Stock Your Pantry for Fresh Eating
Are you considering committing to a CSA, or looking to eat more vegetables, but worried about not being able to use them all? Turn nearly ANY local ingredient into a stunning dish by keeping these pantry items on hand year-round! And if you’re ever in need of inspiration, you can use our Recipe Database to find ideas for unfamiliar or excess ingredients!
1. Oil & Vinegar
Okay, this is technically two things, but they are a match made in culinary heaven! Enjoy a Basic Green Salad with homemade vinaigrette or dressing, or a panzanella any time of year. How about some quick Marinated Tomatoes? Even in the winter, turn a bit of hard boiled egg, feta, and olives topped with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar into lunch. Keep a white wine vinegar and a red wine vinegar on hand, at minimum.
Quick Pickled Red Onions
Having a jar of pickled onions on hand can take a dish from good to GREAT. Excellent on tacos, eggs, sandwiches, salads, pizza, etc, you won’t want to be without these pickled red onions. And you won’t have to – you probably have all the ingredients on hand! Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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Tomato Vinaigrette
A light dressing used for Caprese Salads, Panzanella, Summer Tomato & Herb Salads, or just slathered on sliced tomatoes. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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2. Nuts
I like to keep pine nuts and walnuts on hand, but having a pantry with any type of nuts can take you a long way! Make a pesto, some granola bars, or chop up your favorite nuts for a Berry Breakfast Bowl!
Carrot Top Pesto
Don't toss those carrot tops! You may have everything in your pantry already to make a delicious pesto for dipping or as a sauce for pasta or pizza. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer’s market.
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3. Honey or Maple Syrup
Choose local, raw honey or local maple syrup for a smarter, natural sugar choice. Drizzled on peanut butter toast or incorporated into a Kale Salad or a Honey Cider-Beer Cocktail, honey is so versatile! Find a producer near you.
Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sweet strawberries and zingy vinegar balance each other nicely in this dressing! Choose leafy lettuces, spinach, and other tender greens, harvested as freshly as possible! Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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Watermelon Lemonade
What says "summer" more than watermelon and lemonade? This recipe uses local honey instead of cane sugar, making it a healthier option for your whole family. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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4. Dry Beans
Having dry beans on hand can take you from “nothing to eat” to “so much to eat!” overnight. Serve a Ham & Bean soup with onions, celery, and carrots or use beans during Taco Night!
5. Rice
Quickly turn almost any vegetable and/or meat combination into a stir-fry or fried rice for a quick and healthy dinner. Rice is also a nice addition to many soups. Did you know our neighbors to the north in Minnesota cultivate wild rice?
Stuffed Pepper Soup
A warm comfort food soup for cold fall and winter days. This recipe comes from Sugar Creek Farm who thought up the idea when they had an abundance of bell peppers and their delicious 100% grass-fed beef. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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6. Dry Pasta
Throw together a Garlic Parmesan Pasta, Pasta Primavera, or spaghetti for a crowd-pleasing meal. You can also make your own egg pasta if you’ve got flour and eggs on hand! Duck Egg Pasta is a great choice if you’ve got access to duck eggs!
Delicata Squash and Sage Brown Butter Pasta
Delicata squash are an unsung fall hero. The skin is so thin that you don’t need to peel it and it’s filled with vitamins. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer’s market.
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Quick Tomato Sauce
Local tomatoes are incomparable. So juicy and delicious! When you use fresh tomatoes, you rarely need to add sugar; a benefit you can't get from a can. *No-Waste Idea*: dehydrate the tomato skins to make a Tomato Skin Salt.Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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7. Onions, Garlic, and Other Storage Vegetables
May root vegetables have a super long shelf life and can be kept in the pantry. Onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and garlic are some of the longest-lasting root vegetables. Many varieties of winter squashes also store well such as butternut and acorn squash. Roasted Root Vegetables or Root Veggie Hummus come together in short notice. Winter squash recipes stretch across the board with things like muffins to Kabocha Squash Mash, and Butternut Squash Soup. Looking for something specific? Find a Producer here.
Roasted Butternut Salad
A hearty winter salad with sweet butternut squash and tangy vinaigrette. The lentils make it filling enough to be the main course. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer’s market.
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Root Vegetable Hummus
A perfect appetizer to serve with crackers, raw vegetables, or even to spread on a sandwich. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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8. Dried Herbs
Whether you’re drying your own fresh herbs or grabbing them at the store, having them on hand is vital for impromptu meals! Very basic rules of thumb: use basil and oregano for Italian Dishes, cilantro and cumin with Mexican dishes, dill for vegetables and pickling, and mint with lamb, desserts, and beverages. Bay leaves are good for stocks and broths. For each recipe that calls for 1 tbsp of a fresh herb, you can use 1 tsp of dried herb instead. The flavor is much more concentrated in dry form.
Shepherd's Pie
A hearty winter favorite you can make with lots of ingredient flexibility. Local root vegetables and beef are the star of this dish! It's easy on the wallet and can keep you warm on those cold winter nights. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
Check out this recipe
9. Nut Butter
Peanut or other nut butters are great our No-Bake Iowa Protein Bars, or even just slathered on a fresh loaf of bread from the farmers market. Nut butters also have practical savory uses such as a Thai peanut sauce over rice noodles or on a salad.
10. Citrus Fruits
Keeping some fresh citrus fruits, like lemons, limes, and oranges can boost a meal from good to GREAT. Lemon juice from a bottle is okay, but fresh citrus packs a bigger flavor punch and allows for zesting.
Lemon Dijon Pork Sheet-Pan Dinner
Who doesn't love a sheet-pan meal? Quick and easy to prepare, quick and easy to clean up. And oh-so-delicious! North Iowa has many pork producers, but look for the ones selling locally; you'll be pleasantly surprised at the improved flavor and quality. Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
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Fruit Compote
Compote is simply fresh fruit that has been mixed with sugar and allowed to macerate. Mix and match your fruits, experiment with honey or sugar amounts, and acids to make it your own! Ingredients with an asterisk (*) are available seasonally right here in North Iowa! Click on select ingredients to find them nearby or stop by your local farmer's market.
Check out this recipe
Other Thoughts
While this list is not exhaustive, it should get you a meal! Other things that are nice to have on-hand include apples, tomato paste, cooking wines, and canned goods. Fermenting, canning, drying, or baking your fresh items are another great way to use the bounty of North Iowa. Check our recipe database if you’re in need of ideas!
