10 Best Spices For Healthy Cooking by Matthew Kaplan (Guest Post)

Matthew Kaplan is an Editor for FaveDiets.com (now called RecipeLion), a popular online resource for healthy recipes and healthy cooking tips. 

FaveDiets.com is now called FaveHealthyRecipes and it is still a fantastic place for lots of healthy cooking recipes to help you!  The article presented below is available for publication and use by anyone.

**Salt didn't make the list.  But we were so happy to see black pepper among the chosen ones.  :)   Everyday Exotic Spices follows FaveHealthy Recipes on Pinterest.

How To Use Spices:
The 10 Best Spices for Healthy Cooking

For an easy and guilt-free way to add flavor to any recipe, use food spices. Even the largest amount of the top spice of your choice in a dish transforms a recipe from blah to ta-da! Let this spice list show you how to use the best spices to add tons of flavor without adding calories.


(1)  Black Pepper - Crisp, slightly spicy and unbelievably versatile, it is no large wonder that black pepper is the most common spice in the world. Black pepper is a great way to add a touch of heat and a bright aroma to just about any sort of savory application, from eggs and salads to rice and beef. To get the most flavor out of black pepper, freshly grind whole peppercorns using a pepper mill.

XQXQ Wood Salt & Pepper Mill Set, Pepper Grinders, Salt Shakers with Adjustable Ceramic Rotor- 8 in -Pack of 2

(2)  Cinnamon - Cinnamon is one of the best spices around because of its surprising versatility. One of the more potent of the essential spices, only a little cinnamon is needed to bring its trademark dense and rich flavor to a dish. Classically associated with the list of spices used in dessert, cinnamon is a great addition to savory rice and Indian dishes.


(3)  Cumin - Another popular food spice, cumin has a rich smoky flavor that works well in a variety of dishes, particularly Mexican and Indian recipes. Cumin is one of the best spices for cooking because it can be added to a wide variety of recipes.


(4)  Coriander - Coriander is one of the most unique spices in that when this seed is planted, it becomes the herb cilantro. However, considering coriander brings a bright, warm, almost citrus flavor to a dish, the seed tastes nothing like the herb. Coriander works best in a recipe as a contrast to the heavier smokey flavor of cumin or as a compliment to orange and lemon flavors.


(5)  Cloves - Extremely aromatic and slightly sweet, cloves are the top spice that contributes to the distinctive smell of Indian food. Cloves, whether whole or crushed, have a strong flavor and are best used in large amounts. Sprinkle a pinch of crushed cloves in your coffee or tea to add a bright chai flavor.


(6)  Cayenne Pepper - If you want to add a lot of intense spicy heat to a recipe, cayenne pepper is the top spice of choice. A tiny bit goes a long way, making cayenne pepper one of the best spices for transforming the flavor of a dish. Great in a whole host of recipes where you want a spicy kick, try mixing it up by adding a touch of cayenne pepper to your sweet chocolate recipes.


(7)  Turmeric - While traditionally used in curries and Indian-style recipes, turmeric is one of the best spices for adding color and aroma to a dish. Add turmeric to your spice list next time you make rice or soup. Plus, turmeric has a whole host of medicinal benefits, including as an anti-inflammatory.


(8)  Paprika - Essentially just dried and crushed red bell peppers, paprika is one of the essential spices for Hungarian and many Eastern European recipes. Ranging from sweet to slightly spicy, paprika adds a pungent, bright and colorful element to any recipe.


(9)  Mustard Seed - Found on the essential spice list of cooks from Western Europe to South Asia, the mustard seed is an aromatic spice with a touch of heat, perfect for complimenting the stronger flavors found in heavy meat dishes and pickles. Think of the flavor of the mustard seed as a less intense version of horseradish or wasabi.


(10)  Ginger - Slightly spicy and pungent, but with just enough sweetness and aroma, ginger should be on the spices list of every home cook. Whether for adding a bright pungency to Chinese and Japanese recipes or for adding a touch of the spice of cookies and sweet drinks, ginger is one of the most unique spices because of its versatility. Plus, ginger is great for digestion issues such as nausea and diarrhea.


This article was made available for republication via: articlebase,com

Beyond Turmeric: 5 Indian Spices You Need in Your Pantry Now | One Green Planet (Reblog)

So happy to be learning more and more about world cuisine; especially Indian food and the spices used in various dishes. Found this blog post and have to reblog. Wouldn't be right to keep this cooking wisdom to myself.  😊

The best thing is that I love all of these spices and they can be easily be purchased via my online spice shop or probably at your local grocery store, depending on where you live.

Beyond Turmeric: 5 Indian Spices You Need in Your Pantry Now | One Green Planet

OGP specializes in vegan recipes.

 More from One Green Planet.

Tips and Tricks to Use Turmeric in the Kitchen

Turmeric is potent stuff, and it has made a recent bang on the "Let food by thy medicine" scene. It's no wonder really, as the bright orange spice has serious anti-inflammatory properties that have garnered it attention as a natural preventative and/or treatment for things like arthritis, assorted cancers and Alzheimer's, to name but a few.

Peach Jalebi: Indian Funnel Cake [Vegan] - Made with Saffron and Cardamon

1 cups sugar; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 cup peach juice; 4-5 saffron strands; 1 teaspoon ground cardamom; A pinch of orange food coloring (optional) ...

Spicing It Up with Cumin: Health Benefits, Tips, and Recipes

Cumin, an oblong seed with ridges and a yellow-brown color, has been used since ancient times in Mediterranean and Asian cuisine. It originated in Egypt and belongs to the same family as caraway, parsley, and dill.

Why Ginger-fication of our Food Is a Good Thing

Ginger is a wonderful thing. It's highly medicinal, known to combat stomach ailments of all kinds and has anti-inflammatory properties said to rival any non-steroidal drug in its treatment of muscle and joint pain.

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Make Sure the Saffron You Buy is Worth It

SAFFRON has been called "The World's Most Legendary Spice" [1]. It's not just legendary, it's expensive.  There are stories and myths about this spice from the Mediterranean to Arabia to India to Italy to Spain. If this spice could talk it could probably tell you of its interesting travels around the world. It has been used to dye fabrics, as medicine, as fragrance, and in cooking.

• IMPORTANT TIP: As stated this spice is very expensive, so don't get cheated. “If the liquid colors immediately, you have a fake on your hands. Authentic saffron takes about 10 to 15 minutes of soaking before it changes the color of the water.” [2]

For your information, since it is so expensive, you might want to know if you can grow it in your own garden. The answer is YES!! [3] The only thing that the flowers are so beautiful, you might not want to harvest them into saffron strands. [4]

♦ REFERENCES:

[1] “The History of Saffron: Mythology, Legends in Italy and Abroad.” CROCUS D'ORO, 2018, http://www.crocusdoro.com/en/history-of-saffron/.

[2] “Interesting Facts about Saffron.” Just Fun Facts, 2018, https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-saffron/.

[3] Rhoades, Heather. “Growing Saffron: How To Grow Saffron Crocus Bulbs.” Gardening Know How, 1 July 2021, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm.

[4] Grant, Amy. “Harvesting Saffron Crocus - When And How To Harvest Saffron.” Gardening Know How, 10 Oct. 2020, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/saffron-harvesting-information.htm.

• Saffron Market Outlook | Industry Statistics 2021-2027 | Global Market Insights

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What Are the 3 Obvious Reasons Why People Love Herbs and Spices?

Several years back I started looking for ways to earn income working from home. Affiliate marketing was suggested and since eating is one of my favorite things, I decided to kill two birds with one stone Watching a lot of cooking shows on television inspired me and I wanted to learn how to use different herbs and spices in my cooking. I signed up to become an affiliate marketer for various companies that sell cooking ingredients. In order to market the products, I learned about them: how to use the ingredients in various recipes, the medicinal benefits, etc. There are three awesome things about herbs and spices that I already knew but my knowledge and understanding have been reinforced. They are the 3 obvious reasons why people love herbs and spices.

• Number One: Spices and herbs can turn everyday meals into a sumptuous fare and make dining with family and friends a very enjoyable and memorable event. Not that sitting down at the table with friends or family and partaking of a bland meal doesn’t have its positives. I mean … you can have great fun with relatives and friends at the table – telling jokes, talking about sports, the weather, etc. Everything but the food! Oh, there won’t be any insults. But there won’t be any compliments dished up either. They probably won’t look forward to coming over for another meal and will likely make polite excuses about why they can’t attend the next time they’re invited.

• Number Two: Spices and herbs help you to develop a healthy respect and appreciation not just for various cuisines but for different cultures. One of my favorite TV cooking shows is “East Meets West” because the aim of the program is to blend the cooking techniques and ingredients of eastern and western dishes to make a fusion cuisine. My interest in learning more about herbs and spices started was because I wanted to use more than just salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, to season my food; and also wanted to make dietary changes for health reasons without having to eat tasteless food. Mind you, there was no excuse for me limiting myself to what one well known American chef referred to as “house seasoning” (salt, black pepper, and garlic powder). In the house I grew up in, my mother used oregano, bay leaf, thyme, allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, Italian herb blend, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, etc. There were all kinds of herbs and spices in our kitchen cabinet. All used – whenever my mom was doing the cooking. When you have to do your own cooking; you look for easy street. Now that I’m older and wiser and there are lots of cooking shows on television all the time – there’s no lack of inspiration.

• Number Three: Spices have a fascinating history. At one time they were considered such a highly valued commodity that nations fought wars over them. Indonesia was proclaimed a republic in 1945, and the islands which were formerly known as the Spice Islands are known today as the Moluccas Islands. Discovering these islands was quite an adventure for the explorers. As a result of their efforts and sacrifice, we can experience the joys of many flavorful and exotic herbs and spices every day because they can be easily purchased online or at our local grocery store. Even though obtaining them is now very convenient, their availability, not just for cooking but for medicinal purposes, should never be taken for granted.

Simply Ming: Easy Techniques for East-Meets-West Meals

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* Follow my posts about Herbs and Spices on Noise.Cash.

Spices and Herbs - Harvesting and Storing Spices and Herbs in the Freezer

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