Essential herbs and spices

rachbc

Herbs

Oregano
Freeze dried tarragon

Whole spices

Cumin
Coriander
Nutmeg
Dried chillis
Black peppercorns
Cinnamon Sticks
Vanilla Pods


Ground Spices

Cayenne
Paprika
Smoked paprika
Turmeric
Mixed spice
Garam Marsala
Chinese 5 spice

parsonswife8

Kilty wrote: »

Taking notes, thanks everyone so far

Also - cheapest place to buy them? Don't need them in glass jars because the spice rack has it's own bottles....

Lidl's are cheap for spices and herbs, if you don't want large quantities.

sky_bloo

Hi all, I have managed to get myself a new job starting soon, with more sociable hours and no split shifts! So I am really going to throw myself into OS as we're on lower wages for a little while until I get my first pay, but with a bit of planning we'll more than manage. I love cooking now and am a convert to the rubber chicken and my slow cooker and a recently gifted second hand bread maker!! Just wondering what spices or dried herbs people have in their cupboard that they routinely use??

Was thinking chilli powder as a starting point so when I batch cook some bolognaise I can easily change it to chilli with a handful of kidney beans and some chilli. Any other essential dried herbs/spices people have in their cupboards that could be handy?? I quite like making currys and home made soups too.

trolleyrun

Herbs and spices I use quite often:

Mixed herbs, chili powder, ginger, allspice, Cajun seasoning, basil, oregano, paprika, coriander, garlic, rosemary,

Ehm, I could actually be here all day :rotfl:

Mrs_Arcanum

trolleyrun wrote: »

Herbs and spices I use quite often:

Mixed herbs, chili powder, ginger, allspice, Cajun seasoning, basil, oregano, paprika, coriander, garlic, rosemary,

Ehm, I could actually be here all day :rotfl:

All of these plus bay leaf, thyme, sage, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorns, cinnamon, mixed spice & Worcester sauce is handy.

Would have chives, parsley, mint & basil as fresh. Thyme, Sage & Rosemary are good hardy plants to keep outdoors (if you have the space).

gibson123

Paprika - smoked or plain great substitute for chilli if you want something different or less spicy for kids.

Garam Marslam for curries or if you can get it cheap enough pre-mixed curry spices like tikka or korma spices, tarragon for mixing with mayo and leftopver chicken - yummy sandwiches.

sky_bloo

Haha thanks all that's a good help! We've got the biggest rosemary bush outside so I'm often clipping that for foccacia breads and roast potatoes and our two rabbits love a little bit of rosemary and most leafy herbs, they probably eat better than us! Have some herb seeds growing on the windowsill too would love a little herb garden which I might start planning next week. You've given me a good starting point will get a few bits next week to start putting in my cupboard

Alison_Funnell

Thyme - use for so many things.
Curry powder - chose your favourite.
Cinnamon
Sage
Cayenne
Cumin
Coriander
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce
Chinese 5 spice

Everything else like chilli, chives, rosemary I either buy fresh or pick from my garden.

I have rosemary, bay, chives and mint growing at the mo. I also have parsley, more chives, and a few other herbs that I have sown in the last week or so and hopefully they will grow well.

LondonDreamer

I'm repeating ones mentioned above, but these are the ones I always keep to hand...

Mixed herbs - I think the Mr T value ones are really nice, and only 19p a tub.
Dried rosemary (been having a lot of lamb lately)
Dried oregano
Paprika (I use smoked)
Chilli flakes and powder
Bay leaves
Whole cloves
Whole peppercorns

And for baking...

Cinnamon
Mixed spice
Nutmeg
Ginger

These aren't herbs or spices, but great for adding flavour and go into all of my gravies and sauces...

Worcester sauce
Red wine vinegar
Tomato puree
Fresh garlic

Herbs I will buy fresh as required, don't have space to grow them myself unfortunately...

Thyme (Lemon thyme especially good with chicken)
Flat leaf parsley

Barneysmom

Hiya, I know it's neither a herb nor spice but baking powder.
Any cake you make, put a teaspoon of baking powedr in and it'll be the lightest cake you've ever made.

I've got a herb/spice rack that holds 36 jars, so get a big one and you will fill it over time when you learn more and more about them and which ones you like.
Italian seasoning is a good one, I chuck a spoon into omelettes as well as spag bol.