Getting Started

THE EQUIPMENT

Blender: large food processor, blender, or even just a mini food processor if you aren’t sure if you want to commit to this cooking fad.
Metal hand blender (to blend soups, smoothies, other purees)
Black pepper grinder – have some respect for yourself, stop using those old McDonald’s packets and grind it on the spot

Utensils:
Whisk – for eggs, batters, dressings
Spatulas – if you don’t know what a spatula is for you can stop reading now.
Rubber spatula -to clean out the last good bits of anything from a bowl or jar. Indispensable!
Spider strainer – to retrieve anything that’s fried in hot oil or boiled in hot water
1 mesh strainer – to drain and rinse pasta, rice, grains, vegetables, fruit
2 metal tongs (not thongs)
1 can opener
1 bottle opener
Grater – for cheese, vegetables, ginger and much more
1 large chef’s knife – for EVERYTHING
1 serrated knife -for bread, tomatoes
1 small knife – for all small cutting jobs. Come on, you get this, don’t you?
2 cutting boards
A funnel – to get things from a big container into a little container. When the need arises you’ll kick yourself for not having one.

3-4 pots of different sizes
2-3 frying pans of different sizes
Loaf pan
Pizza tray
Small roasting pan
Mixing bowls

Spice/coffee grinder – not a “necessity”, but it will be when you really get serious about flavour
Rolling Pin – Aren’t you going to roll your own pizza and naan? Do it champ!

And then depending on how much entertaining you plan to do – platters, serving spoons, serving dishes, cake knife, tea pots, tea cups, etc.

The Pantry:

DRIED SPICES
Sea Salt – healthier than salt, not necessarily expensive
Black Peppercorns
Coriander Seeds
Cumin Seeds
Turmeric Powder
Red Chili Powder
Paprika
Garlic powder
Italian herb mix
Cloves
Cinnamon bark AND sticks
Green cardamom
Black cardamom

AROMATICS
Garlic
Onions
Ginger
Lemongrass (grind and freeze, or buy frozen)
Chili sauces, e.g. Sambal Olek, Sriracha, Franks Red Hot (for when you need a tanginess in a dish)

DRIED STUFFS
Basmati Rice
Jasmine Rice
Couscous
Quinoa
Wheat flour
White flour
Pastas of your choice
Bulghur Wheat
Oatmeal: Steel Cut Oats (it wouldn’t kill you to have a healthy breakfast from time to time)

CANNED GOODS
Lentils
Mixed beans
Chick peas
Black-eyed peas – Let’s get it started in here!

FROZEN
Carrots
Peas
Parathas/Rotis
Frozen fruits (mangoes, blueberries, strawberries – for smoothies)