Throughout history, spices have been a driver of trade, war, superstition and ultimately cuisine. Once a symbol of wealth and power, spices from around the world now bring depth and interest to everyday cooking. These essential spices should be staples in your pantry.
Earthy, Floral
Cinnamon & Oranges: Peel oranges and slice into wheels. Sprinkle with cinnamon for a classic light dessert from Morocco.
For a earthy and sweet note, try our Apple Cinnamon Cranberry Stuffing, which features our prized, world-class cinnamon.
Savory, Aromatic
Garlic Powder & Popcorn: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic powder over popcorn.
Give potatoes, like our Parsley and Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe, a savory kick with a dash or two of garlic powder.
Floral, Spicy
Give your favorite gingerbread recipe a kick by adding 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to the spices.
Black pepper lends a peppery bite to dishes, such as our Peppery Bacon Cornbread Stuffing.
Gentle, Savory
Bay Leaf & Oil: Place 2 or 3 bay leaves in a jar, and cover with vegetable oil. The bay will lightly season the oil.
For a savory take on Chai Latte Tea, simmer bay leaf with ingredients
Earthy, Peppery
Oregano & Salad Dressing: Stir 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano into 1/2 cup of any non-creamy salad dressing.
This earthy, Italian spice shines in our savory Penne with Tomato and Herbs recipe.
Earthy, Sweet
Cloves & Asian Curries: Add a pinch of dried cloves to any Asian curry recipe.
Cloves add a sweet, earthy note to our crunchy Sweet and Spicy Gingerbread Snack Mix.
Peppery, Sweet
Ginger & Chocolate: Stir 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoons ground ginger into your favorite hot cocoa or hot chocolate mix.
Spicy-sweet ginger lends well-rounded flavor in our Pineapple Juice with Ginger recipe.
Spicy, Clean
Cayenne & Eggs: Add a pinch of cayenne to scrambled eggs, or lightly dust the yolks of fried eggs with cayenne.
Turn up the heat with cayenne, featured in our Spicy Michelada recipe.
Earthy, Peppery
Turmeric & Tea: Add 1/4 teaspoon to your favorite hot tea, then sweeten with honey.
Traditionally used in Indian fare, like our Garam Masala Lentil Soup with Coriander Yogurt recipe, turmeric adds peppery flavor to each bite.
Earthy, Smoky
Cumin & Cheese: Sprinkle the cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich with ground cumin before cooking.
Used in Mexican cuisine, cumin adds a smoky, earthy note in our Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup.
Sweet, Warm
Paprika & Mushrooms: Add 1 tsp. paprika to any sautéed mushroom recipe for rich color and sweet flavor.
For added color and warm flavor, paprika adds sweet heat in our Fiery Shrimp Jambalaya.
Warm, Sweet
Nutmeg & Quiche: Add 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg to all your quiche batters.
Pumpkin Pie Parfait features a sweet, but warming nuance with the addition of nutmeg.
Sweet, Spicy
Basil & Vegetable Broth: Boil 1 quart vegetable broth with 1 tablespoon dried basil. Remove from heat and strain. Basil heightens the vegetable flavors.
Put a spicy-sweet spin on traditional grilled cheese with our Basil Pesto Grilled Cheese recipe.
Spicy
Pepper & Pineapple: Top thinly sliced fresh pineapple with 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes and a drizzle of honey. Let stand 1 hour before serving.
These spicy pepper flakes add fiery heat in our Cajun Egg Skillet.
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Sweet, Spicy
Parsley & Chili: Add 1/4 cup dried parsley flakes to your favorite chili.
Traditional chicken alfredo gets a makeover thanks to spicy-sweet parsley in our Chicken Alfredo Pasta recipe.
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