It’s little surprise in the culinary world that one of the biggest trends of 2018 was the incorporation of spices from other cultures into seemingly ordinary dishes. You’ve probably tasted it in the zing that made a roast chicken dish at that new downtown restaurant really pop all because it used Harissa instead of your usual suspects of rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Want to explore uncharted territory in your kitchen? Then open up your spice rack to include some of these fanciful flavors with international seasons that will really shake things up!
African Seasonings
African cuisine is particularly hot right now in the culinary world. Berbere is one you may have seen on menus near you, a spicy, sweet, and bitter melding that truly makes meat sing. Harissa is another combination of spices that features smoked red peppers and is very popular in North African cuisine.
Asian Seasonings
In China, you’ll find the balance of sweet, sour, savory, and bitter all in one with Chinese Five Spice. Because it’s become so popular, it’s easy to find this seasoning blend in your local supermarket. From Japan, Gomasio is a savory way to add flavor, even to something as simple as a bowl of white rice. It’s a mix of ground-up toasted sesame seeds and coarse salt.
European Seasonings
From Europe, one of the most popular seasonings is Herbes de Provence from France. This divinely aromatic blend of seasonings adds a perfectly sophisticated flavor to any dish, particularly chicken. The country of Georgia deserves particular praise for Khmeli Suneli, a warm and nutty seasoning that has fenugreek, savory, black peppercorns, and coriander, ideal for stews and meat dishes.
Indian Seasonings
The subcontinent of India has a robust roster of warming seasonings that bring brilliance to the cuisine there. A simple addition of Curry Powder, which was invented by the British after inspiration from India, contains turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, coriander, and red pepper for a dazzling way to prepare vegetables or meats. Garam Masala is also getting more attention with its warming flavors of cinnamon and cardamom.
Latin America and Caribbean Seasonings
Fascinate your friends and family with an Adobo-seasoned meat dish. It’s a common seasoning with many purposes, made from garlic, oregano, pepper, and a few other secret spices. It’s easy to find now yet lends a complex flavor profile to your dishes, especially grilled meats. Jerk Spice captures the essence of Jamaica with a spicy hit of red and black pepper that goes surprisingly well with more mellow cinnamon and thyme for a distinctive way to prepare your meats.
Middle Eastern Seasonings
Some of the most flavorful foods in the world come from the Middle East. Big on taste without mucking things up with calories, seasonings like Advieh are intensely popular. With dried rose petals, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cumin, it’s a warming flavor that beautifully brings out the taste of stews. For something fragrant and tangy, try Za’atar, made with sesame seeds, sumac, and thyme.
Venturing out of your comfort zone by choosing international seasonings to give your usual dishes a flavor-lift is one of the best ways to explore your kitchen potential. Which one will you try first?