'This $1 pantry staple became my saving grace this year'
If I had to give an award to the pantry staple I relied on the most this year, there is one very clear winner.
The $1 ingredient has been a saving grace for me more times than I can count this year and prevented a number of last-minute takeout orders.
As someone who seems to be allergic to meal-planning, it sits at a prime position in my pantry, waiting for the next time I inevitably become overwhelmed trying to decide what to make for dinner while my stomach is already doing backflips in hunger.
A $1 pantry staple has become a saving grace for me this year. Getty
Now, other years the award would have gone, without question, to the humble and oh-so-reliable dried pasta.
But, while I will always have a soft spot for the delicious Italian carb, a new winner has claimed the podium for 2025.
Enter: canned beans. My new dinnertime obsession.
Now, before you roll your eyes, let me tell you I'm definitely NOT trying to make canned beans cool. But that's simply because they've already done that for themselves.
Chefs and food creators have been singing their praises for years and there's an entire section of TikTok dedicated to the unassuming legumes.
Beantok is filled with bean-centric recipes to make at home that are not just delicious, but easy to make and affordable.
Where a meal of steak and veggies or a spaghetti bolognese could set you back upwards of $20 for the ingredients, you can put together a simple but delicious vegetarian bean meal that is cheaper than your takeaway cappuccino.
My personal favourite is a butter bean curry by Instagram and TikTok creator @carolefood. It's easy to make with just a handful of ingredients and is mouthwateringly good.
This butter bean curry by @carolefood is to die for. Supplied/ Gabrielle Oehlmann
The bean curry has entered my rotation of trusty quick weeknight dinners but it's not alone.
If you were to scroll through the Instagram and TikTok recipes I have saved in my phone, you will notice that the majority of them are bean recipes.
Other honourable mentions include a Mexican white bean chilli from @emthenutritionist, a coconut chickpea curry from @jessicainthekitchen and @carolefood's Marry Me Beans.
This Mexican white bean chilli by @emthenutritionist is also brilliant. Instagram/ @emthenutritionist
Each of these bean recipes and more have entered my weekly meal rotation and they've saved me money, time and hassle.
As we enter the new year, I'll be keep my pantry stocked with the versatile legumes and maybe, just maybe, they will top the podium this time next year too.
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