It looks like everyone is going mad at the moment. Here in the UK, supermarkets have to limit the number of items customers can purchase, as a result of the crazy hoarding many people did in past few days (people fight over toilet rolls, guys). The first opening hour of many supermarkets is now reserved to the elderly and the vulnerable, to ensure that at least them can get what they need. Yet, even with these new measures, shelves with the most common pantry staples are still empty, forcing people to look elsewhere and make the most of the ingredients available. Many tinned and dry goods such as beans, pasta and rice are all gone and they will be scarce for a few weeks to come. So here are a few tips and tricks to try go around the incredible shortages we are witnessing. Hopefully some of these tips will be of help in these very uncertain times.
1. Freeze at home
Ok, this might be something totally obvious, but if you do find fresh produce, buy it and freeze it at home. I do this normally, when there is a good offer on fresh staples I know I will use at some point. Take onions for example. Yes they do last ages, but if you buy loads of them and don’t use them, you might find yourself with 5 or 6 onions all rotting at once. To avoid this, I peel them and cut them finely and then place them individually in a freezer bag. So I know that each freezer bag provides one onion and when I need it for pasta sauces, stir fries, curries or whatever, I just get it out of the freezer, let it thaw for a few minutes and start sautéing it in the pan. Plus, this cuts the time I have to cry desperately whilst slicing onions to one rather than, say, eight. The same goes with peppers, runner beans, onion sprouts, mushrooms, bananas, you name it! You can even make your own stir fry mixes adding a few slices of each vegetable you laid your hands on at the supermarket in a freezer bag, and you got yourself a quick and easy stir fry mix that will keep in the freezer for up to three months.
3. Buy local
As the supermarkets get emptier and emptier, many forget about their local greengrocers. I went to my local farmers’ market and zero waste shop and found plenty of food. The same goes for local farmers’ cooperatives which you might not even know they exist and which can deliver fresh, local food at your door. Just google your location and farmers’ box or farmers’ cooperatives and you will find many local initiatives of this kind. At a time of uncertainty for many small businesses - if it's safe for you to do so - shopping local will not only ensure you get food, but also support your community.
4. Buy different
This is probably the best time to experiment with foods that have never been part of your diet. In situations like the one we are witnessing, people seem to be going for everyday foods well within their comfort zone. This is understandable and I can see why you would like to have that too. But if you couldn’t purchase potatoes or rice, what about swapping them for aubergines or orzo? When I was in my final year of university, I made an Aubergine Parmigiana and half of my house had never had one, which to an Italian, is totally bonkers. They had it and they fell in love with aubergines! Orzo can be easily substituted for rice or risotto. So experiment and play around, and you will probably discover some delicious new recipes. Still, I do understand that in uncertain times you do not want to splash out on intimidating or different foods that you might not like, especially if you have a family to feed as well. For that reason, I would recommend starting with recipes that appeal to you and look familiar. The Aubergine Parmigiana I mentioned earlier is comforting and indulgent, and very similar to lasagne as well! Pollock can be used like cod to make fish fingers. Start small and you will get big results. Simplicity is always key.
5. Make food from scratch
Now you probably have much more time on your hands than you have had for ages. You are likely a bit bored and you might even have to keep your children busy with tasks. On top of that, many of your main supermarket foods are out of sight. So what to do? Make them yourself. Yes, it could be a tad laborious, and it might be a little more expensive. But chances are, that with the ingredients you have bought you can make at least double the amount of the food that you are trying to replicate, compared to when you buy it in the store, ultimately evening the price out or working our cheaper. And plus, it will probably end up being healthier, as you know exactly what’s gone into it, and tastier. Some examples? Hummus. I have seen dry chickpeas kicking about and a lot of tahini. Fresh lemons as well haven’t abandoned my local store yet. Another one? Pesto. My recipe is coming out soon and it’s amazing (did you know that pesto comes from my home region, Liguria?). Again, there was plenty of basil leaves left at my local store and pine nuts have also been miraculously left untouched. So grab those fancy ingredients and feel like a pro replicating some of your favourite staples.
6. Get fresh herbs
This brings me to my final point. Along with basil leaves in packages, I have found a lot of basil plants in my local supermarkets. The same goes for any other fresh herb, whilst their dried counterpants were all gone. Now, I know you cannot survive on fresh herbs. But they do make meals definitely tastier and rich in nutrients (plus, they taste a ton better than dry herbs). They are also very low-maintenance: in my uni house we had a mint plant that was not watered for weeks at a time and would still miraculously produce tasty leaves. If you are stuck at home for a while, this will all help you making your meals fun and satisfying. This is by no means an essential point, but if you do have some money to spare, consider investing them on fresh herb plants and feel like a proper chef!
I know these times are ridden with anxiety about the future, so stay safe and connect with your loved ones remotely as much as you can. We will get through this.
Valeria xx
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