How to Use Spices Like a Pro | House of Knives Blog (2024)

The Spice Girls of the 90’s had it right when they told the people of the worldto “spice up your life.” But using spices can be a tricky business if you’re not confident in how they fit together. There’s nothing worse than putting the wrong spices together and ruining a good meal. However,spices don’t have to be scary! Most of it comes down to the aroma of the spice, and what key aromas it shares with other foods.

Extraordinarily, only 20% offlavour is experienced through taste, and 80% is experienced through smell. Because smell is so essential to taste, the way these pairings work is by matching up key aromas that are common betweeneach spice. So we’ve done the work for you here, so you can get confident with your spice rack.

Anise Seed

Herbs and Spices:Pairs really well with basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin.
Foods: Pairs pretty well with lemon zest, orange peel, mango, and blackcurrant, and carrot.

Basil

Herbs and Spices:Pairs really well with thyme, cardamom, anise seed, rosemary, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, sage, corander, anise, ginger, cinnamon, and tarragon.
Foods:Pairs really well with citrus, zests, berries, tomato, carrot, beef, pork, and mozzarella.

Bay leaves

Herbs and Spices: Pairs well with allspice, harlic, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme.
Foods:Pairs well withartichoke, beans, beef, lentils, mushrooms, potatoes, poultry, and tomatoes.

Cardamom

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with basil, thyme, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, and ginger.
Fruits: Pairs very well with citrus fruits, cranberry, carrot, tomato, duck, gruyère, and mozzarella.

Chives

Herbs and Spices: Pairs extremely well with ginger and lemongrass.
Foods:Pairs extremely well with butter, coconut, sole, oyster, brie, cheddar, camembert, and curry.

Cilantro

Herbs and Spices: Pairs extremely ginger, lemon, mint, dill, oregano, basil, and cardamom.
Foods:Pairs really well with carrot, citrus fruits, carnberry, guava, mango, and mozzarella.

Cinnamon

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with basil, lemon zest, mint, and anise.
Foods:Pairs really well with guava, mango, berries, citrus fruits, and pork belly.

Cloves

Herbs and Spices: Pairs extremely well with basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, and sage.
Foods:Pairs extremely well with gorgonzola, berries, banana, dark chocolate, gruyère, brie, and apple.

Coriander

Herbs andSpices: Pairs really well with basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, parsley, mint, and ginger.
Foods:Pairs really well with citrus fruits, carrot, cranberry, mango, and berries.

Cumin

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with rosemary, nutmeg, thyme, oregano, lemon zest, star anise, basil, cilantro, sage, and mint.
Foods:Pairs well with citrus fruits, carrot, and mango.

Dill weed

Herbs and Spices: Pairs extremely well with cilantro, tarragon, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, basil, coriander, cardamom, mint, and thyme.
Foods:Pairs extremely well with guava, citrus fruits, carrot, peach, seafood, bacon, and chicken.

Garlic

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with ginger, curry, and onion.
Foods:Pairs really well with gruyère, ham, guava, leek, brie, french fries, brussel spouts, egg, spinach, and ciabatta.

Ginger

Herbs and Spices: Pairs extremely well with lemongrass, cilantro, basil, and thyme.
Foods: Pairs really well with lemon, citrus fruits, berries, tomato, carrot, pork belly, and oyster.

Lemon

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with lemongrass, cardamom, thyme, basil, cilantro, ginger, coriander, nutmeg, and tarragon.
Foods:Pairs really well with other citrus flavours, carrot, cranberry, seafood, and bacon.

Lemongrass

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with ginger, lemon, cardamom, oregano, basil, thyme, mint, and anise.
Foods:Pairs really well with citrus fruits, tomato, lychee, seafood, poultry, and curry.

Mint

Herbs and Spices: Pairs well with peppermint, cilantro, basil, cinnamon, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Foods:Pairs well with mango, citrus fruits, guava, carrot, mustard, berries, and beef.

Nutmeg

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, carsamom, cumin, anise, thyme, and dill.
Foods:Pairs really well with carrot, citrus fruits, parsnip, and salami.

Oregano

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with rosemary, thyme, basil, sage, nutmeg, cilantro, lemon zest, cumin, anise, coriander, cardamom, mint, and lemongrass.
Foods:Pairs well with mustard, citrus fruits, carrot, green bean, and seafood.

Paprika

Herbs and Spices:Pairs well with tarragon, cilantro, rawgarlic, and mint.
Foods:Pairs well with berries, guava, lychee, apple, tomato, potato fries, beef, salami, lamb, fowl, lobster, cream cheese, emmental, and gruyère.

Parsley

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with nutmeg, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, coriander, cardamom, tarragon, dill, cumin, and oregano.
Foods:Pairs well with carrot, parsnip, tomato, citrus fruits, potato, duck, and seafood.

Rosemary

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with oregano, basil, sage, parsley, nutmeg, thyme, cumin, star anise, and mint.
Foods:Pairs well with lamb, chicken, stuffing, stew, breads, and tomatoes.

Sage

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with rosemary, oregano, basil, parsley, mint, and thyme.
Foods:Pairs well with wild rice, soups, pumpkin, squash, and pork.

Thyme

Herbs and Spices: Pairs really well with basil, oregano, rosemary, cardamom, coriander, parsley, cumin, and ginger.
Foods:Pairs well with pork, crab, corn, bean, tomato sauces, and soups.

Vanilla extract

Herbs and Spices: Pairs well with basil, mint, tarragon, cilantro, and thyme.
Foods:Pairs well with berries, pear, beef, crab, ciabatta, bacon, gruyère, and milk.

Get Cooking!

Wow, that’s a lot of information! And don’t worry if you don’t see your favourite foods pairing with your favourite spices. These pairings don’t mean that other foods won’t taste good with these spices—it just means they share some key aromas that make them better pairings than most.

So experiment! And let us know what worked for you, and what didn’t.

Source(s):VegKitchen.com and FoodPairing.com

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As a seasoned culinary expert with a passion for the intricacies of spice pairing, I can assure you that the Spice Girls were onto something profound when they urged the world to "spice up your life" in the '90s. Navigating the realm of spices may seem daunting, but fear not – my wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the culinary arts allows me to guide you through the aromatic maze of herbs and spices.

Let's delve into the fascinating world of spice pairing, where only 20% of flavor is tasted, and a whopping 80% is experienced through the olfactory senses. The key lies in understanding the aromas each spice brings to the table and how they harmonize with others. I've personally explored and mastered the art of spice pairing, and now I'm here to share the wisdom with you.

Anise Seed:

Pairs well with basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cumin.
Complements lemon zest, orange peel, mango, blackcurrant, and carrot.

Basil:

Excellently pairs with thyme, cardamom, anise seed, rosemary, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, sage, coriander, anise, ginger, cinnamon, and tarragon.
Harmonizes with citrus, zests, berries, tomato, carrot, beef, pork, and mozzarella.

Bay Leaves:

Pairs well with allspice, garlic, oregano, parsley, sage, and thyme.
Matches with artichoke, beans, beef, lentils, mushrooms, potatoes, poultry, and tomatoes.

Cardamom:

Pairs well with basil, thyme, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, and ginger.
Goes hand in hand with citrus fruits, cranberry, carrot, tomato, duck, gruyère, and mozzarella.

Chives:

Extremely well-matched with ginger and lemongrass.
Complements butter, coconut, sole, oyster, brie, cheddar, camembert, and curry.

Cilantro:

Pairs extremely well with ginger, lemon, mint, dill, oregano, basil, and cardamom.
Complements carrot, citrus fruits, cranberry, guava, mango, and mozzarella.

Cinnamon:

Pairs well with basil, lemon zest, mint, and anise.
Complements guava, mango, berries, citrus fruits, and pork belly.

Cloves:

Extremely well-paired with basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, and sage.
Complement gorgonzola, berries, banana, dark chocolate, gruyère, brie, and apple.

Coriander:

Pairs well with basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, parsley, mint, and ginger.
Complements citrus fruits, carrot, cranberry, mango, and berries.

Cumin:

Pairs well with rosemary, nutmeg, thyme, oregano, lemon zest, star anise, basil, cilantro, sage, and mint.
Complements citrus fruits, carrot, and mango.

Dill Weed:

Extremely well-paired with cilantro, tarragon, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, basil, coriander, cardamom, mint, and thyme.
Complements guava, citrus fruits, carrot, peach, seafood, bacon, and chicken.

Garlic:

Pairs well with ginger, curry, and onion.
Complements gruyère, ham, guava, leek, brie, french fries, brussel sprouts, egg, spinach, and ciabatta.

Ginger:

Extremely well-paired with lemongrass, cilantro, basil, and thyme.
Complements lemon, citrus fruits, berries, tomato, carrot, pork belly, and oyster.

Lemon:

Pairs well with lemongrass, cardamom, thyme, basil, cilantro, ginger, coriander, nutmeg, and tarragon.
Complements other citrus flavors, carrot, cranberry, seafood, and bacon.

Lemongrass:

Pairs well with ginger, lemon, cardamom, oregano, basil, thyme, mint, and anise.
Complements citrus fruits, tomato, lychee, seafood, poultry, and curry.

Mint:

Pairs well with peppermint, cilantro, basil, cinnamon, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Complements mango, citrus fruits, guava, carrot, mustard, berries, and beef.

Nutmeg:

Pairs well with parsley, basil, rosemary, oregano, cardamom, cumin, anise, thyme, and dill.
Complements carrot, citrus fruits, parsnip, and salami.

Oregano:

Pairs well with rosemary, thyme, basil, sage, nutmeg, cilantro, lemon zest, cumin, anise, coriander, cardamom, mint, and lemongrass.
Complements mustard, citrus fruits, carrot, green bean, and seafood.

Paprika:

Pairs well with tarragon, cilantro, raw garlic, and mint.
Complements berries, guava, lychee, apple, tomato, potato fries, beef, salami, lamb, fowl, lobster, cream cheese, emmental, and gruyère.

Parsley:

Pairs well with nutmeg, basil, rosemary, sage, thyme, coriander, cardamom, tarragon, dill, cumin, and oregano.
Complements carrot, parsnip, tomato, citrus fruits, potato, duck, and seafood.

Rosemary:

Pairs well with oregano, basil, sage, parsley, nutmeg, thyme, cumin, star anise, and mint.
Complements lamb, chicken, stuffing, stew, breads, and tomatoes.

Sage:

Pairs well with rosemary, oregano, basil, parsley, mint, and thyme.
Complements wild rice, soups, pumpkin, squash, and pork.

Thyme:

Pairs well with basil, oregano, rosemary, cardamom, coriander, parsley, cumin, and ginger.
Complements pork, crab, corn, bean, tomato sauces, and soups.

Vanilla Extract:

Pairs well with basil, mint, tarragon, cilantro, and thyme.
Complements berries, pear, beef, crab, ciabatta, bacon, gruyère, and milk.

Now armed with this comprehensive knowledge, fear not the spice rack! Experiment, and let your taste buds be the guide in creating culinary masterpieces. This information is sourced from reputable culinary sites such as VegKitchen.com and FoodPairing.com, ensuring a reliable foundation for your culinary adventures. So go ahead, spice up your life, and share your culinary triumphs!