagine, JUST IMAGINE that for whatever reason you have to stay home for two weeks. Any reason at all! Erm, for example, the coronavirus.

And a (prepaid) pizza won’t fit through the letterbox, nor will those roti containers. By now, the delivery driver can also leave it on the doorstep before driving off very quickly, but we think that at some point you’ll simply start craving something healthy too. So: a list of ingredients that are handy to have at home, plus tips on what you can do with them. By the way, you can also simply have your groceries delivered, you know, no problemo, and it really doesn’t have to be a truckload. No reason to hoard, that’s actually a terrible idea! There’s still plenty of food in the country…

We’re obviously here to talk about food basics (just buy a reasonable amount), and it’s useful to start with products that have a long shelf life.

Pasta, rice, grains

These form the basis of your evening meals, and you can vary endlessly with everything you add on top and alongside them. Also think of couscous, or rolled oats for a savoury dish (super-comforting with a soft-boiled egg and fried mushrooms), or farro (similar to spelt grains).

Eggs, protein

If you buy fresh eggs, they’ll generally keep for another two weeks. Greek yoghurt will too. Tinned fish keeps well, and if you have children at home, frankfurters (or the vegetarian version) aren’t a bad idea either. Cured sausages can also come in handy; with chorizo, for example, you only need a little to add lots of flavour to a dish. Above all, we’d recommend buying plenty of chickpeas and beans in jars or tins, as well as dried lentils.

Vegetables

Frozen vegetables are absolutely fine; they’re often processed so soon after harvesting that plenty of vitamins are retained. Cauliflower, broccoli, green beans, edamame from the Asian supermarket; the range is so extensive these days that you really don’t need to worry about ending up with nothing but limp carrots and peas. Pumpkin keeps well, as do potatoes and sweet potatoes when stored in a dark place. Also stock up on onions and garlic. Tinned tomatoes are always a good idea for an easy tomato sauce, or tinned cherry tomatoes for a little pasta dish.

Flavour boosters

This is where you can really let loose. These things usually have a long shelf life anyway, and are always good to have in your pantry! Think of flavour boosters such as miso, soy sauce, honey, horseradish, coconut milk, mustard, oyster sauce, sriracha, anchovies, capers, chipotle powder, dried spice blends, and basics such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, stock cubes and good olive oil.

Extra/basic

Depending on your individual habits, you’ll then get to coffee, tea, sugar, long-life (possibly plant-based) milk, nuts, dried fruit, muesli, porridge oats, rye bread, packet or tinned soups, bread for the freezer, bake-at-home baguettes, butter (you can freeze it too!), crackers, cheese (usually good for another two weeks as well), oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Also just buy plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables; if necessary, simply eat those first. And OF COURSE, because you deserve some treats too, things like chocolate, ingredients for baking yourself, and a bag or two of crisps. Or more.

Again, if you don’t need to self-quarantine, you can simply go to the shop to pick up things in between, you know! It doesn’t have to be all at once. This was the supermarket just after THE press conference:

I have everything at home, stayed wonderfully calm, and now what?

Cook something delicious! Here are a few ideas, and if you’re stuck, you can always search FavorFlav by ingredient for inspiration…

• Lentil soup with ras el hanout, Greek yoghurt and bake-at-home bread
• Pasta with vegetarian meatballs, tomato sauce and broccoli salad
• Oven-baked frozen salmon with a honey-soy sauce marinade, rice and edamame
• Shakshuka
• Fried rice with egg, ginger-oyster sauce, green beans and sriracha
• Vegetarian meatballs in coconut curry with cauliflower and rice
• Spaghetti Puttanesca
• Spaghetti aglio olio
• Chili sin carne (with white beans)
• Frittata with mushrooms and leafy greens from the Airfryer
• Chickpeas with chipotle oil and a dollop of Greek yoghurt on toast
• Vegetable stock with quinoa, tinned lentils and jalapeño peppers
• Pumpkin and potato stew with crisp-fried chorizo
• Sweet potato with avocado (which should take a few days to ripen), black beans, chilli powder and Greek yoghurt
• Frittata with potato slices, Gruyère and bacon
• Potato salad with mackerel, celery, beetroot and lima beans
• (Vegetarian) meatballs with turmeric curry and couscous

In short, countless possibilities! And if we can take anything positive from these remarkable days, it’s this: above all, and always, enjoy eating together.

Also read:

• Fill your Scandinavian pantry like this
• Fill your Thai pantry like this
• Fill your Mexican pantry like this