10 Spices You Need In Your Pantry
If you want to have some variety in your meals, spices are a great way to mix things up. And there are certain spices that can elevate a dish from being mediocre to spectacular. My husband has been going full-steam ahead with cooking dinner, and I have no complaints! Especially when the food he makes is so good. And I wanted to share with you all some of his favorite spices, that I believe you need to add to your pantry.
This list does not include salt & pepper, as every kitchen should have a basic salt and pepper shakers. If you don't, go to the grocery store and get you some. They are $2 max honey! Now on to the actual list…
#1: Tumeric
If you want a fun pop of color in your dish, try putting some tumeric in it! We love putting tumeric on chicken and in white rice.
#2: Chives
One of the best ways to make mashed potatoes better is to put chives into it. You can buy chives as a dry spice in a container, or you can buy it fresh in the produce section.
#3: Paprika
Paprika doesn't always mean that the dish is going to be spicy. I'm not a spicy kind of gal, but paprika adds an element to a dish that not many spices can. Paprika can be smoky and add good balance to your red meats or poultry.
#4: Basil
One of the best Italian spices, in my opinion, is basil. Parsley, basil & oregano are my 3 musketeers when it comes to topping my cheese pizza or spaghetti & meatballs.
#5: Garlic Powder
You probably don't even realize how much you like garlic powder, but it's in a lot more things than you think! Adding garlic powder to salty things like fries or edamame adds another layer to the tastes your tongue will experience. Grocery stores even sell garlic salt - they know that it's a great combo.
#6: Onion Powder
Onion powder & garlic powder go hand-in-hand in the seasoning world. They are both powerful spices that can make a dish go from blah to better than ever.
#7: Sage
When I asked my husband what he puts sage in, he said “umm…everything?” so it goes to show that it's a very versatile spice to have in your pantry.
#8: Cinnamon
When it comes to the sweet side of the spice rack, cinnamon is a good friend to go to. Put some cinnamon & nutmeg in your French toast mixture and it will make it taste restauarant-made. Try it out for yourself if you don't believe me.
#9: Ground Mustard
Red meat is a great palette to paint spices on. You can marinate red meat in a ground mustard mixture, along with salt and pepper, and it will bring out the natural flavors of the meat. It's a powerful spices, so use it sparingly.
#10: Rosemary
Lastly, we have rosemary. It is also a great addition to the spice family, but you have to make sure not to pack in too much since it is strong. But it is a spice that you didn't know you needed until you've had it included in your food. But it is a damn good spice.
What spice did I not include in this list, that you would recommend?
Did you learn about a new spice? Let me know in the comments!
