The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

9 best store cupboard cookbooks: Get creative in the kitchen during self-isolation

From championing humble ingredients to batch-cooking on a budget, these books will help you create exciting dishes out of whatever you have in

Stacey Smith
Wednesday 25 March 2020 17:45 GMT
When putting our cookbooks to the test, we were conscious of the availability of ingredients required, the cost per serving and of course, just how tasty the end result was
When putting our cookbooks to the test, we were conscious of the availability of ingredients required, the cost per serving and of course, just how tasty the end result was

With us all being urged to only go to the shops when it’s absolutely necessary, it’s time to get creative with what’s in the store cupboard.

To help, we’ve rounded up a great selection of cookery books championing the most humble ingredients that will have you cooking up a storm in no time.

Whether you’re trying to make more with less, keep fresh ingredients to a minimum or are re-learning how to cook for one, there should be a book here to guide you through these uncertain times.

When putting our cookbooks to the test, we were conscious of the availability of ingredients required, the cost per serving and of course, just how tasty the end result was.

Common themes that aim to save you time and money include making the most of your freezer, adapting recipes to suit what you have to hand, meal planning and using up every last bit of what you buy.

Far from being dull, recipes spanned all cuisines so hopefully you won’t find yourself repeating flavours, even if you’re stuck inside for a while.

You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

‘The Art of the Larder: Good Food from Your Store Cupboard, Every Day’ by Claire Thomson, published by Hardie Grant

the-art-of-the-larder.jpg

Although not the latest release from food writer Claire Thomson, we feel it’s particularly useful currently. A book of two halves, she argues that with just a few fresh ingredients, if you have a well-stocked cupboard you’ll always be capable of making “something from anything”. Dishes such as the Greek roasted tomato and oregano timbale with yoghurt topping were completely new to us, however we could see how simple they’d be to make with very obtainable ingredients. Most of the recipes are designed to serve four people.

  1. £17 from Amazon
Prices may vary
Back to top

‘Tin Can Magic: Simple, delicious recipes using pantry staples’ by Jessica Elliott Dennison, published by Hardie Grant

tin-can-magic.jpg

The premise behind this book is to take your hero tin (ideally the one that’s been languishing at the back of the cupboard the longest), add two or three fresh ingredients, a contrast (perhaps a lemon or fresh herbs) and finally some texture, such as toasted nuts. Each recipe comes with a wealth of ingredient substitutions, so they should be something for everyone to rustle up, no matter what you’ve got to hand. Dishes such as the three way lentil dahl or the chilled chilli tomato noodles show just how versatile and interesting store cupboard staples such as beans and lentils can be.

  1. £10 from Amazon
Prices may vary
Back to top

‘Feed Your Family For £20 a Week: 100 Budget-Friendly, Batch-Cooking Recipes You’ll All Enjoy’, by Lorna Cooper, published by Orion

feed-your-family-for-ps20.jpg

It might be tempting to rely solely on ready meals and frozen pizzas when trying to keep costs down, but rustling up a home cooked meal is the more nutritious option. With a strong reliance on the freezer to make things last longer, this book starts with a shopping list that promises to feed a family for a whopping eight weeks, which sounds particularly appealing to us all right now. Even the fussiest of eaters will enjoy starting the day with banana breakfast cookies, with simple pastas, pies, tray bakes and one pot meals making up the rest.

  1. £9 from Amazon
Prices may vary
Back to top

The verdict: Store cupboard cookbooks

This was a tough one but we’ve awarded our best buy to The Art of the Larder which is so useful in today’s climate, and we can definitely see ourselves referring to it time and time again. We’re confident it will provide inspiration no matter what you’ve got to work with. If you’re looking to feed a family on a budget, The Batch Lady or Feed your Family for £20 will show you how, while cutting down how many times you need to go to the shops.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in