Essential herbs and spices

mummybearx

I've got lots of fresh herbs growing on the windowsill, just the pots from MrT that I've used plant food on, they are flourishing!

Fresh I have -
Basil
Flat Leaf Parsley
Curly Parsley
Thyme
Coriander


Dried I have -
Rosemary
Italian seasoning mix (big tub from Costco)
Bay leaves (big tub from Costco)
Sage
Oregano
Chilli flakes
Puttanesca mix we bought in Italy
A spicy herb mix also bought in Italy
Black peppercorns (big tub from Costco)

Sure Ive got more, but thats the main ones I use. I have bought most of them from MrT along with my shopping. Probably not the cheapest out there, but they were bought before I discovered this forum lol

hth

Kilty_2

Lucyeff wrote: »

The problems with herbs and spices is that they all come in different sized packets and jars, don't they? I'd probably get the posh bottles to decant them into and end up with half bottles in the cupboard that I'd used to top up the posh ones and get so upset and bewildered by it all eventually that I'd end up ordering take aways until 2018 when all the lot had gone out of date anyway!

But that's just me. It's a bit crap being me, mostly, and not recommended.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

If I wasn't renting I'd get a "proper" spice rack that fixes to the wall which is basically just narrow shelves, problem solved

MaggieBaking

I take one back from my list and say that I use this the most:



I sprinkle it on chopped chicken breasts when I fry them to make a salad. It does taste really good and it's so quick. I could probably work out the spices but to save faffing it works out cheap considering how long it lasts me.

I've seen lots of cheap spices on eBay - but you have to find somewhere to store what wont fit in the pots and it will need to be absolutely airtight. Spices lose their flavour quickly.

I think you need to work out what it is you would like to make most.

Curries (turmeric, chilli)
Salads (onion bits etc)
Stews (bay leaves, mixed herbs)
Italian (oregano, basil)
Christmas flavours (cinammon, cloves)
Pizzas (fennel seeds, basil)
Roasts (rosemary, garlic salt)

Or you could even put some baking ingredients in them - nutmeg, baking powder, cornflour etc.

MandM90

Dried Parsley
Garlic Powder (shake over sweet potato fries...yum!)
Cayenne Pepper
Chilli Powder
Garam Masala
Cinnamon
Nutmeg (Cinnamon and nutmeg for rice pudding, pancakes, porridge, lots of pies)
Cumin (Use in North African and Mexican cooking)
My own Algerian spice mix which I make up myself and use in all my stews for cous cous
Tumeric
Basil (Pasta sauces)
Rosemary (Roast lamb...yum!)
Bay Leaves
Sage (Sometimes for veggie side dishes and stews)
Thyme
Paprika

That's 16 but I have a few more; we are mad on herbs and spices here and get through them quite fast; we buy them from the indian section then decant as needed...but you need to keep them airtight or they are useless!

Lizbetty

Caribbean seasoning too. I forgot that one.

MandM90

Oh and we have Jerk, All Purpose and All Purpose Fish. DW is half Jamaican so we have lots of yummy Jamaican food when she can wrestle me out of the kitchen!

Mrs_P_Pincher

I wouldn't be buying the spice rack...

I buy bags of spices, usually Natco or Raja, much more MSE, and once they're open I keep them in an air tight container in the cupboard or in a masala dhabba. That way they last for ever without losing colour or fragrance.


I also buy whole and grind as needed.

Black peppercorns
Cumin
Coriander
Turmeric
Cloves
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Chilli flakes
Fenugreek
Asafoetida
Mixed spice (for baking)
Allspice
Mustard seed


Mrs P P

zippychick

Kilty, it will vary from person to person,largely depending what you cook?

Essential herbs and spices is a great thread - ill merge yours with it later on

Zip

CH27

1 Basil
2 Oregano
3 Chives
4 Paprika
5 Tumeric
6 Corriander
7 Cumin powder
8 Cumin seeds
9 Chilli flakes
10 Chilli powder
11 Tarragon
12 Rosemary
13 Cinnamon
14 Mixed herbs
15 Chinese Spice
16 Garam masala

eamon

Don't buy the spice rack. Once opened they keep better in a dark cupboard. Some years ago at a friends house I threw out all their spices & herbs. All opened used maybe once or twice. From memory the youngest for 2 years beyond BBD and the oldest 5 years, all smelt fusty, old and tired. I did notice that they had numerous takeaway menus positioned near the kitchen phone.