5 Ways to Literally Spice Up Your Meals
Holidays mean time with family, a lot of food, and even more cooking. That includes the dreaded task of trying to come up with new things to cook each night. Spices are a magic way to add flavor to your dish and will also help provide nutritional benefits. For this reason, you must have the proper spices available when you are cooking. Different types of spices work better in different recipes; thus, it is important to have variety in your spice selection. Here are some ways to help you spice up your meals.
1. Add Some Chili
If you are looking for something extra spicy, consider chili powder as your spice of choice. A little bit of this spice will add plenty of kick to whatever you are cooking. It is also a great way to make soups and stews taste hearty. The chili peppers give it a slightly savory taste and a lingering heat that will make your mouth tingle. Add chili powder to your food, providing a subtle but spicy flavor that complements your dish’s taste.
You can also consider chili oil to add heat to your food and provide a little subtlety. The chili oil is made by infusing the chili peppers in oil and creating a lovely flavor and aroma. Adding chili oil to your dish provides excellent flavor and makes the dish taste savory. Using a chili oil recipe, you can make your spice from home and add flavor to your dishes.
2. Juicing with Fresh Lemon
An essential ingredient for many dishes is lemon juice, which adds a refreshing taste that will make your salad, soup, or fruit cup much more refreshing. Lemon juice also helps enhance the flavors of your fruit or vegetable by imparting some zesty notes that naturally make up for its bland taste. For example, its acidity will help tenderize your chicken and make it moister.
In addition, lemon juice is a wonderful addition to your dishes due to its nutritional properties. It provides essential vitamins such as vitamin C, which is needed for the body’s healthy functioning, and vitamin B6, which helps maintain healthy nerve function.
3. Try Some Curry
Curry powder is popular among Indian cuisines and adds excellent flavor to your food. It mixes well with other spices and can enhance your dish’s taste while adding a subtle but distinct aroma that will make your mouth water. Anything from a stew to chicken to rice can be spiced up using curry powder. With its distinct smell, curry is also a great way of making something smell better without having an overpowering aroma.
Dishes full of vegetables are best served with the right amount of spices. Leafy vegetables, such as lettuce, can be very bland, so adding some curry powder will add flavor and make them taste delicious. Curry can help bring out the natural flavors in your food while adding some heat that will keep you coming back for more.
4. Cinnamon
Some dishes, such as baked goods and pizza toppings, are particularly sugary and could use a little sweetness to make them more palatable. Cinnamon is one of the best ways to add this subtle sweetness that will bring out the flavor without making your food taste too sweet. You can also add cinnamon to marinades to make them more flavorful. Its slightly sweet aroma will enhance anything you put in a while, adding a spicy taste.
5. Turmeric
Another spice that adds both flavor and slightly different heat to your dish is turmeric. Its unique sweet and spicy taste makes this spice popular, and you can also use it as a paste. Its mild taste lets you use it when you need just some sweetness for your dish. In addition, you can use it for pasta dishes, stews, and curries to enhance the taste without making things too rich. Adding some turmeric to your dish will help add flavor without making things too strong.
Conclusion
Spices have unique properties that enhance the taste of particular food while providing health benefits. When adding spice to your dish, it should not only be based on how much you like the taste but how much flavor it provides. You should also choose the right quantity of spice for your dish and use it in the right amounts.
