It isn’t difficult to add spices to food and drink dishes. And it doesn’t even mean you have to be a good cook either. You can simply sprinkle various spices on food and drinks you make as a matter of course to add both taste and potentially health benefits too.
Here are 10 examples of popular spices and the food and drinks you can add them to:
Cinnamon
- Oatmeal or porridge
- Yogurt
- Smoothies
- Coffee
- Tea
- Hot chocolate
- Applesauce
- Spice cake
- Sweet potatoes
- Spiced nuts
Cumin
- Chili con carne
- Tacos
- Curry
- Rice dishes
- Roasted vegetables
- Grilled meats
- Hummus
- Soups and stews
- Lentil and bean dishes
- Barbecue sauces and marinades.
Turmeric
- Curry dishes
- Rice dishes
- Lentil and bean dishes
- Vegetable dishes (such as roasted or sautéed vegetables)
- Soup and stews
- Smoothies
- Marinades
- Eggs (such as scrambled eggs or omelets)
- Salad dressings
- Teas and lattes (such as a turmeric latte or golden milk).
Coriander
- Guacamole
- Salsa
- Curry
- Soups and stews
- Rice dishes
- Marinades
- Sauces and dressings
- Omelets and scrambled eggs
- Grilled meats and vegetables
- Cocktails and mocktails (such as a coriander-infused margarita)
Bay leaves
- Soups and stews
- Tomato-based sauces
- Braised meats (such as beef or pork)
- Rice and grain dishes
- Bean and lentil dishes
- Vegetable dishes (such as roasted or sautéed vegetables)
- Pickling brines
- Bouquet garni
- Broths and stocks
- Slow-cooker dishes (such as a slow-cooked pot roast or whole chicken).
Cardamom
- Chai tea
- Coffee or espresso-based drinks
- Baked goods (such as cakes, breads, and pastries)
- Rice pudding or other rice dishes
- Yogurt or smoothies
- Stewed fruits
- Ice cream or other frozen desserts
- Curries or other spicy dishes
- Cocktails and mocktails (such as a cardamom-spiced mojito or hot toddy)
- Sweet and savory sauces (such as a cardamom-scented cream sauce or glaze).
Cloves
- Meat dishes such as ham, pork roast, or beef stew
- Spice blends such as pumpkin spice or garam masala
- Tea and coffee for a warm, spiced flavor
- Baked goods such as gingerbread, spice cake, or pumpkin pie
- Stews and soups to add depth of flavor
- Rice dishes such as biryanis or pilafs
- Pickling brine for pickled vegetables or fruits
- Glazes and sauces for a sweet and spicy flavor
- Fruit compotes and jams for a warm, spiced flavor
- Cocktails for a warm and spicy twist in drinks such as mulled wine or cider.
Vanilla root
- Baked goods cakes, cookies, muffins, bread, etc.
- Puddings and custards
- Yogurt and smoothies
- Milk and milk-based beverages (such as lattes and hot chocolate)
- Ice cream and sorbets
- Sweet sauces and glazes (such as caramel sauce)
- Fruit salads and compotes
- Oatmeal and other hot cereals
- Whipped cream
- Cocktails and mocktails (such as vanilla martinis).
Ras el Hanout
- Tagine dishes (such as chicken or lamb tagine)
- Grilled meats (such as chicken or lamb kebabs)
- Rice dishes
- Lentil and bean dishes
- Vegetable dishes (such as roasted or sautéed vegetables)
- Soups and stews
- Marinades
- Sauces and dips (such as a Ras el Hanout-spiced yogurt sauce)
- Roasted nuts
- Cocktails and mocktails (such as a Ras el Hanout-spiced hot cider).
Black peppercorns
- Meat dishes such as steak, chicken, or roast beef
- Sauces such as gravy or steak sauce
- Soups and stews to add depth of flavor
- Eggs such as scrambled eggs or omelets
- Salad dressing for a little extra zing
- Grilled or roasted vegetables for a peppery kick
- Rice and grain dishes for extra flavor and spice
- Marinades for meats, poultry, or seafood
- Cheese dishes such as macaroni and cheese or quiches
- Cocktails for a spicy twist in drinks such as Bloody Marys.