When life is hectic, and you want some easy ways to cook your meals, look for the simplest ingredients first. Authentic spices and herbs can help a lot. These spices can add essential flavors and healthy nutrition to your cooking.
From turmeric to cinnamon and cloves, there are many small yet significant ingredients you may use when you’re looking for easy tasty dinners every day. And don’t forget to try out the native Australian herbs and spices as well. The native herbs like thyme or saltbush will not only uplift the aroma of your food but also make it healthier.
So, here are some herbs and spices you may shop for and keep stocked in your pantry at all times:
Turmeric
A staple in Indian cuisine, turmeric is what gives most Indian dishes their distinct colour. An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice, turmeric can be used in sauces, curries, and soups. Add a small amount of turmeric powder in a glass of milk with honey to battle insomnia and sleep like a baby.
Cayenne Pepper
Kick start your body’s metabolic rate with a dash of cayenne pepper on your scrambled eggs, hummus, or a cup of hot chocolate. It lends a robust and deep flavour to even the most run of the mill recipes.
Garlic
Whether or not garlic breath wards off vampires is debatable. However, this humble and overlooked ingredient does ward off common colds and improves immunity. Fresh garlic should smell sweet, and adding a clove or two of crushed garlic will elevate those roasted vegetables from ordinary to restaurant quality. Saute garlic in olive oil to lend your pasta the authentic Italian touch.
Black Pepper
Black pepper isn’t just for seasoning meat, a dash of it in any salad, soup or grain dish adds flair. It is known for its digestive and antioxidant properties, making it a staple for several cuisines all around the world.
Ginger
Paste it, crush it, grate it or slice it, ginger lends different textures and flavours every time you use it differently. Use ginger in soups, stews, and roasts to add heat and texture to a simple recipe.
Cinnamon
An excellent alternative to sugar and synthetic sweeteners, cinnamon, isn’t just for your cup of tea. Use cinnamon in pies, biscuits, and if you aren’t much of a baker, just sprinkle a pinch of it on your toast, yogurt, or fruit salad.
Nutmeg
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, Nutmeg, despite its sweet aftertaste, is good for your teeth and gums. An excellent spice to season meat (red and white) with Nutmeg helps deepen bland everyday recipes with an exotic flavour.
Cumin
A staple of Mexican, Indian, and Pakistani cuisines, cumin adds heat, depth, and texture to stews, soups, roasted vegetables, and meat. Roast a handful of cumin seeds to release the heat and fragrance before using them in your salads or garlic bread.
Parsley
Fresh parsley is fragrant, multi-nutrient rich, and easy to use but remains woefully underused. High in antioxidants and multivitamins, it is more than a simple garnish, and its use in soups, grain dishes, and sauces add both texture and depth.
Mixed Herbs
With the perfect blend of herbs like sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and basil, mixed herbs are the staple ingredient if you are looking for easy tasty dinners. You can add this mix to your casseroles, meatballs, or bread. It is also a great way to enhance the aroma of sauces, marinades, salad dressings, vinegar, and cheese recipes.
Indian Curry Powder
Make your Tandoori chicken special with authentic Indian curry powder that consists of paprika, chilli powder, garam masala, mint, caraway, Australian sea salt, and fenugreek. Tandoori or clay oven-based dishes become more delicious with this spice mix.
Cloves
The pungent and aromatic flavour of cloves can be used to enhance the deliciousness of any easy dinner recipe. You may buy cloves in ground form or as whole cloves. Add them in either form to your soups, curries, sauces, and stocks for a sweet and savoury taste. Use ground cloves in walnut and raisin cake recipes. Also, you may sprinkle the powder on broths or combine it with cinnamon in apple cider.
Seaweed Salt
Add some native Australian flavours to your cooking with seaweed salt enhanced by native herbs. The salt is air-dried to retain its original flavours and aroma. You may add this spice to any dish and cut down the consumption of regular salt. Choose seaweed salt infused with Australian native herbs like the native saltbush, native thyme, oregano, black pepper, and garlic. It is an excellent companion for eggs, fish, chicken, and grilled veggies.
Sometimes, all one needs to do is try an unusual or unexpected ingredient. Sharing a meal with a loved one must be savoured to dread like the hangman’s rope. Spice up your usual fare with flair and enjoy it.
