Best Used Spices In Cooking!

Garlic!

Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning (the best, i even put it on eggs!)
Garlic powder
Lemon Pepper
Fresh lime juice
Cilantro
Cocoa/Chile powder blend (amazing on steaks)
light italian dressing
cinnamon
cayenne pepper (great on pasta and acts as a major thermogenic you'll sweat just sitting there!)


that's pretty much my go-to.

Crushed red pepper, chilpotle, pepper, lemon pepper (see a trend?), paprika, cumin, parsley(fresh is better but dried will do), cilantro(fresh is better but dried will do), cinnamon, nutmeg (delicious on greens), garlic powder, onion powder. These are my mainstays.

It's also nice to have chervil, dill weed, garam masala, chinese 5 spice, herbes de provence, marjoram (fresh is better but dried will do), rosemary (fresh is better but dried will do), and thyme (fresh is better but dried will do).

basil, thyme, oregano, curry, 5 spice powder, dill, pepper, garlic.. that's a start, use your imagination, have some salt but really watch those mixes with lots of sodium.

Avoid the sauces as they can have lots of sugars too. Tobasco is great if you want heat. Pepper flakes and other dried or fresh peppers are awesome. Feta cheese can be a great way to add flavor also.

Fresh celery is always a great way to add flavor to a salad.

My family have taught me almost every Indian and Arabic spice there is and there are 2 spices that stand out in terms of their versatile use

Summac (Arabic spice). This has a bit of a tangy taste. This is THE spice to use to replace for many sauces. Use it in salads (look up a recipe for Fatoosh salad). I also use it on top of burgers right before I take them off the grill. Same for steaks and most bbq meats.

Chaat Masala (Indian spice). This also is a bit of a tangy taste but this spice is a whole different thing. I use this on really hearty soups or on top of a chick peas salad. I use it on top of a fruit salad. chop up 1 banana, 1 apple, 1 orange and put some of this stuff on it. You will want to make your fruit salad your main meal!

There are a bunch of other spices that I consider essential for my cooking but in general, I consider these 2 great for versatility and how they can be standalone spices compared to most other spices which compliment other spices and rarely are standalone spices


Edit: OP, if you provide us with what kind of cuisine you like to eat or what type of cuisine is your primary cooking, then I think it'll be easier to point out. I cook Arabic, Indian, Afghani, Pakistani, Italian cuisines so my list of spices is completely different than somebody who likes European or Chinese cuisines

I love celery salt

I would also add non-spices such as minced garlic, capers, roasted peppers, chilli sauce, and olives.

As for spices, I love sea salt, Cajun seasoning, roasted pepper seasoning, and Italian seasoning. Specific spices like cumin, Rosemary, thyme, basil, curry, garlic powder, and lemon pepper seasonings all are great additions to your kitchen.

Happy shopping!

Bay leaves.
Cloves.

smoked paprika is the BEST. *superlatives*

Cinnamon, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, chili powder, cinnamon, basil, sage, ginger,bay leaf, oregano, pepper, parsley, garlic, lemon pepper and sage...salt too.

its all about THYME! also i love mrs dash table blend, so yummy

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

bump