Most recipes do list spices to add from a portion to a tablespoon, teaspoon or pinch. but when cooking up your own recipes, it makes cooking meals easier and tastier when you know what spices to use with what meat, vegetable or starch.
What about herbs? Is there a difference between spices and herbs? I didn't know it, but there is.
The culinary use of the term "spices," refers to parts of the plant (usually dried), including seeds, berries, bark, root and fruit, whereas "herb" typically is the leafy green parts of a plant (either fresh or dried). Culinary herbs are like spices, in that they are used in small amounts and provide flavor rather than substance to food.
I did discover that spicing is a lot easier with a good spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
Spices are often dried flowers or fruits of tropical trees and shrubs. There are exceptions; ginger and turmeric are roots and cinnamon is the cambium or inner bark of a tree.
Herbs are the dried leaves of plants - usually annuals or perennials. So herbs are green. In some cases both plant and seed are useful as flavoring. Coriander, for instance, is the seed of an annual plant whose fresh leaves are used as the herb cilantro. Okay, that helps. A cook should know how to flavor food without drowning the food in salt.
Spices give aroma, taste, color, characters, etc and add richness into the food. Spices excite your taste buds and contain disease preventing and health promoting properties from essential oils, antioxidants to minerals and vitamins that are important for overall wellness.
To keep their fragrance and flavor intact, they're generally added when cooking recipes at the final moment of cooking since prolonged cooking results in evaporation of essential oils. Some spices can be stored up to five years in the freezer. Spices should not be stored in refrigerator as it is too humid.
It's okay to call herbs and spices, "Spices." Once you learn what spices are, what food they compliment; and how best to use them, you're off to chef-a-licious home-cooked meals.It's easy to spice up your foods when you understand the simple basics. You want your spices handy to reach when cooking. Here's how to add spice to the food you cook:
Spices Typically Used Preparing Food
Salads
Vegetables
Caraway, Chervil, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Coriander, Garlic, Ginger, Marjoram, Onion, Paprika, Rosemary
Egg Dishes
Chervil, Curry Powder, Dill, Garlic, Onion, Oregano, PaprikaPork
Basil, Bay Leaves, Garlic, Onion, Oregano, Poultry Seasoning, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme
Poultry
Basil, Bay Leaves, Caraway, Cloves, Garlic, Marjoram, Onion, Paprika, Poultry Seasoning, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Tarragon, Thyme
Beef
Bay Leaves, Caraway, Celery Seed, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Cumin, Garlic, Marjoram, Onion, Savory, Tarragon, Thyme
Fish
Bay Leaves, Chervil, Cilantro, Coriander, Dill, Onion, Paprika, Savory
Pasta
Bay Leaves, Cilantro
Desserts
Bay Leaves, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander, Ginger, Nutmeg & Mace
Breads and Pastries
CarawayI learned that once you are familiar with spices and herbs, you can mix your own seasonings to flavor your food on the stove, in the oven, on the barbecue or marinating in the refrigerator. It becomes second-nature and you become less dependent on following someone else's recipe. Love that.
You can check on the Internet to find thousands of spices from all over the world. But for a homemaker who wants to cook easy, fast and scrumptious meals, you really only need to start with a dozen or so spices.
Definitions of Common Spices in Alphabetical Order and What Foods They Generally Go With
Basil: Also called sweet basil. With an aroma that is like mint and tea. Basil is available in leaf form. It is used as a seasoning for pizza, spaghetti sauce, sausage, soup, tomato juice, dressings, salads, and any dish where oregano would be used
Bay Leaves: They have a woody, astringent flavor with a pleasant, slightly minty aroma. Bay leaves should always be removed before food is served. Works well in soups, with meat and poultry dishes, pasta sauces, fish and is also used to flavor some desserts.
Black Pepper: Black pepper has a sharp, penetrating aroma and a characteristic woody, piney flavor. It is hot and biting to the taste.
Caraway (Seed): With a tangy flavor similar to dill. It is used as a seasoning in potatoes, cabbage, carrots, sausages, rich meats, in breads and pastries. Caraway is available as the whole seed.
Cayenne (Red ) Pepper: A seasoning ground from small, red chili peppers. It has been used as a spice in the dishes of many countries and is also used as a table condiment. It's heat and spiciness varies.
Celery Seed (Salt): Celery seed tastes like celery and is aromatic with a slight bitterness which enhances other flavors. Celery seed is available whole, ground, or mixed with salt. Celery salt is a blend of ground celery seed and fine salt. It is used primarily as a flavoring in salads (especially potato), sauces, pickling, soup, tomato juice, and meat. It is also an integral part of the flavoring of traditionally prepared crabs and other seafood.
Chervil: An essential spice in French cuisine, it used like parsley and provides an herbal taste with the slight flavor of anise. Chervil is used much like parsley, but is more delicate. It is most commonly used on fish, egg dishes, salads and as a glaze on vegetables such as carrots.
Chili Powder: Made from dried chilies, usually blended with garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, chili peppers, allspice, garlic, and salt. Color and spiciness varies. It has an earthy, slightly sweet, and sometimes hot flavor. This spice blend usually dominates food rather than enhancing it. Mexican and other Latin American dishes depend on chili powder for their characteristic flavor.
Chinese 5 Spice Powder: A blend of star anise, fagara (Szechwan pepper), cassia (cinnamon), fennel and clove. It is heavily used in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine.
Cilantro: Cilantro has a bold flavor often described as a mixture of sage, parsley, and citrus. In Mexican dishes and salsas, cilantro is the "indescribable" flavor note that sets them apart. Cilantro adds pungent flavor to many Latin American and Asian dishes such as stews, soup, steamed fish, curries, vegetables, , salads, relishes and tomato based sauces, and noodle dishes. It is often called "Chinese parsley."
Cinnamon: Cinnamon has a characteristic woody, musty, earthy, and sweet flavor. It is warming to taste. It is available whole, as cinnamon sticks, and ground. Used in spiced vegetable dishes, also in sweet dishes such as baking, pies, compotes, and also with meats, stews, vegetables and curries.
Cloves: The flavor of cloves is strong, fruity, and sweet almost hot. Cloves are available both whole and ground. Used for flavoring ham, pork, pickled fruit, onions, gravy, and syrup, spice cake, pumpkin pie, fruitcake, gingerbread, chili sauce, ketchup, and in combination with many other spices.
Coriander: Coriander has a sweet, slightly lemony flavor. (Coriander leaves are called cilantro.) Coriander is available as whole seed and ground and is a principal ingredient in curry powder. Middle Eastern, Indian, Russian, North African, and Mexican recipes include coriander for its distinctive flavor. Coriander seed is a pleasant addition to potato salad, rice's, bean, vegetable dishes, hot dogs, apple pie, poached fish, or bean, pea, and lentil soup.
Cumin: Cumin has a penetrating musty, earthy flavor with some green, grassy nuances. Cumin is available as whole seed and ground. It is a principal ingredient in both chili powder and curry powder. Middle Eastern, Mexican Indian, and North African recipes often include cumin. Also used in curries, stews, and chili.
Curry Powder: Not a single spice but a blend of many spices. Usually contains turmeric, ginger, black pepper, coriander, cumin, chilies and fenugreek and can also contain cinnamon and clove. Flavors vary according to the use or the creator of the blend. All curry blends have a rich, warm, earthy, and pungent flavor with a great many overtones. The characteristic golden color comes from turmeric. Curry powder is available in mild or hot blends. Curry powder is usually intended to be the dominant flavor but it also may be used in small amounts simply to enhance the flavor of foods such as corn bread, stuffed eggs, soup, and sour cream dips.
Dill: Dill is an annual of the parsley family and is related to anise, caraway, coriander, cumin, and fennel. The seeds are light brown in color, strongly aromatic, and warming to the taste. Dill weed has a subtle, anise like, sweet flavor. Dill is available as the whole seed and as chopped leaves, called dill weed. Dill weed is used in salads, sauces, egg dishes, and especially in seafood dishes. Dill seed is used primarily to flavor pickles and in bread, potato, and vegetable dishes. It works well with a variety of culinary dishes such as omelets, soups, stuffed grape leaves, potato salad, cucumber, veal, breads, cabbage, meat stews and rice. It is also widely used with herring, salmon and other seafood dishes.
Fil'e Gumbo: A blend of dried ground sassafras leaves and thyme. It is used as a thickener in and with soups, gumbo, meat, fish, stew and poultry.
Four-Pepper Mix: A blend of black pepper, white pepper, rose pepper and green peppercorns, coarsely crushed.
Garlic (Powder, Salt): It has a strong, pungent green flavor and is one of the most popular seasonings used today. Garlic can be conveniently purchased as fresh bulbs, dehydrated powder, minced flakes, and blends with salt. It adds flavor to almost any dish. Garlic is especially popular in Italian cuisine and throughout the Mediterranean region and Asia. Sprinkle to taste on hamburgers, lamb, chuck roast, steak, chicken, Italian green beans, zucchini, tomatoes and green salads. Use with sour cream or cream cheese for dips. Sprinkle on stuffed eggs. Use it sparingly to begin with and add small amounts until it suits your taste.
Ginger: The flavor of ginger is pungent, lemon/citrus, warm, and sweet. Ginger is available ground, whole (gingerroot), and crystallized. Used to add zest to many dishes such as gingersnaps, gingerbread, in Asian dishes and in sweets such as cakes, cookies, puddings, pumpkin pie and sweet breads.
Kosher Salt: A course ground salt, with no chemicals added. Used in brines, rubs, and marinades. Also used to coat the rim of the glass for Margaritas!
Marjoram: Marjoram has a distinctly aromatic green and pleasant woody flavor, with a slightly bitter undertone. Available in both leaf and ground forms, marjoram should be used sparingly at first. It complements the flavor of chicken and turkey stuffing, vegetable and bean soup, as well as tomato sauces. Marjoram also enhances the flavor of many meat dishes.
Mexican Hot Chili Powder: A blend of spices and chili pepper, is a U.S. invention. Similar blends were used by the Aztecs. It is usually used to dominate the flavor of a food but can be used as a background flavor. Use in Mexican dishes such as chili, tacos and enchiladas. Add to quacamole, dips and salad dressings.
Mexican Spice: A blend of cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, coriander seeds, aniseed, cumin, chili powder.
Mustard (Seed, Ground): Mustard has a clean, fresh aroma and a pungent, biting flavor. Ground mustard enhances meat, fish, poultry, sauces, salad dressings, cheese, and egg dishes. It must be moistened for about ten minutes to develop its sharp, hot, tangy flavor. The whole seed is used in pickling, boiled with beets, cabbage, or sauerkraut, and as a garnish for salads.
Nutmeg & Mace: Nutmeg has a strong cinnamon, nutty flavor used to flavor sweets, fruit dishes, sauces and vegetables. Nutmeg is available both whole and ground. Mace is sold primarily in the ground form. Nutmeg and mace are most commonly used in flavoring sweet foods such as puddings, cakes, and cookies. They are also used in meat products such as sausage. Mace is the lacy covering of the Nutmeg which is the seed of the fruit.
Onion (Flakes, Powder, Salt): Onions are an important flavoring in almost every country in the world. When combined with other ingredients, onion flavor is rarely overwhelming or assertive. Onions, pungent when raw and sweet in flavor when cooked, are an extremely versatile flavoring and can be used to accent nearly any kind of dish.
Oregano: Similar in flavor to marjoram, it is not as sweet and is slightly more pungent and bitter. Use oregano in your favorite ethnic dishes as well as in fresh garden salads, egg dishes, quick breads, rubs, and sauces.
Paprika: The brilliant red powder is the "garnish spice" contributing color and sweet pepper flavor. Hungarian paprika is characterized by a hotter taste, achieved in recent times by adding hot, red capsicum pepper to ground paprika. Sold in ground form. Used as a garnish for light-colored food such as fish, potatoes, eggs, and cheese dishes. A popular addition to many rubs, marinades and sauces. It is the principal seasoning in Hungarian goulash and often is used in French dressing. To retain its red color, paprika should be kept in the refrigerator.
Parsley: Parsley has a slightly mild green taste. Parsley is available fresh or as dried flakes. It adds both flavor and visual appeal to salads, soup, pasta, butters, shellfish, meat, poultry, sauces, potatoes, omelets and soft cheeses.
Poultry Seasoning: A mixture of ground thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, black pepper, and nutmeg. Poultry seasoning was created mainly to season stuffing but it also adds an unusual flavor to all poultry, pork, or veal dishes.
Rosemary: Rosemary has a distinctive fresh, sweet, piney aroma and flavor. Rosemary is available in leaf form. Use with lamb, pork, potatoes, carrots, stews, sauces, marinades, fish, poultry, bread, on grilled or skewered meat and in roasted potato dishes.
Sage: Comes in whole, rubbed (crushed) and ground form. The herb is distinctively aromatic and fragrant with slightly medicinal, piney, and bitter flavors. It is used to flavor pork, pork sausage, poultry stuffing, veal, stuffing, and tomato sauces.
Savory: Available in ground form and gives a piquant flavor to many dishes. It has a strong, slightly peppery flavor and is used to flavor legumes, meat, fish (especially trout), sausage, stuffing, tomato sauces, bean soup, meat loaf, hamburgers, eggs, or poultry.
Tarragon: It is rich and sweet with a faint anise-like flavor. It is an excellent seasoning for sauces, dressings, and with meat, poultry and fish.
Thyme: It has a pungent and sweetly herbal fragrant. It can be used to improve the flavor of most dishes, especially slow cooked dishes.
Turbinado Sugar: Also known as "Sugar in the Raw". Used in many rubs and sauces because it can take higher temperatures without carmelizing.
White Pepper: White pepper has a similar but more earthy flavor than black pepper. Used in many dishes, sauces, rubs, and marinades. Experiment to decide how much you like.
* Source: Spices and Herbs