Essential Food

The Essential Ingredient is all about food, so if you're looking for the best ingredients or the rarest spices, you know you've come to the right place. Here's a sneak peek at some of our most popular new foods, just make sure you come in to the store to see our full range for yourself!

Fossier Biscuits Roses de Reims

These pink biscuits have been one of the gourmet emblems of Reims, along with champagne, since the 17th century. When a local baker had the idea of cooking his biscuits twice, taking advantage of the heat in the bread oven after the last batch of loaves, he created a biscuit with a totally unique texture. This texture allows Roses de Reims to absorb close to their own volume of liquid, and thus Fossier Pink Biscuits De Reims are traditionally eaten after being dipped in champagne.

These delicious treats are great for any party, especially where champagne is being served. They also make great gifts as they are decadently indulgent and very hard to find outside of France. Available exclusively at The Essential Ingredient.

$12.50 for 185g

Salt Miners

Salt Miners of Tasmania make some very delicious pastes. They're packed full of flavour and come in three popular styles: Tagine, Moroccan Orange and Peri Peri. They're all quite versatile and can be used as a marinade or a sauce base. Try a beef tagine with green olives or a Moroccan seafood tagine. Peri Peri chicken with smoked rice, preserved lemon and tomato coriander salad would also be lovely. There's no need to add to these pastes as they're already perfect. Available exclusively at our Sydney store.

$11.50 for 285g jar

Kick Ice Cocktails

With summer steadily approaching these all natural pre-made cocktails are going to save a lot of time and fuss in the kitchen. Made locally in Australia, you'd be hard pressed to find a better pre-made cocktail anywhere (we've tried!). Currently available in three delicious flavours: strawberry daiquiri, lime margarita or pineapple pina colada.

Each bag makes 10 drinks and preparation couldn't be simpler: add water and alcohol to one of these 1.7L bags, shake it up and throw it in the freezer. That's it! Make it in advance and one of these would be perfect for a picnic. Just add some nibbles and make sure your friends are ready to chill out.

$17.95 for 340g bag (makes 1.7L)

Paella rice, Piquillo Peppers and Sweet Paprika

Spanish flavours are more popular than ever. Spanish food is easy, colourful and impressive, and we have fabulous new Spanish goodies to make it easy for you. Pop into our book section and you will find lots of inspirational reading!

Using the fat white grains of Cebolla Spanish rice is sure to make the next Paella or rice dish you cook the best yet. Whilst you're visiting pick up some Carretilla Piquillo peppers. Use these plump roasted peppers for tortillas, paella, tapas dishes and to wrap around some caper berries to have with a drink. We've also added La Odalisca paprika to our already impressive selection of paprikas. This sweet vibrantly red/orange powder has a fresh fruity zip that is going to be a pantry staple.

Saffron Extract

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Used the world over from Spain to France, Italy and in India. Most of the flavour of saffron can be extracted by soaking; however, some of the remaining pungent flavours are only released by alcohol. Saffron quickly stales and dries out; this is where a saffron extract can be useful. The saffron is suspended in spring water and alcohol, helping to bring out the flavours and to preserve it. A 50ml bottle will be plenty for several uses. Try using it in our simple recipe for Baked Saffron Rice with Date Syrup and Apples.

$14.50 for 50ml