7 Cheap Ingredients for Flavorful Food

Rachel Been, AOLA popular mantra amongst chefs is "fat is flavor." And while this is absolutely true-mmm, buttery shortbread cookies, juicy steak-you can also infuse your food with flavor by experimenting with the healthy and affordable ingredients below, whether you're cooking at home or improving a meal from your favorite takeout joint.

1. Acid

Think vinegars and citrus. Adding a splash of lemon right before serving chicken soup, for example, sharpens its existing flavors. And there's really no need to buy bottled salad dressing when you can combine a little lemon or vinegar with oil. To get the most for your money, pick versatile vinegar like sherry or rice--both can stand in for other vinegars in countless recipes.

2. Aromatics

Ever been seduced by the aroma wafting from an Italian restaurant or French bistro? Blame aromatics. Aromatics get their name from the delicious scent they release when heated in a pan with oil or butter. They infuse everything they're cooked with, creating a foundation of flavor. Common aromatics include onions, garlic, shallots and vegetables like carrots and celery. The ingredients you use really depend on the type of cuisines you like to cook or what you have to work with at home.

3. Booze

It's unbelievable how much depth of flavor one cup of wine or one shot of brandy will add to a sauce. But beware of cooking wines--they tend to be unpalatable because they're loaded with salt, and they're overpriced. A cheap vintage from the bottom shelf of your local wine shop will do. Have extra wine left over from a dinner party? Freeze the remaining amount in ice cube trays. You can plop the cubes right into your next sauce.

4. Fresh herbs

Shell out $4 for a container of dried cilantro, and you may as well have spent that money on an empty jar. Fresh herbs, on the other hand, impart a crisp, often bold flavor to your food that is impossible to replicate. They cost just $1-$2 dollars a bunch.

5. Heat

There are a myriad of hot sauces to try, from trusty Tabasco to international favorites like Sriracha and El Yucateco. Fresh chili peppers are also a good option. (If you want even more heat, leave the seeds in.) And chipotle peppers, which are just smoked jalapeños, lend a special, smoky flavor to foods.

6. Spices

Many stores freshly grind spices and will let you buy them by the ounce--perfect if you're interested in trying a new spice or if a recipe calls for one that doesn't already live in your pantry.

7. Stock

If you like to cook, consider making your own stock. A chicken stock, for instance, is simply leftover roast chicken parts simmered for hours with water and some vegetables--you're essentially making something from nothing.