Herbs, spices and other seasonings are a natural and healthy
way to add a lot of flavor to your recipes without adding a lot of extra
calories. With a little practice, you can create an endless variety of
delicious recipes, such as Mediterranean-inspired favorites bursting with the
fresh flavors of lemon, garlic and rosemary and spicy Mexican dishes featuring
cilantro, cumin and chili powder.
Of course, your options won’t end there. A wide range of
herbs, spices and seasonings are used throughout the world to make food taste
better, and in some cases, last longer. Over time, certain flavors have come to
represent the culinary identity of the areas where they originated. In large
part, the seasonings you choose will define the direction of your own culinary
development, as well.
With a little creativity, you can put a fresh spin on some
of your favorite tried-and-true recipes by simply swapping out the herbs,
spices and seasonings you use. For example, if you add fresh or dried basil or
oregano to diced tomatoes, chopped onion and finely minced garlic, you have the
makings of a wonderful red Italian pasta sauce. On the other hand, if you
replace the basil and oregano with cilantro and lime juice, those same
ingredients become the foundation for a fabulous homemade salsa recipe.
To help inspire you, the following chart shows some of the
most popular culinary ingredients based on geographic region.
Cuisine
|
Popular Herbs,
Spices & Seasonings
|
Italian
|
basil, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, parsley
|
French
|
thyme, French tarragon, rosemary, basil, sage, mint,
marjoram
|
Greek
|
dill, lemon, oregano, fennel
|
Spanish
|
saffron, smoked and regular paprika, rosemary, thyme
|
German
|
mustard, rye, caraway seeds, borage
|
Mexican
|
cilantro, chili powder, cumin, Mexican oregano
|
Indian
|
curry powder, coriander, cumin, turmeric
|
Chinese
|
five-spice powder, star anise, fennel seed, cloves,
cinnamon, ginger
|
Thai
|
Thai basil, cumin, turmeric, lemon grass, cinnamon
|
Of course, this chart is far from comprehensive, but it can
serve as a good reference point for assembling your own collection of must-have
herbs, spices and seasonings.
Keep in mind, some herbs, spices and seasonings, such as salt,
black pepper and garlic, have an almost universal appeal that isn’t limited by
geographic borders. Chances are you will notice those items popping up in
recipes from all over the world. As a result, you may want to keep an adequate
supply of these basic ingredients in your own pantry or spice rack.
You will also see a lot of crossover among dishes from
countries that border one another. For example, French, Italian, Greek and
Spanish dishes often feature many of the same herbs, such as basil, rosemary,
oregano and thyme. Of course, this isn’t surprising when you consider how these
populations interacted with and melded together over the course of history. Depending
on your personal tastes and cooking habits, these ingredients may be good to
keep on hand, as well.
While assembling your own collection of herbs, spices and
seasonings from around the world, remember you can save money by growing your
own. Fresh herbs are super easy to grow from seed or from cuttings in your own
garden and many can be brought indoors for year-round enjoyment. However, if
growing fresh herbs isn’t your thing, many popular fresh and dried varieties
are readily available. Dried herbs can be a great alternative to fresh, but
take note of expiration dates and suggested storage methods. Dried herbs,
spices and seasonings can be quite expensive, so buy smaller amounts at one
time if you won’t be using them often.
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