Add panache to your cuisine with cooking herbs and spices. Is your cooking banal and blah? Do you use the same familiar seasonings in everything from artichoke soup to zucchini? Break the habit and add gusto to your culinary accomplishments by shaking up your spice arsenal.
Herbs are zesty and nutritious. Common herbs and applications include:
- Basil, Oregano, Rosemary – versatile herbs for eggs, meat, and vegetables
- Bay Leaf – gives flavor to tomato sauce, rice dishes, and soups
- Caraway Seeds – adds a pungent flavor to breads and soups
- Chervil – add to poultry, seafood, and vegetables for a savory flavor
- Chives – include in omelets, dips, and spreads for eye appeal and flavor
- Cilantro – spice up a tuna sandwich or sprinkle onto tacos and tostadas
- Cinnamon – add to cream cheese, coffees and teas, smoothies, and ice cream
- Cloves – combined with Ginger, Cinnamon and Black Pepper is great with tea.
- Coriander Seed – adds vitality to curries, pickles, and barbecue rubs
- Ground Cumin – sprinkle in curries, soups, fresh salsas, and roasted vegetables
- Dill Weed – add to sour cream dips, tartar sauce, and seafood
- Fenugreek – perks up curries and flatbreads
- Fennel Seed – imparts an aromatic flavor to curries, sausage, and bakery treats
- Ginger – add zest to hot or iced tea
- Kelp – seaweed makes a great-tasting soup.
- Lavender – add to ice cream and shortbread desserts
- Lemon and Orange Peel – add to muffins and scones
- Lemon Verbena – adds a lemony flavor to ice tea, ice creams, and cheesecake
- Licorice Root – add to teas and ice cream
- Mace – imparts a bold flavor to barbeque rubs and marinades
- Mint – add to shortbread, sorbet, ice cream and teas
- Mustard Seeds – add to salad dressings, marinades, or homemade mustard
- Paprika – use in barbeque rubs and sauces
- Sage – add to gravies, sauces, and soups
- Tarragon – imparts a tangy flavor to soups and sauces
- Turmeric – add to curries; gives rice a beautiful yellow color
- Thyme – use as a meat rub or add to vegetables and rice
In addition to using these cooking herbs and spices there are other techniques that add pizzazz to your creations.
- You can make iced or hot tea special by freezing rose petals in ice cubes and adding them to your brew.
- Grind Cardamom with your coffee beans and brew normally for a spicy treat.
- In lieu of sugar, use Stevia to sweeten tea, coffee, and baked goods.
- Kelp or Wakame adds flavor and visual appeal to soups.
Experiment with these cooking herbs and spices to infuse your culinary creations with unique flavor. You will feel pride and accomplishment when your guests ask for yourrecipe.