24 February 2025

How to Start Gathering Ingredients as a Beginner Cook

24 February 2025

Photo by ready made: https://www.pexels.com/photo/clear-glass-jars-on-table-3847411/

In psychology, there is a theory called Cognitive-Behavioral Theory, which basically means that thoughts influence actions. To keep it simple, this theory outlines a five-step progression from thought to action:

👉 1. Thoughts → 2. Beliefs → 3. Convictions → 4. Identity → 5. Actions

It goes something like this:

Thought: “I can’t keep eating out or ordering takeout—it’s unhealthy, and my wallet keeps losing weight. I need to be able to lean on myself and take control over how and what I eat.”
Belief: “Cooking is a healthier option, helps me save money, gives me control, and helps me rely on myself.”
Conviction: “I am capable of learning to cook and creating a healthier, more self-sufficient lifestyle. I deserve to take care of my body and finances.”
Identity: “I am someone who is going to learn to cook and make choices that improve my well-being and finances“
Action: Learn to start cooking.

So, with that process in action, you strut to your pantry, open your storage, and—bam—you see just a few basic ingredients. Suddenly, you start thinking:

“Do I have to go out and buy a whole bunch of ingredients now?”

*Cue overwhelm mode*

Next thing you know, you’re tap-tapping on your phone and ordering on takeout your local food delivery app. And just like that, your brain scraps Attempt #2154521 at cooking into the trash.

I get it—I was there. In fact, I fell into the same trap in the beginning as well. Now, do you need a pantry full of herbs, spices, and a ton of ingredients to start cooking?

Short answer: No.
Long answer: Yes, but not all at once.

If you’re fine with simple meals that don’t take much time and ar simple, you can make do with the bare essentials and still eat decent food. But if you’re in this for the long game, you will need more ingredients eventually. Does that mean you should run to the supermarket and start dropping coins on every spice, herb or ingredients you can think of?

Do not do that. I did that. I regretted it. The best way to start cooking is to first get familiar with it. And that begins with the basics. But how do you do that if you don’t even know how to cook yet? Well, you can read about it on the next post. But in this post, we’re going to explore the question: how do you start gathering ingredients as a beginner cook?

Start with the

Almost every pantry has either most or some of the ingredients below:

✅ Salt & black pepper – The foundation of almost every dish.
✅ Sugar – For baking, sweetening, or balancing flavors in savory dishes.
✅ Paprika – Adds color, depth, and smokiness to food.
✅ Ground cinnamon & nutmeg – Perfect for both sweet and savory dishes.
✅ Ground ginger – Great for seasoning meats, stir-fries, and even drinks.
✅ Onion & garlic (fresh or powdered) – Absolute must-haves for building flavor.

These ingredients are a great starting point for multiple reasons:

They force you to get creative—you’ll learn how to build flavors with what you have instead of relying on tons of ingredients.
They help you build confidence—starting simple lets you find you build on understanding and helps you to have more grip when cooking instead of being overwhelmed

Buy ingredients as

Instead of buying a massive grocery list of spices and pantry items all at once, buy things gradually based on the recipes you’re making.

Example:
You find a recipe that calls for cumin and oregano, but you don’t have them. NOW it’s time to buy them. Soon, you’ll be staring at your own personalized spice/pantry collection.

A recipe calls for a special type of rice, but you already have another kind at home? Try researching how to use your rice in the recipe. If you love the recipe and can see yourself making it again, then it’s time to invest in the rice the recipe originally called for.

This helps you get creative while learning how to cook and also allows you to test out a recipe before committing to new ingredients.

This way, you’re only buying what you actually use.

Choose

Some spices, herbs,or pantry staples pull double (or triple) duty across different cuisines. These are a couple of MVPs that can be worth considering to stock your kitchen with:

✏️ Cumin – Used in Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Indian cooking.
✏️ Oregano – A lot of usage in Italian and Mediterranean recipes.
✏️ Soy sauce – A staple in Asian-inspired recipes.
✏️ Rice & pasta – Versatile, easy to cook, and pairs with everything.
✏️ Canned tomatoes – A base for soups, stews, and pasta sauces.
✏️ Beans & lentils – Packed with protein and fiber, great for soups, salads, or as a meat substitute.
✏️ Canned tuna – A quick and easy protein option for salads, sandwiches, or pasta dishes.
✏️ Potatoes (different varieties) – Versatile, hearty, and great for baking, steaming, mashing, or frying.

Don't forget

While spices and herbs elevate the flavor profile, fresh ingredients also play a key role. Try to keep a few essentials on hand:

⚡ Lemons, lime, or vinegar – Adds acidity and brightness.
⚡ Fresh herbs (like cilantro, parsley, or basil) – Elevates flavor.
⚡ Ginger – A powerhouse of flavor, adding warmth and a hint of heat to stir-fries, marinades, and soups.
⚡ Garlic – A fundamental ingredient in countless recipes, bringing depth, aroma, and umami to recipes.
⚡ Onion (different varieties) – Forms the base of many recipes, providing natural sweetness, umami, and depth, especially when sautéed or caramelized.

Shop smart &

💡 Start small – Buy spices and dried herbs in small containers until you’re sure you’ll use them a lot, especially spices that aren’t as versatile.

💡 Go for store-brand items – They’re ALOT cheaper and often just as good.

💡 Use what you have first – Before buying more, get creative and comfortable with using what’s in your pantry first.

Sometimes it's

I see a lot of misconceptions about how food won’t taste good unless it’s spiced enough. Sure, to a certain extent, that applies, but not always.

A steak seared in garlic rosemary butter with salt and pepper has so much flavor. Likewise, pan-fried vegetables with a little butter, oil, and salt taste incredibly good.

There are so many simple flavors, paired with fresh meat or produce, that can compete with even the most well-spiced recipes. So, focus on that when you first start cooking.

Social

If your IG, TikTok, or YouTube algorithm has you deep in “aesthetic pantry-core” content, you’ve probably seen those perfectly stocked, aesthetically labeled spice racks and incredibly full fridge/pantry restocks.

And yeah, they look amazing—and expensive.

You don’t need all that to start cooking, at least not yet.

What matters is learning how to cook first and using what you have to the best of its potential.

Building a solid pantry takes time. Don’t rush it. Buy what you need, focus on versatile and fresh ingredients, shop smart and focus on building your cooking skill.

The more you cook, the more you’ll understand what you actually need or want in your kitchen and the less waste you’ll have.

I’ll be sharing more posts soon, diving deeper into beginner-friendly cooking tips—stay tuned!