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Be it to save money on groceries or to try making some of your favorite things from scratch. We are going to be looking at those household kitchen ingredients you can make from scratch at home instead of running to the store any time you don’t have them. However, stop wasting money on kitchen ingredients, make them yourself, and cut down your bills. This is the number one way to cut down household expenses.
Kitchen Ingredients You can make from Scratch
Creating 75 kitchen ingredients from scratch is an extensive undertaking, but let’s delve into a comprehensive list along with simplified methods for making them:
1. Butter:
Shake heavy cream in a jar until it separates into butter and buttermilk. Rinse the butter and knead to remove excess liquid.
2. Yogurt:
Heat milk to just below boiling, cool to a lukewarm temperature, add a spoonful of yogurt with live cultures and let it ferment in a warm place for several hours.
3. Mayonnaise:
Whisk together egg yolks, mustard, vinegar, and slowly drizzle in oil while whisking continuously until it emulsifies.
4. Sour Cream:
Combine heavy cream with a small amount of buttermilk or yogurt culture, let it sit at room temperature until thickened.
5. Ketchup:
Simmer tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, onions, garlic, and spices until thickened, then blend and strain.
6. Mustard:
Grind mustard seeds and mix them with vinegar, water, salt, and spices. Let it sit for a day or two to develop flavor.
7. Vinegar:
Ferment alcohol (such as wine or cider) using a “mother” (a SCOBY – symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast).
8. Bread:
Combine flour, water, yeast, and salt, knead the dough, let it rise, and bake.
9. Pasta:
Mix flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt into a dough, roll it out, and cut it into desired shapes.
10. Cheese:
Heat milk, add an acid like lemon juice or vinegar to curdle it, strain the curds, and press to form cheese.
11. Soy Sauce:
Ferment soybeans, wheat, salt, and koji mold for several months.
12. Worcestershire Sauce:
Combine vinegar, molasses, anchovies, tamarind, and various spices, then ferment for several weeks.
13. Hot Sauce:
Blend chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, and salt, then ferment for a few days.
14. Pickles:
Submerge cucumbers in a brine made of vinegar, water, salt, and spices, and let them ferment.
15. Bacon:
Cure pork belly with a mixture of salt, sugar, and spices, then smoke or roast it.
16. Sausage:
Grind meat, mix with spices, and stuff into casings.
17. Stock:
Simmer bones, vegetables, herbs, and water for hours, then strain.
18. Broth:
Simmer vegetables, herbs, and water to create a flavorful liquid base.
19. Tomato Sauce:
Cook down tomatoes with onions, garlic, herbs, and spices until thickened.
20. Ricotta Cheese:
Simmer milk with acid (like lemon juice), strain the curds and season.
21. Balsamic Glaze:
Simmer balsamic vinegar with sugar until it thickens.
22. Baking Powder:
Mix baking soda, cream of tartar, and starch (like cornstarch).
23. Vanilla Extract:
Soak vanilla beans in vodka or another neutral spirit for several weeks.
24. Almond Milk:
Blend soaked almonds with water and strain.
25. Peanut Milk:
Blend soaked peanuts with water and strain.
26. Chocolate:
Roast and grind cacao beans, then mix with sugar and cocoa butter.
27. Tortillas:
Mix flour, water, salt, and oil, then roll and cook on a griddle.
28. Maple Syrup:
Boil down sap from maple trees until it thickens.
29. Hummus:
Blend chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil.
30. Sourdough Starter:
Mix flour and water, then let it ferment for several days to capture wild yeast.
31. Pesto:
Blend basil, garlic, nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
32. Ramen Noodles:
Mix flour, water, and salt, then roll and cut into noodles.
33. Pancake Syrup:
Boil sugar, water, and flavorings until thickened.
34. Salsa:
Blend tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, and lime juice.
35. Barbecue Sauce:
Simmer tomatoes, vinegar, molasses, spices, and sugar until thickened.
36. Curry Paste:
Blend various spices, herbs, and aromatics.
37. Coconut Milk:
Grate coconut, soak in hot water, then strain.
38. Pesto:
Blend basil, garlic, nuts, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil.
39. Marinara Sauce:
Cook tomatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, and olive oil until thickened.
40. Lemon Curd:
Whisk together lemon juice, zest, sugar, eggs, and butter, then cook until thickened.
41. Ice Cream:
Mix cream, sugar, and flavorings, then churn until frozen.
42. Soy Milk:
Soak soybeans, blend with water, and strain.
43. Miso Paste:
Ferment soybeans and koji mold, then mash into a paste.
44. Ranch Dressing:
Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, herbs, and spices.
45. Pumpkin Puree:
Roast and puree pumpkin.
46. Peanut Butter:
Roast peanuts and blend until creamy.
47. Cashew Cream:
Soak cashews, blend with water, and strain.
48. Graham Crackers:
Mix flour, graham flour, sugar, and butter, then bake.
49. Tahini:
Blend sesame seeds with oil until smooth.
50. Rice Milk:
Blend rice with water and strain.
51. Lime Cordial:
Simmer lime juice, zest, sugar, and water until syrupy.
52. Corn Tortillas:
Mix masa harina with water, press into tortillas, and cook on a griddle.
53. Mushroom Stock:
Simmer mushrooms, onions, garlic, herbs, and water, then strain.
54. Caramel Sauce:
Cook sugar and butter until caramelized, then add cream and salt.
55. Pasta Sauce:
Cook down tomatoes with onions, garlic, herbs, and olive oil.
56. Cashew Cheese:
Blend soaked cashews with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and salt.
57. Chili Paste:
Blend chili peppers, garlic, oil, and salt.
58. Pear Butter:
Cook pears with sugar and spices until thickened.
59. Chia Seed Jam:
Mix chia seeds with mashed fruit and let it sit until thickened.
60. Marshmallows:
Bloom gelatin, cook sugar syrup, whip, and set.
61. Pepper Jelly:
Simmer peppers, sugar, vinegar, and pectin until thickened.
62. Herb-infused Oil:
Warm oil with herbs and let it infuse for several hours.
63. Nutella:
Roast hazelnuts, blend with cocoa powder, sugar, and oil.
64. Rye Bread:
Combine rye flour, water, yeast, and salt, then bake.
65. Cottage Cheese:
Heat milk, add vinegar or lemon juice, strain the curds, and season.
66. Cinnamon Rolls:
Make a dough with flour, yeast, sugar, and cinnamon, roll it out, fill, roll, cut, proof, and bake.
67. Oat Milk:
Blend soaked oats with water and strain.
68. Hamburger Buns:
Make a dough with flour, yeast, sugar, and butter, shape it into buns, proof, and bake.
69. Lavender Syrup:
Simmer lavender, sugar, and water until fragrant.
70. Mulled Wine:
Heat wine with spices, citrus, and sweetener.
71. Ginger Beer:
Ferment ginger, sugar, water, and yeast for a few days.
72. Cranberry Sauce:
Simmer cranberries, sugar, and water until thickened.
73. Apple Butter:
Cook apples with sugar and spices until thickened.
74. Horseradish Sauce:
Blend horseradish root, vinegar, and a touch of sugar.
75. Sesame Oil:
Toast sesame seeds, then blend with oil until smooth.
Conclusion on Kitchen Ingredients you can make from scratch
Creating these ingredients from scratch can be rewarding, but it’s important to consider the time and effort involved. However, when the need to save money and cut down household expenses arises then you must do whatever it takes. Just keep in mind that there are over 75 kitchen ingredients you can make from scratch with things you have already bought.
