Grocery Shopping Without a List
Why Recipes are holding you back from learning how to cook
Instead of shopping just for recipes, we recommend buying meal building blocks to cook meals with and reduce leftover ingredients:
Meal Building Blocks
Protein (Choose 1-2)
Our favorite options:
- Chicken Breast / Thighs
- Ground Meat (Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Plant-based, etc.)
- Steak or Chops (Beef, Pork, Lamb)
- Braising Cuts (Pork Butt or Shoulder, Beef Chuck Roast, Short Ribs, etc)
- Beans / Tofu
- Eggs
Vegetables (Choose 2-3)
Our favorite options:
- Carrots
- Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes
- Broccoli / Broccolini / Bok Choy
- Zucchini or Squash
- Peas (Frozen)
- Bell Peppers or Poblanos
Starch Bases (Choose 2-3)
Our favorite options:
- Rice
- Pasta or Noodles
- Tortillas / Wraps
- Bread
- Tostadas or Chips
- Lettuce / Salad / Leafy Greens
- Extra Vegetables for Roasting
Meal Flavor Adjusters
Description: Once you have the meal building blocks, these will help you season the meals and create variety as you cook.
Sauces & Spreads (Choose 1-2)
Our favorite options:
- Mayo
- Greek Yogurt or Sour Cream
- Harissa Paste / Gochujang / Chili Crisp
- Chipotles in Adobo / Hot Sauce / Sriracha
- Tomato Paste
- Hummus
- Salad Dressing
- Soy Sauce / Fish Sauce / Oyster Sauce / Maggi Seasoning
Aromatic Base or Garnish Upgrades (Choose 1-2)
Our favorite options:
- Onions / Garlic
- Herbs
- Chiles / Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Lettuce
Sour/Pickled (Choose 1)
Our favorite options:
- Pickled Onions
- Dill Pickles
- Pickled Beets
- Pickled Banana Peppers (Pepperoncini)
- A Squeeze of Citrus
Need Spices? (Choose 1-3)
Ethan’s most used spices
- Cumin
- Smoked Paprika
- Oregano
- Garlic Powder
- Za’atar
- Red Pepper Flake
If you want to learn more about buying, storing, and a longer list check out our spice guide below.
Other Cooking Essentials
- Kosher or Sea Salt
- Cooking oil of choice
Resources
To help you cook through the ingredients you bought at the store, use these collections & video guides:
Collections by Ingredients
Collections by Recipe Type
Lifestyle Protocol Videos
Turning One Chicken Breast into Infinite Healthy Meals
How to cook Healthy Meals and never run out of ideas
The Sunday Braise Protocol
Why I Cook Meat Straight from the Freezer (& why you should too)
Why I cook with frozen vegetables (& you should too)
Making a week's worth of meals w/ grilled chicken
Technique & Ingredient Videos
6 Braising Mistakes Most Beginners Make
Perfect Chicken Breast at home (According to Food Science)
Steak Cooking Masterclass
Restaurant Quality Vegetables at Home
Why are Deli Subs better than homemade ones?
Satisfying Salad Masterclass
Free Spice Guide
Join The Mouthful Newsletter to receive our essential spices list pdf.
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