Susan's Seasoning Suggestions for Common Foods
Susan's Seasoning Suggestions for Common Foods
For thousands of years, humankind has relied entirely on plants, herbs, and spices to treat illnesses both minor and serious. On every continent, stretching back centuries, native cultures turned to indigenous plants to develop healing remedies. Over 4,500 years ago, Chinese and Native Americans began to organize bodies of knowledge about the medicinal properties of herbs and spices. In this article, I will feature some of my favorite culinary herbs and suggest ways to use them in food. While I choose to eat at a plant-based diet, I will suggest some common food uses for spices using animal products, for those you who don’t embrace a vegan or vegetarian diet.
To purchase my popular book A HUG IN A MUG, click HERE. In this book, you will learn how easy it is to use healthy spices in your favorite recipes to reap automatic benefits. In addition to writing about the healing power of countless spices and culinary herbs and the myriad ways they benefit the body, you will also find out...
- A spice used worldwide that helps reduce inflammation and cholesterol
- The best spices to boost metabolism and help you lose weight
- The humble spice that's proving even more effective than aspirin
- You'll never want to be without this culinary gem for motion sickness
- Spices that give your brain "wake-up chemicals" and boost your energy
- The spice that can make an ordinary cook into a stellar chef
- And so much more!
VEGETABLES
Beets: Allspice, anise, caraway, chives, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, fennel, ginger, mint, mustard, nutmeg, parsley
Broccoli: Basil, garlic, mustard, nutmeg, sage, savory, pepper
Brussels Sprouts: Chives, garlic, marjoram, mustard, parsley, pepper
Carrots: Allspice, anise, cardamom, chervil, chives, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, dill, garlic, ginger, mint, mustard, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme
Cauliflower: Cumin, curry, garlic, ginger, mustard, nutmeg, parsley, pepper, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
Eggplant: Basil, cumin, garlic, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, pepper, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme
Green Beans: Basil, dill, marjoram, mint, mustard, oregano, rosemary, tarragon
Mushrooms: Basil, cardamom, chervil, dill, garlic, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, pepper, savory, tarragon
Peas: Basil, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, ginger, mint, parsley, pepper, sage, tarragon, thyme
Spinach: Allspice, basil, cardamom, cayenne, chervil, coriander, dill, garlic, nutmeg, parsley, pepper
Summer Squash: Basil, chiles, cilantro, dill, garlic, marjoram, oregano, parsley, pepper, tarragon, thyme
Sweet Potatoes and Winter Squash: Allspice, cardamom, chiles, cilantro, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, marjoram, nutmeg, pepper, sage, savory, thyme
Tomatoes (it's really a fruit): Basil, chervil, chiles, chives, cilantro, coriander, cumin, dill, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, pepper, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme
PROTEIN FOODS
Beans and Legumes: Basil, bay leaf, cayenne, chiles, cilantro, coriander, cumin, garlic, marjoram, oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, thyme, turmeric
Beef: Bay leaf, cayenne, chiles, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, garlic, ginger, mustard, paprika, marjoram, mustard oregano, paprika, parsley, rosemary, savory, thyme
Fish and Seafood: Allspice, anise, bay leaf, cayenne, chives, coriander, cumin, curry, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mustard, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
Lamb: Allspice, basil, coriander, curry, garlic, marjoram, mint, mustard, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, savory, thyme, turmeric
Pork: Allspice, bay leaf, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, fennel, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mint, mustard, nutmeg, paprika, parsley, pepper, savory, tarragon, thyme
Poultry: Allspice, basil, bay leaf, cayenne, chiles, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, curry, dill, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mustard, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, parsley, pepper, rosemary, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
Make Friends With Your Spice Rack
Make friends with your spice rack and, if possible, grow some culinary spices in pots in your kitchen and in your garden, weather permitting.
As a culinary instructor for over 35 years (and a former natural-foods caterer and private chef for some entertainment celebrities), I always look for the freshest and best spices available, and also ones that are affordable.