When cooking different meals every day, the types of foods and tastes can start to come across a little dull when so heavily repeated. Begin shaking up the flavors of your original dishes with a cabinet refresh on spices and seasonings. We’ve rounded up a few of our following favorites that aren’t always utilized by many, but tastes delicious when paired with a variety of foods.
Old Bay
If from the state of Maryland, Old Bay seasoning is no stranger to you, but to the rest of the world, it’s a hidden flavor hack that has yet to be discovered. Mixed with celery salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes and paprika, it’s like giving a more distinct flavor and spicy upgrade to regular salt. Most have been known to add it to seafood, especially crabs. However, Old Bay tastes great when slathered on grilled cheese or even corn on the cob.
Sumac
This particular spice is derived from the sumac bush, which produces deep, dry red berries. Those berries are then ground up into a powder. Sumac is packed with flavor that reciprocates a lemon, but without the same level of tartness. This seasoning is paired well with meats such as lamb, chicken and fish. It may even compliment the flavor of a few grilled veggies.
Cumin
Taken from a member of the parsley family, cumin is a dried seed of a plant called Cuminum cyminum. Many may describe the flavor as earthy and nutty. Some have also said it has bitter undertones. Dishes that best compliment cumin range from a creamy carrot soup to a well-prepared steak. Think of this spice as parsley 2.0.
Creole
When looking for the right amount of peppers and herbs, creole is the right seasoning for you. Mixed with paprika, dried basil, oregano, cayenne pepper and black pepper, this is a spice that comes packed with flavor and is the perfect topping to complete a dish. Some of the best meals to pair it with is shrimp linguine, jambalaya or even rice.
Mexican Cocoa
Mexican cocoa is similar to mexican chocolate, which is ground cacao and not chocolate chips or cocoa powder. This is the perfect blend of spicy and sweet and can be topped on dessert items for an extra kick. The season is normally famous for being added to a regular mexican hot chocolate.