Recipes
We all know that cooking can be a little challenging sometimes, but it doesn't have to be a chore! The key to achieving great results that everyone will love is to add the right spices and seasonings to spruce up your dish!
Spices are a great way to add exciting flavour, warmth, and depth to your dishes. Not all spices are created equal, however! Some have more intense or aromatic flavours than others, some may work well when blended with other spices, and to top off the many tempting and exciting flavour sensations you can create, many spices have lesser-known, but just as important nutritional benefits to boost and sustain your cuisine, and your family!
This article details seven different spice varieties that you can use in your cooking for added flavour, taste, and, for the potential health benefits they offer.
You'll never feel at a loss in the kitchen again with these sensational spices on hand! If you’re keen to try your hand at some impressive spicy endeavors in the kitchen and want to save time and money, you can readily find these spices and other handy groceries online in Perth.
- Smoked Paprika
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Cardamom
- Turmeric
Smoked Paprika
When it comes to adding full bodied flavour, nothing can compare with the distinctive taste of smoked paprika. The enticing piquant flavour is produced when dried Pimento peppers are smoked over an oak fire. They are then ground into a fine powder ready for use in a range of flavoursome dishes.
This spice will transform your cooking from boring to zing in no time! Not only will you be sold on the flavour sensation smoked paprika can bring to the table, but there are many nutritional benefits smoked paprika can provide. These include vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6, as well as antioxidants, fibre and iron. It is thought that these essential elements may assist in reducing inflammation and enhancing optical health amongst many other benefits.
Ginger
Originally sourced from ginger plants grown across Southeast Asia, ginger is grown in India, China and Indonesia. It is often used to pep up aromatic Indian and Chinese dishes. Ginger adds an extra bite and intensity to an already exotic taste experience. It is the basis for many zesty chutneys, spicy curry pastes and curry powders.
Additionally, research suggests that ginger has nutritional value and medicinal properties. Gingerol is a compound found in fresh ginger, and is thought to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal effects. It is also thought to aid digestion and provide anti-nausea relief, amongst other health benefits.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an extremely popular and versatile spice. Throughout history, cinnamon has been the mainstay of many tempting sweet treats; cakes, pies, puddings, fruit desserts and many of our favourite breakfast cereals. Cinnamon has also made its mark as one of the best pickling spices and as a popular addition to spicy savoury dishes. It is often added to aromatic marinades, dishes with chicken and lamb, Middle Eastern tagine recipes, Indian curries, and Garam Masala.
Cinnamon is extracted from the inner bark of several species of evergreen tree belonging to the genus Cinnamomum. When dried, it naturally forms into cinnamon sticks or quills. These can also be ground into a fine, fragrant powder. Besides the famous sweet, wooded, aromatic flavour that many of us have come to know and love, this super spice is also rich in antioxidants and has proven anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Cloves
Cloves are one of the most common spices found in kitchens all over the world. However, few people know that that cloves are the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree. They are well known for their intense aroma and distinct flavour, and as a unique addition to top off a variety of fare, including many traditional Indian dishes such as curries and Biryani. Cloves can add a warm intensity to meat, vegetable and rice dishes, and are used to add that extra fragrant “bite” to traditional festive delights such as baked honey ham, pumpkin pie and apple pie. Cloves can also be used to turn up the heat on some exciting spicy drinks such as apple cider, or Masala chai, a blend of black tea, milk, and aromatic spices.
Cloves also have several health benefits having been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. They are rich in fibre, antioxidants, manganese and vitamin K. Oil of cloves is thought to provide anti-microbial protection, and has analgesic properties, providing temporary relief from mild toothache, and reducing the likelihood of gum disease.
Nutmeg
It is used in both sweet and savoury dishes from around the world, and as an added extra in a huge range of culinary delights, from French toast to Christmas pudding! In Indian cuisine, meat dishes take on the spicy warmth of grated nutmeg and it is an important addition to Garam masala, a blend of spices used in many soup and curry recipes. Thai inspired curry dishes also add the spice for a touch of the exotic, enhancing both flavour and taste. Indonesian dishes such as Semur Ayam (Chicken Stew), use nutmeg for full bodied flavour, and recipes for Spekkuk Bumbu use the spice to create a deliciously ambrosial Indonesian spice cake.
Most of us are familiar with the warm, aromatic flavour of nutmeg sprinkled atop a range of favourite desserts like apple or custard pies, or added to hot drinks such as coffee, eggnog, and mulled apple cider for that extra pizzaz; and if you’re after something spicy and satisfying to kickstart the day, adding a dash of nutmeg to scrambled eggs will pep them up for that satisfying taste sensation - just right for an energizing breakfast!
Cardamom
Originating in southern India and the tropics of Asia, cardamom is produced from the seeds or pods of plants from the Zingiberaceae family. There are two main types; black or green cardamom, and white cardamom, a bleached variation of the green variety. For culinary use, the whole pod can be added to dishes or can also be ground into a powder. It is used in both sweet and savoury dishes. Green cardamom is the most commonly used spice particularly for Middle Eastern and Scandinavian cuisine. Indian and Asian cuisine may use either green or black cardamom depending on the recipe selected.
The spice has an intensely aromatic flavour, with a hint of mint and fruity sweetness. Black cardamom has a slightly different flavour. It has a uniquely smoky taste along with the cooling sensation of menthol.
Like many other spices mentioned here, cardamom also has numerous health benefits, and has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times. It is thought to have both soothing and detoxifying properties, and also has potent antioxidant and diuretic effects which may help manage blood pressure. It also noted for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, and can help ease digestive and respiratory issues, as well as assist in weight management.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice that has been used for centuries. In fact, it can be traced back to the ancient Indian Vedic culture. and is thought to have many medicinal qualities, having been used extensively in traditional Chinese, Siddha, and Ayurvedic medicine.
Turmeric is native to the tropical forests of South Asia and the Indian subcontinent. It is a perennial plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae, or ginger family. When the root of the plant is dried, it can be ground into a fine yellow powder with a bitter, peppery, but uniquely sweet “bite”.
It is widely used as a spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, often known as “The Golden Spice”. It is popular in Indian cuisine and is used to flavour and colour curry dishes and curry powder, as well as some restorative beverages such as turmeric (golden) milk and latte. The influence of Indian cuisine has spread far and wide with some Ethiopian and South African dishes using the spice to flavour and colour their cooking. It is an extremely versatile spice often added to cakes, ice cream, cereals, and sauces, without impacting the flavour.
Like a number of other highly effective spices, turmeric has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. High levels of the bioactive compound curcumin contained in turmeric, is thought to enhance brain hormones and boost neuron growth, and may help to guard against some forms of brain degeneration. It may also lower the risk of heart disease, and help in treating and managing arthritis, amongst many other purported health benefits.
If you want to add a little spice to your life or need some new spices to pep up your cuisine and boost your health, then consider cooking with the spices listed above. There's something here for everyone! Each spice has its own unique flavour and additional health benefits, and can be used in a wide variety of dishes and beverages, or even around the house. Whether you are looking for the best spices for chicken dishes, curries or vegetarian meals, or for a spiced beverage or dessert that will add that extra pizzaz, we have it all at Spices2Go!
Head over to our shop today if you would like to see the full range of spices, and would enjoy the convenience of being able to purchase your spices online.