Best Used Spices In Cooking!

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  • brwneyedirish813
    brwneyedirish813 Posts: 67 Member
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    Thank you so much everyone. Im going to stock up!! :D:D they all sound amazing!
  • ladytinkerbell99
    ladytinkerbell99 Posts: 970 Member
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    Garlic!

    Totally agree with this!
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
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    Cinnamon, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, chili powder, cinnamon, basil, sage, ginger,bay leaf, oregano, pepper, parsley, garlic, lemon pepper and sage...salt too.
  • kuregisto
    kuregisto Posts: 124 Member
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    Garlic - I use it in easily half (probably a lot more than that) of every dish that I cook.
    Basil
    Black pepper - kinda basic, but it really does make such a huge taste difference. I've drastically cut my salt usage down as my pepper usage has increased.
    Onion

    And above all else, my personal kitchen wouldn't be complete without cayenne pepper. Seriously, I love this stuff. I tried to set my Facebook relationship status as "In a relationship with Cayenne Pepper" ... but it wouldn't let me.
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
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    its all about THYME! also i love mrs dash table blend, so yummy
  • tammyc226
    tammyc226 Posts: 158 Member
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    agree with everything said here. would also give a shout out to 2 favs: mint & ginger. Freshly grated ginger in chicken soup and Mint with lamb roast immediately come to mind. Really anything listed in this thread are going to make your meals much tastier
  • camila_scl
    camila_scl Posts: 238 Member
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    the ones I used most people have already said, garlic (not the powder, buy the real ones, much better) and pepper.

    Tabasco also, is great, one drop and it gives a nice spicy flavour
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
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    Depends on what ya cooking. Since I've been with my hubby, I never use just salt and pepper cooking, anymore. He introduced me to a spice rack. McCormick perfect pinch blends are just awesome, but Garlic goes in everything. For the best fries ever, after you cut up the potatoes, toss the fries in a bowl with some olive oil, paprika, onion powder, and garlic. Then bake them, it's oh so delicious!
  • bunny1006
    bunny1006 Posts: 325 Member
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    bump
  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
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    Old Bay Seasoning too for seafood!
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,887 Member
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    And above all else, my personal kitchen wouldn't be complete without cayenne pepper. Seriously, I love this stuff. I tried to set my Facebook relationship status as "In a relationship with Cayenne Pepper" ... but it wouldn't let me.
    It wouldn't let you because Cayenne Pepper is ALREADY in a relationship with ME.


    Oh, and I also use a TON of chili powder and quite a bit of garlic and cinnamon (but not those last two together - ewww).
  • Allie_71
    Allie_71 Posts: 1,063 Member
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    I taught cooking classes for a few years and for a starting pantry, I'd always suggest, as far as dry spices:

    Soups - dried oregano, tarragon, thyme

    Stuffings/dressings - sage, celery seed, poultry seasoning

    Chili - cayenne, chili powder, cumin

    Indian - cardamon, turmeric, good curry powder, cinnamon.

    And for every day use - dried garlic powder(not garlic salt) dried onion powder, good (not stale) black peppercorns, kosher or sea salt.

    Hope this helps :)
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,554 Member
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    The spices I use most often would be:
    - smoked paprika (it adds a lot of flavour and richness, and it a great addition if you like things like chorizo, as it gives some of that flavour with a whole lot less cals)
    - Ground cumin
    - Ground coriander
    - Ground cinnamon (for savoury as well as sweet things)

    And one that I don't use so often (it's expensive!) but that is fantastic, is saffron. I made a chicken and apricot tagine recently and the saffron adds so much sweetness and flavour and aroma, it's magic.

    A few things that aren't spices but that add soooo much flavour: lemon zest, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, coriander, parsley.
  • mrs_deg1983
    mrs_deg1983 Posts: 157
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    I love anything Garlic.
  • Lainnee
    Lainnee Posts: 61 Member
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    Great thread...saving!
  • _hi_hat3r_
    _hi_hat3r_ Posts: 423 Member
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    mrs dash
  • kitinboots
    kitinboots Posts: 589 Member
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    My mum sent me a Harissa spice mix grinder over a year ago. I use it on everything (I recommend it on popcorn) and as it has such a strong and spicy flavour I only need a bit and the jar is still almost full over a year later!
  • Laura_beau
    Laura_beau Posts: 1,029 Member
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    It really depends on the dish/cuisine you are cooking. I adore cooking, and always have plenty of herbs/spices and seasonings. It's best to invest in several different cook books which explain the culture/cuisine and how to cook with the spices. Here are a few ideas:

    Greek Cuisine (souvlaki skewers, beef stifado, greek salad, meatballs etc)
    Oregano
    Mint
    Dill
    Lemon juice
    olive oil
    cinnamon
    Garlic

    Indian Cuisine (Curries, Daals, biryanis) Btw this is a short list- there are thousands of herbs/spices used in Indian cookery this is just a list of the most popular/common.
    Chilli
    Ginger
    Garlic
    Coriander seed/Ground coriander
    Fresh coriander (Cilantro)
    Lime juice
    Cumin seed/ground cumin
    Mustard seed
    garam masala
    turmeric
    cardamom pods/seeds
    fenugreek/methi

    Thai/Vietnamese cuisine- (Thai curries, soups, salads)
    Garlic
    Chilli
    Ginger
    lime juice
    lemongrass
    mint
    basil
    coriander/cilantro
    fish sauce
    shrimp paste
    tamarind
    palm sugar

    Spanish (Paellas, stews, tapas)
    Garlic
    Parsley
    Smoked paprika (Pimenton)
    unsmoked paprka
    Saffron
    lemon juice
    ground almonds

    Italian (Pasta dishes, meat/fish stews/ salads/ pizzas)
    Garlic
    Basil
    Chilli
    olive oil
    oregano
    parmesan
    mint
    lemon juice
    sundried tomatoes

    English (the widest used UK products in my cupboard)
    Stock cubes (Veg, beef, chicken, fish, ham, pork)
    Salt & pepper
    worcestershire sauce
    tomato puree
    parsley
    sage
    Chives
    rosemary
    thyme
    Mustard
    Ketchup!

    French:
    Garlic
    wine
    tarragon
    parsley
    mustard
    pepper
    saffron

    Moroccan: (Tagines, cous cous, meze)
    Garlic
    Preserved lemons
    lemon juice
    parsley
    cinnamon
    cumin
    ground coriander
    rosewater
    chilli
    mint
    coriander (Cilantro)

    Mexican: (Taco's, chilli's, burrito's, stews etc)
    Chillis (Loooads of varieties of fresh & dried)
    Cayenne pepper
    cinnamon
    Thyme
    saffron
    orgeano
    garlic
    lime
    coriander (cilantro)
    cumin
    paprika
    cocoa/chocolate

    Carribean (Curries, jerk meat, stews/soups)
    Chilli (Especially scotch bonnet)
    ginger
    Pepper
    lemon
    lime
    thyme
    allspice
    nutmeg
    cloves
  • Laura_beau
    Laura_beau Posts: 1,029 Member
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    Bump
  • TGKvr
    TGKvr Posts: 123 Member
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    Absolute must-haves in my kitchen or I'll go into convulsions:

    Garlic powder, sea salt, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, cayenne pepper, ground mustard, onion powder, basil, oregano, allspice, thyme, paprika, white pepper, marjoram, rosemary, parsley...

    I have a thousand more (one of my food cabinets is nothing but spices, oils, and vinegars), but I'd say those are my go-to staples.

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