One of my greatest passions in life is cooking. I love to be in the kitchen, cooking for myself, for friends, for me and Shawn. I wrote a while back about fridge essentials and had promised a follow-up about pantry staples – and that’s still on the agenda – but this week I’m thinking about what’s in my spice cabinet.
I’ve got a good collection going and I’m always looking for more.
If you have nothing else in your spice rack, I think these are the absolutely-must-haves:
- sea salt
- black pepper (freshly ground is best – so much tastier!)
- garlic powder (for when you don’t feel like mincing fresh)
- basil
- oregano
- parsley
- crushed red pepper (for a little heat)
- cayenne (if you enjoy a little more heat, like I do)
Soups, pasta, you name it – these few will get you through most anything.
Then there are the baking essentials:
- baking soda
- baking powder
- cinnamon
- nutmeg
- clove (whole and ground)
- vanilla extract
- coconut oil
- dried peppermint
Other leafy spices that are a must for all kinds of cuisine:
- sage (mushrooms and sage. mmm.)
- rosemary
- thyme (do you have that song stuck in your head now?)
- marjoram (another sweet leaf – try it instead of basil!)
- tarragon (great with mushrooms and asparagus)
- cilantro (salsa, bean dips and fillings, Indian curry top-off)
- bay leaves (a must for soups)
I love Indian food, so I keep some other must-haves around:
- turmeric (bitter root – essential – stains your clothes, watch out!)
- ginger (another essential bitter root with lots of great uses)
- cumin (whole and ground)
- coriander (ground – this and cumin are also great in Mexican cuisine)
- cardamom (pods and ground)
- saffron (so expensive and so wonderful when cooked into basmati rice)
- paprika (just the smell of this is worth keeping it around)
- yellow mustard (whole seeds and ground)
- garam masala (I cheat and buy it. I’ve actually never made my own – but I should try!)
Other miscellaneous spices/flavors that I use on occasion:
- onion powder
- celery seed
- kelp granules
- dill
- chili powder
When Shawn and I were on the road in Florida last year, we found an amazing place in St. Pete called Savory Spice Shop. I could’ve spent thousands of dollars in there! Dozens of varieties of sea salt, peppercorns, leaves, roots… holy moly! I did finally settle for a few things:
So.. this is what I’ve got. What’s your favorite spice, or combination of spices? Any suggestions of spices I should try? I’d love to hear from you – especially if you’re into vegan cooking!
Hello 🙂 I have the majority of the same spices you do. I’m just discovering turmeric, and am a big curry fan. Just picked some Jamaican curry today. There’s a simple German dish called currywurst, which passes for fast food in the old country. I sometimes sub curry out with garam masala. Also good for a simple sandwich like your basic grilled cheese or soup. I live in South Philly, a mile from the Italian Market, with a couple of good places for spices and hot sauce and such.