What do you always have on hand? Why?
I’d count refrigerated items as pantry staples if they keep for longer than a couple weeks.
One recent addition to my pantry has been dried chillies - great base for red chile sauce for enchiladas. Those plus maseca and some beans (also both staples) and I have a base for amazing enchiladas or tacos or whatever.
Some items I have right now that maybe aren’t in every pantry.
Dried fruit (pineapples, mango, nectarines + the more typical raisins) chopped up for salads or as toppings on oatmeal or whatever.
Bulgar wheat and pearl barley that I mostly use as a base for grain salads but also as a replacement for rice just to mix things up.
Corn meal, use this for polenta but also as a non stick coating for bread or pizza dough.
Like to always have a can of coconut milk on hand for soups or whatever comes up.
Powdered milk, fresh always goes bad before I use it so I keep this for baking or making cream sauces.
Outside of the typical spices (in US) I keep mesquite powder and pure msg.
Edit: Tahini & canned chickpeas. Hummus is easy with these on hand and I can also use Tahini to make other dressings. I use chickpeas to bulk out pasta dishes or to make chickpea salad (sandwich filling). I also make homemade mayo with the bean water.
+1 MSG.