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As we begin to scrape the bottoms of our pantries for inspiration, I wanted to introduce y’all to some pantry staples I keep on hand to help a dish that feels lacking. All of these ingredients are easy to store, keep forever and they all happen to have something in common—the word, umami! You may have heard this word floating around and there’s good reason. Umami is known as the fifth sense (the other four being salty, sweet, sour and bitter), and although it’s hard to define, you know it when you taste it. It’s the meaty flavor your taste buds pick up on when eating a mushroom, or that indescribable bliss that comes from mounds of grated Parmesan cheese. These foods both contain glutamates, which your tongue picks up on in the form of deeply savory tastes. My favorites include Vegemite or Marmite (the sticky, brown Aussie/Brit condiment), miso (a fermented soybean paste), anchovies, sun-dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese. So I’ve gathered together five easy recipes that include these scrumptious staples in the hopes that they too will become pantry must-haves for you.
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