If you are self-isolating, you’ll need to make the most of what you already have in your kitchen.
But what if you don’t have a key ingredient for the recipe you want to make, but can’t get to the shops?
No need to panic as senior recipe developer at food box company Gousto, Jordan Moore, reveals his top store cupboard swaps to help you make the most of what you already have on your shelves.
No pasta, no problem – grab your veg peeler
Vegetable ‘pasta’ is a healthy alternative if you were planning to make our Speedy 10-min Spag Bol. Grab your vegetable peeler and create long strips of carrots or courgettes to use in place of the spaghetti. Just boil for a few minutes for a delicious al-dente alternative.
Forgot the breadcrumbs? Try porridge oats instead!
Don’t be tempted to empty the crumb tray in your toaster if you were planning to make the Southern Fried Halloumi and Wedges for dinner tonight. Porridge oats make the perfect substitute and you can use them in exactly the same way as breadcrumbs.
Fresh out of garlic? Take a look in your spice rack
If you’re fresh out of garlic and planning on making our Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich with Garlic Mayo, don’t fret. Garlic powder is the perfect substitute, ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder is equivalent to one clove of garlic.
Run out of rice?
Pulses and grains like bulgur wheat, freekeh, buckwheat, spelt and barley are all really tasty and can be served in place of rice. Bulgur, in particular, makes a healthy alternative and our Pan-Fried Halloumi Herby Bulgur & Roasted Veg is a real winner!
Soy sauce
A splash of soy sauce is potent enough to add that oriental flavour to any dish. Worcestershire sauce is the perfect replacement if you planned on cooking one of our Asian recipes.
Quarantine bakes – a sweet treat
Don’t put down your mixing bowl, as stores run low you may find yourself without the baking staples. But, if you wanted to whip up a batch of our Healthy Breakfast Muffins then Jordan’s substitute tips have you covered.
Milk powder is a great alternative when making our Healthy Breakfast Muffins and you can use it in the exact same way as milk. Substitute 1 cup of fresh milk for ¼ cup dry milk plus 1 cup of water. Bon appétit!
Surprisingly mayonnaise makes the perfect substitute for eggs, just 3 tablespoons of mayo make one egg. This switch-up works best within cakes with a stronger flavour, like our Chocolate Guinness Cupcake recipe. Fire up the oven!
Craving something sweet, but don’t have the baking powder to make a tasty dessert? Before you start frantically looking for your keys, check your cupboards for baking soda and cream of tartar. A teaspoon of baking powder can be substituted for ¼ teaspoon baking soda plus ½ teaspoon cream of tartar.
If you’re all out of butter and fancied a batch of our Fluffy American Style Pancakes, don’t panic! Sunday brunch can be saved, swap your butter for honey. Thanks to bees, this scrumptious stuff is packed full of rich, intense and syrupy-sweet flavours and is an ideal ingredient for soft cakes.
Fancy a batch of our delicious Red Velvet Cupcakes but don’t have buttermilk in the fridge, the closest substitute is another daily product with acidity added. Fill one cup with milk and add one tablespoon of lemon juice.
If you don’t bake a whole lot but want to try our Classic Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe that calls for self-raising flour. Plain Flour is the good old faithful floury friend, you can rely on.
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