Food baskets can be so much more than a collection of random jars, tins and crisps. That’s why I came up with these DIY food baskets which are filled with kitchen tools and fresh ingredients. They allow your loved ones to start cooking right away. Each basket contains everything that is needed to make one specific dish, from the tools to the fresh ingredients.
I care about how a basket looks. It should not be one that ends up in the back of your wardrobe. The basket should also be useful afterwards. I found a few beautiful options that could work well for fruit, magazines or everyday household items.
1. Pasta From Scratch Basket
This one is for the pasta lovers who enjoy spending a quiet afternoon making something by hand. Fresh pasta feels like edible art, and it is more fun to make than you might expect. The pasta machine I used here is similar to the one I use at home. If you want a bit of guidance, you can watch my pasta recipe and my video about how to use a pasta machine.
Products used in this hamper
- Scalloped Basket, Zara Home.
- Pasta machine. Unbranded, Amazon
- Olive Oil. Carapelli Olive Oil.
- Eggs. Available at your nearest grocery store.
- Pasta wheel for ravioli, farfalle and caramelle. Mine is from Italy, but you can get similar ones at Amazon.
2. Homemade Kimchi Basket
If you love kimchi as much as I do, you know it can get pricey when you buy it often. To make it yourself is much easier than you might think. All you need is a jar, napa cabbage, gochugaru and a solid recipe. I gifted this kimchi recipe book to a friend and it has some great recipes in it.
Products I used
- Contrast Seagrass Basket, Zara Home.
- Kimchi book. The Pocket Kimchi.
- Gochugaru. Available at your local Asian store
- Squid Fish Sauce. Available at your local Asian store
- Fresh produce. Available at your nearest grocery store.
3. Homemade Tacos Basket
Homemade tortillas taste so much better than the store bought ones, and they are easy peasy to make. That’s why I created this taco basket with a tortilla press and tortilla flour included. In my video you can see how simple it is to use one. You almost can’t mess it up. I also recommend adding a few hot sauces with different heat levels to add as a topping!
What I used
- MÄVINN Basket, IKEA.
- Tortilla press, mine is from Mexico, Amazon sells similar ones.
- Tortilla flour, Naturello. Available on Amazon.
- Hot sauces, usually available in larger grocery stores.
4. New to Cooking Starter Basket
This basket is perfect for anyone who says they can’t cook, who is new to cooking, or for someone who wants to level up their basic pasta pesto routine. The products are premium and are turning this simple dish into something delish!
Here is my quick method for the best pasta pesto:
Boil water and salt it well once it starts boiling. The salt level should be similar to the Mediterranean Sea. Add the pasta (80-90 grams or 2.9-3.2oz per person) and cook it one minute less than the package time. For example, Rummo Mezzi Rigatoni N° 51 says 14 minutes, so cook it for 13 minutes. After the pasta has cooked for about 8 minutes, warm (2 tbsp per person) of pesto up in a frying pan over medium high heat. When the pasta is ready, scoop out some (60 ml or 1/4 cup per person) of pasta water and mix that into the pesto. Drain the pasta, switch the heat to high and mix everything together in the pan for 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
What I used
- Basket, Ikea Colander
- Microplane Grater.
- Pasta: Rummo Mezzi Rigatoni N° 51
- Salt: Maldon
- Pesto: Barilla
5. Limoncello Spritz Basket
If someone loves a little taste of Italy at home, this is the basket to choose. A Limoncello Spritz is made with limoncello and prosecco and is best served cold over ice. It taste like a holiday in a glass.
What I used
- Limoncello, Villa Massa. Available at the liquor store.
- Sparkling water. San Pellegrino. Available at your nearest grocery store.
- Prosecco, I used Giordano. You can use any good brand you like. Available at your liquor store.
- Lemons & Mint. Available at your nearest grocery store.
- Ice Cubes! But keep these in the freezer 🙂
Packaging Tips
For the filling use wood wool, shredded cardboard or old newspapers. Add it before placing the items in the basket and pull it a bit apart with your hands so it fills up the space. This keeps everything in place and gives your basket a more layered look.
Fresh Ingredients
Buy the baskets, tools and all non fresh items early so you can prepare without stress. I recommend to pick up the fresh ingredients just a few days before you are planning to gift the basket, so everything is at its best.
If you need more inspiration, you can have a look at my holiday gift guide of last year where I shared ideas under 15 euros, under 30 euros, under 50 euros and above 50 euros. I still stand behind every product I recommended in this blogpost!
Happy gifting!
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