Herbs and Spices
ALLSPICE
Sweet spice of Caribbean origin with a flavour suggesting a blend of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, hence its name. May be purchased as whole, dried berries or ground. When using whole berries, they may be bruised--gently crushed with the bottom of a pan or other heavy instrument--to release more of their flavour.
ANISE
Green-grey fruit or seed of plan of parsley family; available whole and in extracts; unmistakable strong liquorice flavour. Used extensively in confections, sweet pastries, and as a flavouring in liqueurs.
Arrowroot
Great for thickening sauces.
Basil
Goes well with oregano.
Sweet, warm flavour with an aromatic odor, used whole or ground. Good with lamb, fish, roast, stews, ground beef, vegetables, dressing and omelettes.
Bay Leaf
A pungent flavour, use whole leaf but remove before serving. Good in vegetable dishes, fish and seafood, stews and pickles.
A must for soups and stews.
CAPERS
Capers are the small buds of a shrub grown in the Mediterranean. They are pickled in vinegar or dried and salted.
CARAWAY
Has a spicy smell and aromatic taste. Use in cakes, breads, soups, cheese and sauerkraut.
CARDAMON
Sweet spice native to India from ginger family. Used for coffee cake, sweet breads, fruit salad dressings, cookies, cakes, pickling spice.
CAYENNE PEPPER
Very hot ground spice derived from dried cayenne chili pepper.
Celery Seed
Any potato salad has to have it.
Chile Powder
Get the real thing, not a blend.
CHIVES
Mild, sweet herb with a flavour reminiscent of the onion, to which it is related.
CILANTRO
Green, leafy herb resembling flat leaf (Italian) parsley with a sharp, aromatic, somewhat astringent flavour. Also called fresh coriander and commonly referred to as Chinese parsley.
CINNAMON
Popular sweet spice for flavouring baked goods. The aromatic bark of types of laurel trees, it is sold as sticks or ground.
CLOVES
Rich and aromatic East African spice used ground in baked goods and whole in pickling brines and as a seasoning for baked hams. Provides flavour to both sweet and savory recipes.
CORIANDER
Small spicy-sweet seeds of the coriander plant, which is also called cilantro or Chinese parsley. Used whole or ground as a seasoning. Particularly used for sausages and variety meats.
CUMIN
A Middle Eastern spice with a strong, dusky, aromatic flavour. Use in chili, marinades, and basting sauces, and add to huevos rancheros or other egg dishes.
CURRY POWDER
Generic term for a blend of spices commonly used to flavour East Indian-style dishes. Most curry powders will include coriander, cumin, chili powder, and turmeric.
DILL
Essential for fish.
Fine, feathery leaves with a sweet aromatic flavour sold fresh or dry.
FENNEL
Crisp, refreshing, mildly anise-flavoured bulb vegetable. Seeds and leaves are both used as a spice. Has a sweet hot flavour. Wide variety of uses. Popular for seasoning pork roasts and fish dishes.
FIVE SPICE CHINESE POWDER
Mixture used to season roast meat, poultry, and stir fry dishes. Ingredients include anise, cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and ginger.
Garlic Powder
I use it in nearly every savoury dish.
GARLIC
Member of the same group of plants as the onion. Robust flavouring, available as garlic powder, garlic salt, garlic chips, garlic seasoning powder, and garlic juice, in a huge variety of dishes.
GINGER
Ginger is a fresh, pungent root sold fresh, dried or ground. It is used as a confection or condiment. It may be found crystallized or candied, ground or as a syrup.
JUNIPER BERRIES
From juniper, an evergreen shrub. Add to marinades and sauces for game and lamb.
MARJORAM
Pungent, aromatic herb used dried or fresh to season meats, particularly lamb, poultry, seafood, vegetable and eggs.
MINT
The most common commercial types of mint are spearmint and peppermint. Refreshing, sweet herbs used fresh or dry to flavour lamb, poultry, vegetables and fruits.
MUSTARD
Mustard is available in three forms: whole seeds, powdered (referred to as dried mustard), and prepared (which is made from powdered or coarsely ground mustard seed mixed with liquid such as vinegar or wine).
NUTMEG
Popular baking spice that is the hard pit of the fruit of the nutmeg tree. May be bought already ground or for fresher flavour, whole. Better to grate your own.
Onion Powder (Hard to find…any suggestions?)
When Jen and I were living in the USA we used this as a flavour booster instead of salt.
OREGANO
Aromatic, pungent and spicy Mediterranean herb. Use fresh or dried for all types of savoury dishes. Especially popular with tomatoes and other vegetables.
Rub between palms before adding to release more flavour.
PAPRIKA
The ground dried pod of a variety of capsicum. Paprika is more than a garnish. It is a seasoning that is a food enhancer for many dishes, including casseroles, baked potatoes, appetizers, rarebit, chicken, veal and salad dressings.
PARSLEY
A low growing member of the celery family. Available in two varieties: the curly leaf type, and the flat leaf, or Italian, type. Best when used fresh but can be used dry.
PINE NUTS
Small, ivory-coloured seeds extracted from the cones of the species of pine tree, with a rich, slightly resinous flavour.
POPPYSEED
Used for fruit salads and salad dressings, sprinkled over yeast breads or rolls before baking, use in cottage cheese, cream cheese, scrambled eggs, pie crust, cheese sticks, fruit compotes, and noodles.
ROSEMARY
A perennial of the mint family. Use with duck, poultry, lamb, veal, seafood and vegetables. A strong, aromatic flavour.
Saffron
Orange yellow in colour, this spice is used to flavour or colour foods. Use in soup, chicken, rice and fancy bread.
Truly worth the expense. A little goes a long way.
SAGE
Pungent herb used either fresh or dried that goes particularly well with fresh or cured pork, lamb, veal, poultry or vegetables.
SESAME SEEDS
Versatile annual with sweet, nutty flavour used in appetizers, breads, meats and vegetables.
SHALLOT
Small member of the onion family with brown skin, white-to-purple flesh, and a flavour resembling a cross between sweet onion and garlic.
SOY SAUCE
Asian seasoning and condiment usually made from soybeans, wheat or other grain, salt and water. Chinese brands tend to be saltier than Japanese.
TABASCO
Tabasco is a liquid pepper seasoning. It is hot, so use judiciously; a few drops go a long way.
TARRAGON
Fragrant, distinctively sweet herb used fresh or dried as a seasoning for vegetables, salads, chicken, light meats, seafood and eggs.
THYME
Fragrant, clean-tasting, small leafed herb, popular fresh or dried as a seasoning for poultry, light meats, seafood or vegetables.
TURMERIC
Turmeric is the root of a plant belonging to the ginger family. Turmeric is somewhat medicinal in aroma and should be used with restraint. Used primarily in pickling.
Whole Peppercorns
Get a grinder and you won't use pre-ground pepper again!
WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
Traditional English seasoning or condiment; an intensely flavourful, savoury and aromatic blend of many ingredients, including molasses, soy sauce, garlic, onion and anchovies. Popular as a marinade ingredient or table sauce for foods, especially red meats.
ZEST
The thin brightly coloured outermost layer of a citrus fruit's peel.