Almost 8 months into living in my new apartment and I finally feel settled enough to invest in some great spices. I’ve been living off of my $2 salt and pepper shakers that I got when I first moved in, but I finally decided that now is the time for me to invest in my cooking abilities and buy all those spices I keep seeing in recipes. Here are the spices that, according to the experts (and all the recipes I’ve found on Pinterest), are critical for every level of chef.
Kosher Salt
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What makes this salt different than your regular salt is the flavor profile and sodium quantity. It’s supposed to be shaped in a way that draws out better flavors from your food, while also being low in sodium (so healthier for you).
Peppercorns
A minor upgrade to your regular pepper shaker that is supposed to have an even fresher and deeper flavor than your run-of-the-mill pepper flakes. You can buy the fresh kind with built-in grinders from most grocery stores. I got mine from Trader Joe’s for almost the same price, and it’s made a true world of difference!
Garlic Powder
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I’ve been seeing recipes that ask for garlic powder all over the place, and although I've been making do with garlic salt, I really need to just bite the bullet and buy a package of this utilitarian seasoning. It’s great for seasoning meats, vegetables and even your favorite bag of popcorn!
Rosemary
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I bought a $1.50 jar of rosemary seasoning just last week and I haven’t been able to stop using it for everything and anything. I used it on my roasted potatoes to give them some more flavor, my Super Bowl chicken wings, and even in my oatmeal to makes things more savory. I prefer rosemary to thyme and parsley for flavoring, but that’s just a personal thing. I have seen people also use it as a flavoring for olive oil, with steak or even on vegetables. It’s really perfect with any savory dish that you want to deepen the flavor of.
Chili Powder
This blend of cumin, garlic powder, cayenne, paprika and oregano saves you the hassle of having to buy all the separate flavors without having to sacrifice the depth of flavor you want for your next batch of chili or flavorful chicken dish.
Cinnamon
Photo: Wikicommons
There’s no question that cinnamon adds an excellent kick to almost everything you put it in. Not only does it add flavor to your regular baked goods such as breads, cookies and cakes, it’s also a perfect pairing to spice up your boring old yogurt, oatmeal, peanut butter toast or even hot chocolate.
Cumin
Photo: Wikicommons
If you cook a lot of food with a Southeastern Asian influence, it will be incredibly handy to keep cumin around. It flavors everything from rice and meat to vegetables.
Vanilla Extract
Photo: Wikicommons
This is also another one of those flavors that probably only makes sense to have if you’re an avid baker. However, if you are a baker, you know there’s no way you can make anything without this all-too-critical flavor. It just makes everything so much better.