Learn how to work with a range of spices and your cooking will be transformed. Each spice complements different flavor combinations and creates new taste explosions. To get you started on the right track, here are some common spices for you to start with.
Turmeric
You can use this root fresh, ground, or crushed. It combines well with meat and fish dishes, rice, beans, lentils, and root vegetables. It’s particularly useful as a paste for making curries and stews.
Allspice
Allspice is often used to make pickle dishes such as chutneys, pickled fish, mulled wine, or beer. It combines well with other probiotic foods like cabbage, onions, and root vegetables.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. For best results, grate fresh nutmeg onto the food. It is often used in milk puddings and sweet pies, but it is also good in stews, casseroles, and meat dishes.
Sumac
This spice is a little like salt. It doesn’t have much flavor of its own, but it really helps bring out the flavors in other foods. In this way, it’s actually more of a seasoning.
Saffron
Saffron is often used in Mediterranean seafood dishes, but it is also great with chicken, game meats, eggs, and asparagus.
