After sharing my essentials when it comes to kitchen utensils and appliances, it seems only fitting that I expand on this theme and provide an insight into my grocery staples when I shop each week.

Because of the wide variety of meals I cook, I’ve definitely had people say to me “you must spend so much money on groceries each week”, but it’s really not the case at all!

Being as transparent as possible, an average grocery shop would be between $120 to $170 between the 2 ppl living in our household, aka. Alec and I. This varies each week depending on whether we need to top up on items that last, like sauces, grains, coffee milk etc. as well as whether our meals for the week are predominantly whole food vegetarian meals or recipes that incorporate a variety of seafoods/meats!

Also, with this budget we cater for larger dinner portions to create leftovers to take for lunch, so while I don’t meal prep specifically, I’m not purchasing extra food to make lunch with.

Hot tip I would recommend to EVERYONE trying to be savvy when it comes to grocery shopping, make a conscious effort to shop each week at your local butcher and fresh produce store. This saves us a significant chunk of money, than if we had gone straight to Woolworths or Coles.

In my opinion, it’s all about shopping smarter not harder when it comes to selecting items that will...

Last in your fridge
Be versatile in a range of meals
Provide a variety of options should you decide to whip something together with what you’ve got on hand

I’m not telling you to take my advice as gospel, because everyone is different and I obviously LOVE food so I’m willing to spend more should it come to it. BUT, I can guarantee you that I get the most out of what I buy each week, nothing goes to waste and I will ALWAYS have items at home, be it in my pantry or fridge to be able to whip something together should I have guests over, or simply not feel like what I had planned for! (which is rare lol)

So, with this in mind... here is my list of items I believe should become a staple for you, if you want to have interesting items on hand, built to last AND glow up your cooking!

Tamari

Tamari is a soy sauce alternative which contains less sodium a.k.a making it a healthier option, but either is a good staple, especially when it comes to Asian style cooking.

Chickpeas, lentils & black-beans

I’m not saying you have to purchase all. However, if you’re vegetarian or are wanting to eat predominantly vego/vegan meals, they are a great base from which to build a meal. From chickpea falafels, lentil dhals to black bean burger patties or Mexican burrito bowls, you simply cannot go wrong by choosing to have these on hand.

Tinned tomatoes

Again, this is a pantry item that is SO versatile when it comes to cooking. From homemade pasta sauces, Mexican chilli con carne, winter soups, paellas, vegetable tray bakes and more, I guarantee I will be reaching for a tin of tomatoes at least once or twice a week in my cooking!

Garlic

Now I would list both garlic and onion as grocery shopping staples of mine, well because they are. BUT, if I get down to the nuts and bolts of what I simply couldn’t last without, it would be garlic! Sorry if you’re fructose intolerant, but I’m a garlic feign.

A recipe calls for 2, I’ll add 4, oops, but seriously, it’s a base in pretty much ALL of my recipes. Keep it simple and let the garlic speak for itself when cooking with pastas, fish, chicken and more, or add other herbs and spices that work in conjunction with this delightful ingredient to compliment flavours nicely. Need I say more? A grocery shopping essential.

Ginger

We already know I’m obsessed with South East Asian style cooking and tbh, I love nothing more than to feel the burn and experience the complex taste of fresh ginger lol. Add it to your marinades, pickle it, use it in baking. Again, it has the ability to translate well across cuisines, sweet and savoury!

Chilli

If you’re not into spice, then read ahead, but chilli variations are something I’m very regularly putting in my basket! From red bullet chillies (spicy af) in my homemade curry pastes, green chillies in my homemade chimmi churris and fresh salads & red chillies in pretty much everything else - you just can’t go wrong with a little kick in my eye. A cheap & easy way to incorporate a fresh boost of flavour to a wide variety of meals.

Lemons and/or limes

For sauces, marinades, dressings and everything in between. If you’re wanting to zhuzh up you’re cooking in a way that’s fresh and healthy, I recommend lemons and limes as a starting point because they can be combined with a whole range of other ingredients to create such diverse flavours. Think tamari, honey, fish sauce, sriracha, olive oil, garlic, ginger, spices and so much more! So, ditch the pre-made sauces that are frankly, full of shiet and spend a few extra minutes, making your own (with lemons and limes of course) hehe.

Carrot

This might seem like a strange ingredient to be including as a staple of mine, but we ALWAYS buy a bag! While not necessarily the most flavourful ingredient on its own, carrots are super versatile because of this and can be used in pretty much anything. A great (& healthy) way to bulk up a meal, I find myself reaching for this bright orange ingredient when cooking a range of different cuisines from Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and more.

Spinach

Without a doubt, every week I am buying a big ass bag of spinach. The green that makes it to my plate, breakfast, lunch & dinner AND lasts all week in the fridge (when stored correctly)... if you’re looking for a quick, easy way to get your greens in each week, spinach is IT!

Avocado

Would it really be a grocery staples post if I didn’t mention avocado? After all, one of my many nicknames termed by my partner is Avo, so it would be rude not to. Although they are spenny af, I am willing to make the sacrifice because I love the flavour, texture & so much more. They’re transferable across both meal times & elements. Process it up with citrus fruits, herbs and spices for a creamy marinade or serve it up as is. Whatever your method, deliciousness is guaranteed!

If you’re still here reading this, I hope it inspired you to add at least one of these ingredients to your weekly list. So, happy grocery shopping & better yet - cooking!

Grocery shopping staples