Advertisement
Recipes

Complete guide to herbs and spices

Jazz up your meals with helpful tips and delicious recipes
Top 15 spices and how to use them
Basil
How to use it Ideal match for tomato-based sauces, pizza and tomatoes. Toss with green and yellow beans, grilled peppers and eggplant. Whisk into vinaigrettes and quiches. Recipes Basil chèvre swirls Basil hamburgers Basil 'n' sun-dried tomato dressing
Cayenne pepper
How to use it Heats up stir-fries, curries, meatloaf, savoury biscuits, marinades, sweet potatoes, corn, pork, steak, poultry and shellfish. Aztec brownie pie with a hint of cayenne. Recipes Crab cakes with cayenne mayonnaise
Chili powder
How to use it Adds zip to Tex-Mex chilies, fajitas and tacos. Stir into eggs and guacamole. Livens up corn, zucchini, potatoes and black beans. Recipes Big-batch baked chicken in chili sauce Chili-rubbed ribs Pork 'n' bean chili
Cinnamon
How to use it Perfect in fruit desserts, cakes, cookies, sweet breads, puddings and pancakes. Complements pork, poultry, stews, punches and mulled drinks. Recipes Cinnamon oatmeal muffins Poached peaches in cinnamon-ginger syrup
Cumin
How to use it Gives punch to chicken, ground lamb and pork, game, shrimp, curries, lentils, chickpeas, barbecue sauces, spice rubs, yogurt dips and chutney. Recipes Cumin-scented Cornish hens with jalapeño-rice stuffing Chili-cumin rice and bean skillet supper Cumin lentil salad
Curry powder
How to use it Adds pizzazz to potatoes, chicken, tuna and egg salads. Marries well with pasta, rice, legumes, soups and cream sauces. Recipes Classy curried chicken with many fruits Curried apples and chicken Curried pears
Curry powder
How to use it Adds pizzazz to potatoes, chicken, tuna and egg salads. Marries well with pasta, rice, legumes, soups and cream sauces. Recipes Classy curried chicken with many fruits Curried apples and chicken Curried pears
Dill
How to use it Delicious in potato, cucumber and carrot salads. Great on fresh and smoked fish and seafood. Use for pickling and in veggie dips. Recipes Chicken with lemon, dill and capers Dilled salmon stroganoff Maple dill chicken breasts
Garlic powder
How to use it Injects oomph to pasta sauces, stuffings, chilies and salad dressings. Use in spice rubs for chicken, fish and beef, add to butter for garlic bread, sprinkle in soups or mix with mayonnaise, and use as a spread. Recipes Garlic-lemon lamb Green beans in garlic oil Honey-garlic chicken pieces
Ginger
How to use it Perks up fruit, lemon and chocolate desserts. Great for seasoning stir-fries, curries, duck, glazed hams and seafood. Use in muffins, crisps, cookies, tea and lemonade. Recipes Baked ginger apples Coconut-ginger oyster bisque sips Ginger-glazed rack of pork
Nutmeg
How to use it Excellent with potatoes, spinach, rhubarb, pears and apples. Use in gratins, white sauces, cheese dishes, fruitcakes, gingerbread, sugar cookies and cheesecakes. Recipes Apple pie with nutmeg-scented crust Festive Chelsea buns
Oregano
How to use it Indispensable in Italian, Greek and Mexican cooking. Ideal for grilled fish and meats, pork stews, slow-cooked vegetables, omelettes, scrambled eggs and soufflés. Recipes Tomato-feta phyllo kisses with oregano and chives Juicy Greek lamb chops
Paprika
How to use it Sprinkle on scalloped potatoes, mac ’n’ cheese, potato salad, devilled eggs and hors d’oeuvres. Rub into chicken and pork before cooking. Recipes Cheater chicken paprikash Speedy stroganoff burgers
Rosemary
How to use it Crush and sprinkle on grilled vegetables and meats, particularly roast lamb, chicken and game. Livens up marinades, potatoes, onions, stuffed veggies and savoury jellies. Recipes Carrot-and-rosemary golden couscous Italian chicken with fennel and rosemary Lemon and rosemary Cornish hens
Sage
How to use it Takes well to meat, poultry and vegetable stuffings. Sprinkle over roast pork and veal. Complements squash, zucchini and cream- and tomato-based sauces. Recipes Grilled sage chops à deux Onion and sage bread Sage and garlic mashed potatoes
Tarragon
How to use it Pairs with chicken, fish, potatoes, raw vegetable salads, salad dressings, cream sauces, mayonnaise, mustard and dips. Recipes Dijon-and-tarragon roasted potato wedges Lemon-tarragon lamb chops Tarragon chicken burgers
Thyme
How to use it Best suited to stews, soups, pasta sauces, stocks, mussels, stuffings and dried beans. Stir into mushroom and pork marinades or mix with goat cheese. Recipes Burger thyme Fresh zucchini-thyme sauce Mustard-and-thyme roast beef

GET CHATELAINE IN YOUR INBOX!

Subscribe to our newsletters for our very best stories, recipes, style and shopping tips, horoscopes and special offers.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Advertisement
Advertisement