We’ve done tins… we’ve done swaps… now it’s time to see what your store cupboard is really made of. 

“While I’ll never hate Marmite on toast, or a spoonful of peanut butter straight from the jar, they’re so much more to me than spreads. In fact, looking in the cupboards, there’s probably more dinner inspiration than you might think. So this week, I thought I’d share a few of my favourite store cupboard secrets with you.” 

From Jordan Moore, Senior Recipe Developer at Gousto.

Peanut butter

You may think of peanut butter as sweet, but it’s also a flavour powerhouse that adds creamy nuttiness to umami-rich dishes. For a delicious satay sauce, add a dollop to sweet chilli and soy sauce. Or swirl it into a Malay or Indonesian-style curry for richness.

Spiced Peanut & Harissa Falafel With Salad 

Peanut butter binds these spicy falafels together before baking.

Southern Thai Chicken Panang Curry

For the richness and fragrance of a Southern Thai curry, add a dollop of peanut butter. 

Indonesian-Style Chicken Rice With Satay Sauce 

This satay sauce is as simple as they come. Mix soy, chilli paste and peanut butter together and spruce up any stir-fry with this great store cupboard staple.

10-Min Spicy Peanut Chicken Noodles

Easy, speedy and perfect for a weeknight. Swap in any vegetables that are chilling in the fridge, and dollop with peanut butter to add a creamy richness to the stir fry sauce. 

West African Maffe-Style Chicken Stew

For something deliciously different, peanut butter adds a distinctive nutty flavour to this West African-style Maffe stew.

Marmite

Love it or hate it, Marmite is so much more than a toast topper. Not only a tasty source of B vitamins and 100% vegan, it’s one of my favourite Gousto twists for adding ‘meaty’ yet meat-free richness to any ragù or gravy. 

Marmite Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Trust me when I tell you, Marmite somehow makes cheese cheesier! So for a creamy, comforting supper with next to no ingredients, jazz up mundane macaroni with this savoury twist. 

Leek & Potato Soup With Cheesy Marmite Toastie

Put a twist on this classic soup with a rich, cheese toastie made better with Marmite. This soup is great for batch-cooking and freezing for weekday lunches, quick dinners and anything in between. 

Rich Mushroom Ragù Pappardelle

Add savoury richness to ragùs in seconds with a spoonful of Marmite. Especially great for veggie or vegan pasta sauces that are missing that ‘meaty’ depth. 

Everyday Roast Chicken 

For a cheat’s gravy that’s still super rich, reach for the Marmite. It gives it great colour too.

And if you’re prepping burgers for sunny barbecues

Plop some Marmite in your beef mince to season your patties. 

Chickpeas

Chickpeas always seem to be knocking around my cupboards, and this high-protein meat alternative is absolutely delicious roasted, fried as falafels or blitzed into homemade hummus. 

Tip: When draining your chickpeas, hold on to the liquid! It’s a great vegan egg alternative in baking.

Harissa Hummus, Roasted Veg & Freekeh Salad

For a dip with a kick, make your own hummus with olive oil, garlic and any spicy sauces you have. You can even add peanut butter instead of tahini, if that’s all you’ve got.

Moroccan Lentil Stew With Roasted Chickpeas 

Roast chickpeas for a crunchy, protein-packed topper for curries, stews and salads.

Chickpea Tikka Masala & Fragrant Rice 

If you don’t have chicken, chickpeas make a great placeholder, like in this twist on tikka masala.

Chickpea Kofte Pitta, Sweet Potato Fries & Raita

For a treat, blitz up chickpeas and form them into spiced, vegetarian koftes!

And for a handy egg alternative…

Chickpea liquid (known as aquafaba) can be whipped up into amazing vegan meringues. Substitute the egg whites and whisk with a little more elbow grease (or electric mixer!) to get stiff, snowy peaks. For easy, decadent dessert recipes using aquafaba, click here. 

Potatoes

Whether boiled, buttered, or crisped to perfection, you can do so much with  the humble potato. Remember to store your potatoes in a cool, dark area to maximise their shelf life!

Veggie Goulash, Potato Cakes & Sour Cream

Potato cakes are eaten all over Eastern Europe, and incredibly simple to make. Fry or bake until crispy, and serve with stews, meats or top them with a poached egg for a brilliant brunch. 

Sirloin Steak With Potato Rösti, Parsnip Purée & Redcurrant Jus

A rosti is speedy, crispy and takes minimal effort. Grate your spuds, squeeze out the water with a tea towel, shape into small cakes and fry. Or make one giant rösti and slice up for the whole family.

Creamy Chicken Potato-Topped Pie

Mash isn’t just for Shepherd’s pie. If you’re out of pastry and fancy pie for dinner, top it with creamy mashed potato instead. 

Homemade gnocchi  

If you’ve run out of pasta, turn to potatoes! Gnocchi is so simple to make, and a great one for kids too. All you need are potatoes, eggs and flour!

Homemade chips or wedges

Homemade are always far better and healthier freezer ones. For a lazy-night special, I make  chips, ladle over batch-cooked bolognese or chilli, sprinkle with cheese (of course) and bake until melty and golden. Perfect with a glass of wine, and a side of Netflix.

Let me know if you try any of these recipes yourself and how you get on by tagging us @goustocooking

All these recipes and more can be found in the Gousto Cookbook.

And if it isn’t time to go back to the supermarket, you’re sure to find some enticing dinner inspiration in 10 Simple Feasts You Can Whip Up From Tins.

Or if you’re missing one or two things off your ingredients list, don’t miss Helpful Ingredient Swaps When You Can’t Go Shopping for easy substitutes to see you through to your next shop.