Five dinners from pantry staples

A few staples let you cook dinner on a day when the fridge is nearly empty.

Stock these basics

Rice, pasta, canned beans or chickpeas, canned tomatoes, lentils, oats, eggs, onions, garlic, frozen vegetables, and a few spices.

Five easy ideas

1. Bean and rice bowls: warm canned beans with spices, serve over rice with any vegetables.
2. Pasta with tomato sauce: simmer canned tomatoes with garlic and onion, add frozen peas or spinach.
3. Egg fried rice: scramble eggs, add cooked rice and frozen vegetables, season with soy sauce.
4. Lentil soup: simmer lentils with onion, garlic, carrot and stock until soft.
5. Chickpea wraps: mash chickpeas with a little yogurt or oil, add chopped vegetables, roll in flatbread.

Make them yours

Swap ingredients to match what you have and what your family likes. Add a squeeze of lemon, chili or fresh herbs if you have them.