| Soups | Meats and Fish | Sauces | Vegetables | Desserts | Spice Pairings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allspice | Pumpkin, oyster stew, split pea | Jerk chicken, beef, lamb, poached fish, shrimp | Chili sauce, Jerk sauce, tomato sauce | Carrots, beets, parsnips, winter squash, zucchini, peas, sweet potatoes, turnips | Cakes, gingerbread, apple pie, Christmas pudding, fruit, cookies | Mace, cloves, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg |
| Basil, Sweet | Chicken, tomato, minestrone, beef | Fish, chicken, pork, beef, Italian food | Marinara, basil oil, basil cream, barbeque, salad dressing, marinades | Bell peppers, zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, eggplant, corn, cabbage, asparagus | Mousse, ice cream, cookies | Oregano, thyme, marjoram, rosemary |
| Bay Leaves | Beef, chicken, vegetable, bisque | Shrimp, pot roast, shellfish, casseroles, poached white fish, ratatouille | Tomato, BBQ sauce, bechamel, bread | Mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums | Cakes, custard, panna cotta, | Sage, marjoram, oregano, thyme |
| Caraway Seed | Borscht, carrot | Slow cooked meat | Butter, yogurt sauce | Cabbage, carrots, potato, apples | Cookies, cakes | Fennel, garlic, cilantro, dill, thyme, oregano |
| Cardamom | Lentil, carrot | Duck, pork, chicken, beef | yogurt, pasta | Sweet potatoes, peas, corn, carrots, citrus | Cake, cookies, pudding, kulfi | Ginger, cumin, cinnamon, turmeric |
| Celery Seed | Tomato, vegetable, beef | Pot roast, curries, chicken, baked fish, meat loaf | Ketchep, BBQ, cocktail, mayonnaise | Peas, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes | Cookies | Cracked black pepper |
| Chili Powder | Gazpacho, chili, minestrone | Tacos, burritos, casseroles, beef, chicken, pork, hamburgers | Tomato, sambal oelek, gochujang, chili, chimichurri | Tomatoes, peas, corn, potatoes, cauliflower, kale, spinach | Ice cream, fudge, cheesecake, chocolate | Cumin, cayenne pepper, garlic, cinnamon, Cilantro seeds |
| Cinnamon | Split Pea, sweet potato, pumpkin | Ham, chicken, lamb, casseroles, chili beans, braised meats | Caramel or chocolate, chutney, relish, fruit sauce | Sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, corn | Hot beverages, pies, puddings, muffins, cakes, breads, cookies | Cloves, all spice, nutmeg, ginger |
| Cloves | Garlic, Split Pea | Lamb, beef, ham, chicken, fish | Relishes, chutnies | Tomatoes, beets, squash, cabbage | Cookies, fruit mince pies, hot beverages, cakes | Star anise, Sechuan pepper |
| Cilantro Seeds | Lentil, carrot | Beef, tofu, chicken, curries, dry rubs | Chermoula, pasta | Potato, onion, bell pepper, tomatoes | Biscuits, cakes, fudge. | Cumin, cinnamon, chili |
| Cumin | Gazpacho, vegetable, carrot | Fish, pork, beef, chicken | Yogurt, BBQ, Mexican Sauce | Carrots, tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, corn | Semolina, fudge, gheera, grilled pears, cookies | Turmeric, oregano, garlic, ginger, cinnamon |
| Curry Powder | Beef, chicken | Beef, lamb, chicken, pork, fish, veal curries | Cream Sauce | Potatoes, cabbage, corn, peas, zucchini, broccoli | Mousse, ice cream, cakes | Cayenne, turmeric, cumin, cilantro, fenugreek |
| Dill Seed | Potato, carrot, chicken noodle, chowder, split pea | Pork, veal, burgers, lamb, salmon | Creamy, garlic, relish, vinegar | Corn, peas, cabbage, beets, asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes | Biscuits, cakes | Paprika, parsley, mustard, horseradish, basil garlic |
| Fennel Seed | Vegetable, minestrone | Sausage, pork, chicken, lamb, shellfish, casseroles | Tomato | Cucumber, carrot, pumpkin, zucchini, carrots | Biscuits, puddings, cakes | Cloves, chervil, basil, thyme, oregano |
| Garlic | Vegetable, minestrone, chicken | Beef, chicken, pork, veal, lamb, seafood, fish, rabbit, venison, game | Garlic, marinara, pesto, vinaigrettes, dressings, Italian sauces, BBQ | Tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes, eggplant, bell peppers | Truffles, cookies, brownies | Onion, chili, turmeric, parsley, cilantro, basil, ginger, Italian herbs |
| Ginger | Chicken, vegetable, split pea, gazpacho | Fish, chicken, beef, pork, tofu | Stir fries, marinades, dipping sauces | Carrots, squash, beets, citrus, potatoes | Cookies, cakes, gingerbread, ice cream | Cilantro, garlic, turmeric, basil, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom |
| Mace | Vegetable, chicken, tomato | Sausages, pate, beef, ham, venison, rabbit, fish, lamb | Bechamel, marinades, Bolognese | Carrots, sweet potatoes, squash | Donuts, custards, cakes, puddings | Cloves, vanilla, saffron, cumin, ginger, allspice |
| Marjoram | Chowder, tomato, onion, vegetable, beef | Meat loaf, casseroles, roast beef, chicken, fish | Tomato, Italian-style | Peas, squash, broccoli, tomatoes, corn, cabbage, carrots, asparagus, green beans | Puddings, cookies | Paprika, basil, cumin, sumac, rosemary |
| Mustard Seed | Vegetable | Chicken, fish, ham, pork | Marinades, honey mustard, gravy | Leafy greens, parsnip, pumpkin, carrots, pickles | Cupcakes, ice cream, streusel, pie | Fennel, cumin, cilantro, oregano, curry leaf, dill |
| Nigella | Vegetable | Chicken, beef, curries, casseroles | Glazes, mustard | Fava beans, squash, mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, broccoli | Pastries, bread | Fennel seeds, fenugreek, cumin, mustard seeds |
| Nutmeg | Chowder, vegetable, pumpkin | Lamb, veal, sausage | Bechamiel, cream, chocolate | Cabbage, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, beets | Pies, beverages, custard, muffins, cakes, cookies, puddings | Cloves, allspice |
| Oregano | Vegetable, minestrone, borscht | Burgers, meat balls, chicken, lamb, beef, pork, fish | Tomato, dressings, marinades, Chimichurri | Bell peppers, artichokes, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, green beans, rapini | Cakes, muffins, cheesecake, shortcake, breads, cookies | Onion, garlic, basil, thyme |
| Paprika | Chicken, vegetable | Chicken, tofu, lamb, shellfish | Dressings, marinades | Squash, bell peppers, potatoes, broccoli | Chocolate, puddings, ice cream, brownies, hot chocolate | Cardamom, chili, cumin, garlic, cinnamon |
| Rosemary | Chicken noodle, Potato and leek | Pork, chicken, lamb, fish, veal | Gravy, marinades | Peas, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, potatoes | Yogurt, brulee, cakes, mousse | Thyme, basil, oregano, garlic |
| Sage | Vegetable, tomato, chicken | Fish, sausages, pork, chicken, stuffing, poultry, beef | Butter, gravy | Brussel sprouts, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, sweet potato | Cakes, muffins, cookies | Basil, rosemary, parsley, thyme |
| Star Anise | Beef, chicken, wonton, vegetable | Duck, pork, beef, pork, corned beef | Jus, gravy | Carrots, Chinese greens, broccoli, green beans | Tarts, cookies, cakes, mousse, fruit | Cinnamon, cloves, fennel, ginger, garlic, cilantro, chili |
| Tarragon | Spring vegetable, chicken | Veal, salmon, rabbit, chicken | Bearnaise, hollandaise | Artichokes, asparagus, carrots, zucchini, eggplant | Puddings, panna cotta, ice cream | Parsley, chervil, anise, thyme, mustard seed, cilantro |
| Thyme | Minestrone, tomato, beef, Vegetable | Pork, chicken, beef, stuffing | Marinades, dressings, Hollandaise sauce | Carrots, zucchini, peas, green beans, onions, tomatoes, corn | Lemon bars, shortbread, cakes. | Rosemary, oregano, marjoram, basil, sage, garlic |
| Turmeric | Chicken, vegetable | Fish, tofu, chicken, beef, lamb, curries, casseroles | Golden turmeric sauce | Potatoes, cabbage, sweet potato, green beans, cauliflower | Smoothies, hot beverages, | Cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, nutmeg |
| Vanilla | Vanilla parsnip soup | Beef, chicken, veal | Vanilla sauce | Carrots, parsnips, zucchini | Cakes, muffins, cheesecake, breads, cookies, custard, ice cream, puddings | Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, ginger |
How To Use Spices In Cooking
Learn the best uses for a range of popular spices in cooking.
