My Perfect Pantry

January 1, 2015
Even the most diligent cooks sometimes confront the dinner hour lacking one or two ingredients to complete a meal. Many times the missing ingredient is a relatively common one and not necessarily required to be garden fresh, something that can easily sit on a shelf or in a quiet part of the refrigerator. Chef Zakarian has identified 50 foods that, if kept in stock in one's cupboard, can dress and season all manner of fresh meats and vegetables to round out a balanced meal. First, Zakarian inventories foundation items, dried spices and herbs that make food not just palatable but also enjoyable: cinnamon, bay leaves, nutmeg, peppercorns, salt, oregano, vanilla, and a dozen other similar seasonings. His list of 50 pantry necessities includes beans, oils, pastas, sauces, and nuts. For each of these staples he proffers a trio of recipes. Color photographs enhance the text and encourage readers to pursue Zakarian's culinary vision.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)