The herbs and spices I use on a weekly basis
I often get asked ” What spices do you use” so I wanted to give you the lowdown on the herbs and spices I use on a weekly basis. These are the ones I will always have in my kitchen cupboard without fail.
If you have this small selection of basic herbs and spices you can create some incredible meals and recipes at home with minimal effort and maximum taste. You will commonly see many of these in my recipes.
Herbs and Spices bring a new level of flavour when it comes to your meals. I can’t ever remember a time when I didn’t use them. As well as flavour they can bring some pretty good health benefits too so let’s get into it
1 – ALL PURPOSE SEASONING
All purpose seasoning is a blend of Salt, Paprika, Pimento, Chilli, Onion. Some brands have a few added extras like coriander and mustard. Essentially it is a ready to go blend of some amazing, fragrant spices that you can use on almost anything! I usually go for the Dunns River or Tropic brand but there are many available.
2 – CHILLI POWDER
Now I love some fresh chillies but having some ground chilli powder or chilli flakes in your cupboard is a must have. It can be used to sprinkle over your poached eggs. It can be used in seasoned flour to coat chicken or fish, the possibilities are really endless. Chilli also has a reasonable amount of vitamin C and antioxidants which can be amazing at helping prevent disease,
3 – CURRY POWDER
Curry powder is the ONE! I use this almost every day. I do have all the individual elements of most curry powders but for convenience this is awesome. Most curry powders have black pepper, turmeric, cumin and ginger in them. Some also have things like garlic and cinnamon but all are flavour packed, warming with a sweetness to them you will love. All of these elements alone have some incredible health benefits too so together it really is an amazing product!
4 – PAPRIKA
Paprika, both smoked and sweet are another commonly used spice and something I use basically everyday. I love both types and depending what you are cooking this deep red spice always adds a tonne of flavour, warmth and a glorious colour. Paprika is basically a ground sweet pepper mix and unlike chilli is made from just one chilli whereas chilli powders tend to incorporate a few different types. Like chilli It also has antioxidant properties and can help to improve immunity!
5 – GARLIC POWDER
Garlic powder is a saviour, what a great invention! Sometimes you just need a sprinkle, or you’re making something quick and want to save time on prepping, peeling, chopping or crushing the fresh stuff. This is a must have. It can be bought ground or as granules and either is going to add crazy flavour to an array of dishes. Garlic has many health benefits including helping prevent the common cold, it can lower blood pressure and cholesterol too. Research has shown that 1-2 cloves per day can be really good for you.
6 – PIMENTO SEEDS OR GROUND ALLSPICE
Allspice or pimento seeds is used a lot in any caribbean dishes so it’s one that I use a lot of. Quite pungent so you don’t need a huge amount. The seeds ( or berries as some say ) are best but the ground spice is just as good and normally more readily available at your supermarket. They look like black peppercorns and their aromatic flavour tastes like a combination of cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. It has anti inflammatory properties and also has been known to relieve nausea and constipation.
7 – THYME
Thyme, the daddy of herbs for me. I have it dried and growing fresh on my window sill in my kitchen. I use it a lot! It can be used in stews, curries, marinades to name a few. The small green, flavourful leaves are so aromatic and are actually a part of the mint family. There isn’t much it doesn’t go with. It is thought to have antibacterial properties so yet another ingredient that not only adds huge flavour to your food it adds huge benefits to your life!
8 – BAY LEAVES
Bay leaves are mainly used whole in dishes and then removed before eating, it isn’t often used ground up but you can if you want to. It is a good source if vitamin A, B6 and C and supports a healthy immune system. A fragrant spice that can be used in marinades, curries, stews, with fish and for stuffings and I’m sure many more, I always use in my curries and stews, it just adds another level of flavour that is really unique.
9 – TURMERIC
Turmeric is incredible and another must have in your kitchen! Used in many curry powders it is equally as incredible in other ways too, I use this a lot to flavour and colour rice dishes and to also bring that warm element to stews as well. Turmeric is part of the ginger family and is a flowering plant, yes a plant! It has a plethora of health benefits including aiding digestion, helping with arthritis and allergies.
10 – ONION POWDER
Onion powder is ground , dehydrated onion that has many uses in every kitchen. I use it in dips, in marinades, dressings or a quick ingredient to add in stews and curries. It comes in both granules and powder form and is incredibly useful in my kitchen. I can’t think of many recipes where I don’t use it. Like all the other herbs and spices it has some impressive health benefits too. Onion powder / granules help heart function and reduces the risk of cardiovascular ailments.
So there are my top ten and as you can see not only do they add immense flavour to your home recipes they add so much more to your life. I speak to many people about fuelling your body not just with taste but for health too. Food really is fuel. What are your must haves? I would love to know
