Sauces, pastes, oils – what I buy to save time
Chefs aren’t superhuman. We don’t have time to prepare an elaborate meal from scratch every night any more than you do. But with a few well-chosen essentials in the store cupboard, it’s always possible to create something quick and delicious. These are my secret weapons:
Lea & Perrins Worcester Sauce
What does it add to a shepherd’s pie, a stew, a toasted cheese sandwich? Flavour, it’s that simple. I use it all the time.
Tapenade
A classic black olive, caper and anchovy paste from Provence. Spread it on top of tuna, swordfish, sea bass or bream.
Hellmann’s Mayonnaise
What’s wrong with having a jar in the cupboard for those times when you don’t fancy making fresh mayonnaise from scratch? Hellmann’s is a good, straightforward basic.
Knorr Stock Cube & Pot
It goes without saying that I have these essentials in at all times. I use them not only for stocks and soups, but also for seasoning. See how I do it in the Marco Steak Challenge.
Garlic Paste
Ready-to-use garlic without the peeling, chopping and washing up. It doesn’t have quite the flavour of garlic you crush yourself, but it’s a great time-saver.
Colman’s Mustard
Don’t knock the classics. A ham sandwich wouldn’t be the same without it. Colman’s mustard with Worcester sauce and ketchup make an excellent sauce for beef.
Tabasco® Sauce
The fiery kitchen classic. It goes in mayonnaise, in my ketchup vinaigrette for salmon, in prawn cocktail. No professional kitchen would be without it.
Pesto Sauce
A handy kitchen standby. Ideal with pasta but why not spread it on fish or even on beef or lamb?
Olive Oil
What can’t you use it for? For dressings, making seasoning pastes for meat, healthier pan-frying, there’s no substitute for olive oil. Buy the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford.
Mostarda di Cremona
Candied mixed fruits (cherries, pears, figs, etc.) preserved in a mustard-flavoured syrup. A delicious condiment with York ham, ‘bollito misto’ and soft cheese. Available in Italian delicatessens.
Spices
White pepper, curry powder, cayenne pepper and paprika are the essential seafood spices. Think of kedgeree, prawn cocktails, spiced mussel soup, etc.
Rock salt & sea salt
The attractive coarse crystals act as both seasoning and garnish. The flavour’s pure and intense so you don’t need so much either.
HP Sauce
A breakfast wouldn’t be the same without it. It’s good in shepherd’s pie too.
