The Ultimate List of Pinoy Pantry Must-Haves

Building your own kitchen? Make sure you have these staples.

A well-stocked kitchen is a marvelous thing. It inspires you to imagine all the possible meals you can create and assures you that you’ll always be able to whip up something no matter what.

But for those of us who are just beginning to piece together our own kitchens, figuring out all the staples can be daunting. What kind of spices should you have? Do you really need both garlic and garlic powder? What do you do with star anise?

If these questions have ever run through your mind, then you’ve come to the right place. Here’s the ultimate checklist of Filipino pantry must-haves that beginner or seasoned homemakers can use to make sure their kitchen is always ready to produce Pinoy favorites.

Basics

• Cooking oil
• Butter or margarine
• Salt and pepper
• Sugar (brown or white)
• Eggs
• Milk

Produce

• Onion
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Potatoes or Kamote
• Tomatoes
• Calamansi
• Carrots
• Green onion
• Leafy greens — cabbage, kangkong, or pechay

Dry goods, canned goods, and grains

• Rice
• Dried pasta
• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Chicken and beef broth
• Bread
• Canned meats of choice
• Instant noodles
• Evaporated milk
• Condensed milk
• MSG
• Tomato sauce
• Sinigang Mix

Condiments

• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Fish Sauce
• Ketchup
• Mayonnaise
• Oyster Sauce

Herbs and spices

• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Bay leaves
• Basil
• Red pepper flakes
• Chili powder
• Allspice
• Cinnamon
• Curry powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Peppercorn
• Turmeric
• Sesame seeds

Snacks and drinks

• Coffee
• Tea
• Juice
• Biscuits or cookies
• Your favorite palaman

Have these items stocked and you’ve built yourself a solid foundation for many Pinoy meals. Of course, other main ingredients such as meats will be up to your choosing, but these staples will happily support and create a full and delicious meal.

Speaking of full and delicious meals…

What can you cook with these?

Here are some great, classic Pinoy recipes you can test out with your newly stocked pantry.

Sinigang na Baboy

Here’s the recipe from Kawaling Pinoy.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork spare ribs, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 8 cups water
• 2 large tomatoes, quartered
• 1 medium onion, peeled and quartered
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 6 pieces gabi, (peeled and halved depending on size)
• 1 6-inch radish (labanos), peeled and sliced to 1/2-inch thick half-rounds
• 2 finger chilies (siling haba)
• 1/2 bunch long beans (sitaw), ends trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1 eggplant, ends trimmed and sliced to 1/2-inch thick half-rounds
• 6 pieces okra, ends trimmed
• 15 pieces large tamarind or 1 1/2 (1.41 ounces each) packages tamarind base powder
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 bunch bok choy or pechay, ends trimmed and separated into leaves

Instructions

1. Rinse pork ribs and drain well.
2. In a pot over medium heat, combine pork and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, skimming scum that accumulates on top.
3. Once broth clears, add tomatoes, onion, and fish sauce. Lower heat and simmer for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender, adding more water as necessary to maintain about 8 cups.
4. Add gabi and cook for about 4 to 6 minutes or until tender.
5. Add chili peppers and radish. Continue to simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes.
6. Add long beans. Continue to cook for about 2 minutes.
7. Add eggplant and okra and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
8. If using packaged tamarind base, add to the pot and stir until completely dissolved.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Add bok choy and continue to cook for about 1 minute. Serve hot.

Pork Menudo

Here’s the recipe from Yummy.ph.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 kilo pork
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 3/4 cup tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 2 to 3 pieces dried bay leaf
• 1/4 kilo pig liver
• 1 cup potatoes, diced
• 1 cup carrot, diced
• salt, to taste

Instructions

1. In a saucepan, saute garlic and onion in oil.
2. Add the pork. Cook for 5 minutes.
3. Pour in soy sauce, sugar, tomato sauce and water and then add the bay leaves. Simmer for 30 minutes or until the pork is tender. 
4. Add the the liver and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add potatoes, carrots, then season with salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for 15 minutes.

Chicken Tinola

Here’s the recipe from Knorr.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 pc onion, small -sized, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 (2 – inch) pc ginger, cut into strips
• 1/2 kilo chicken, cut into 8 pcs
• 1 liter water
• 2 pcs Knorr Chicken Cube
• 1 pc sayote or 1 pc small -sized green papaya, sliced
• 2 stalks dahon ng sili

Instructions

1. Get a casserole or pot and bring it up to medium heat before pouring in the oil. Drop in the onions, garlic and ginger and sauté slowly for about 2 minutes or until you can smell the lovely aroma of the thoroughly cooked vegetables.
2. It’s time to drop in those chicken pieces and stir until it turns white in color
3. Pour in the water and throw in your Knorr Chicken Broth cubes. Bring this to a simmer until chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. You can now add your sayote or green papaya and cook until tender.
5. Dahon ng sili is added at the last stage to ensure leaves (and nutrients) don’t dry up. Give this a minute then it is done. Malunggay is also another healthy alternative because it is packed with vitamins and minerals which are good for nursing moms and kids as well.
6. Enjoy this with patis and calamansi on the side.

Pork Adobo

Here’s the recipe from Panlasang Pinoy.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork belly
• 2 tablespoons garlic minced or crushed
• 5 pieces dried bay leaves
• 4 tablespoons vinegar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon peppercorn
• 2 cups water
• Salt to taste

Instructions

1. Combine the pork belly, soy sauce, and garlic then marinade for at least 1 hour
2. Heat the pot and put-in the marinated pork belly then cook for a few minutes
3. Pour remaining marinade including garlic.
4. Add water, whole pepper corn, and dried bay leaves then bring to a boil. Simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour
5. Put-in the vinegar and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes
6. Add salt to taste
7. Serve hot. Share and enjoy!

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