I like books, and read as much as I can. My favourite genres include stories with strong women characters. They may be single, divorced, or widowed. Some are older, some younger. One has children, another has decided not to go down the motherhood road. What all these characters have in common, is that they understand where they are in their lives, and what they need or want to do to make things better for themselves.
So you can imagine my surprise, when I came across a recurrent theme in many such texts: the idea that most of these women don’t know how to cook anything. Now, I’m not saying that we are all expected to throw a gourmet dish together, and I don’t want this to be pulled out of context decrying stereotypes and such. I just hope you consider this: eating outside food is expensive. With so many of us trying to make ends meet, an easy way to save a little would be to fix up some of our own meals. Plus! Homemade dishes can be healthier alternatives to commercially-prepared food, especially since we are in control of the ingredients we use.
Seriously, this constant inability of my favourite characters to prepare a simple dish became a baffling question for me; to the point that I decided to do some research. No! I don’t have a lot of time on my hands, but I don’t like to let unreasonable mysteries go unsolved. Because, let’s face it, with so many cookbooks, online recipes, TikToks, Instagram reels, and full-on YouTube videos guiding even the most novice among us, why are there still people who can’t tackle cooking?
Well, after some digging I came up with two distinct groups of the cooking-challenged. One, falls into a psychological category. Those who belong to this group convince themselves, and perhaps others, that they are simply incapable of being left alone in the kitchen. I have heard unbelievable comments like, “Oh! Every time I fry an egg, I burn it!”, or “I don’t even know how to warm some soup”, or “the last time I threw some chicken in the microwave it came out all rubbery and raw!!”. The bottom line with this group is that they just don’t want to cook, not that they can’t. And that’s that!
The other group, though, has people from all walks of life who really want to roll up their sleeves and whip up a tasty meal. They get all ready, until they come across a scary list of ingredients, most of which does not exist in their pantry. To these kindred spirits, I’d like to say, ‘I see you!’, and I’d like to offer up a trick: kit up your kitchen with a set of basic spices, and you’re good to go for a large variety of dishes.
A lot of people assume they’re not good at cooking, because their meals are not palatable. That’s where spices come in. They let you layer flavours that go well together. And most, are really cheap.
Here’s a list of must-have spices to let you enjoy and show-off your culinary skills.
1. Salt & Pepper
Yes, I know everyone has salt & pepper, except when they’ve run out. But, I wanted to say a few words. First off, unless you’ve been advised otherwise by your physician, always opt for iodized table salt. There are a number of bougie salts out there, but iodine is an essential mineral that the body needs to produce thyroid hormones, which regulate important functions like metabolism, and energy levels. Second, freshly cracked peppercorn delivers significantly more complex flavours than pre-ground pepper. That’s because the volatile essential oils and aromatic compounds stay protected until the peppercorn is cracked. So invest in an inexpensive pepper mill and get cracking.
2. Garlic Powder
Garlic powder works in a wide range of world cuisines. From East & West Asia to Central Europe, the Mediterranean and South America, there are so many dishes where garlic is an important ingredient. Now, whenever you can, use fresh garlic, but having garlic powder in your pantry helps when you’re out of fresh options, or when you’re just in a hurry. Even a tiny pinch adds both a deeper flavour and its own distinctive aroma.
3. Turmeric
No other spice is as versatile as turmeric. It adds just enough warmth, flavour, aroma, and colour to any dish to lift it up from mediocre to a culinary delight. Turmeric dry powder is easy to measure and use. It can be added to sautéed onions for a subtle boost or mixed with other spices to create pastes and marinades. Another great benefit of turmeric is that it can act as an anti-inflammatory. And most importantly, it makes your food look colourful, inviting and appetizing.
4. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is the kind of spice that has the capacity of adding just a tad of complexity to any dish you pair it with, but, without overpowering the main flavours. It’s great in savoury dishes bringing out the bold flavours in stews and chilies. And it enhances a variety of sweets from churros and cookies to apple pie, making them more aromatic and homestyle. Cinnamon helps round out the acidity in tomato-based sauces, and adds depth to meats. It also mixes well with other spices mellowing them for a richer, more savoury balance.
5. Paprika
Paprika is your friend, especially when the flavour profile you want to create demands a layer of sweet smokiness. Its gorgeous, deep red hue instantly makes any dish visually appealing, while its barbecue-like taste adds a mediterranean kick. In fact, paprika is a staple in many regional cuisines, from Hungarian to Spanish and Turkish. You can use is as seasoning in meat rubs, and marinades, or add it to sauces and dips, you can even sprinkle it as garnish on a variety of dishes from roasted potatoes to soups.
6. Cumin
Cumin is truly a spice of the world. It is widely used in dishes from all over the planet. Indian curries, Mexican tacos, Morrocan lamb tagine, and falafels all owe some of their memorable flavour to cumin. It is quite aromatic with a hint of peppery taste, and adds a recognizable earthiness to every dish. Cumin blends nicely with other spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, and paprika for a layered creation that’s easy to show off.
7. Ground Coriander
Ground coriander is well-loved for its ability to bring balance to a dish without overpowering it. That’s becauce the slightly citrusy and sweet flavour of the spice makes it a great addition for a variety of dishes from hearty meat stews to vegetarian creations. You can find coriander in spicy Indian and Thai curries, the famed Mexican mole, and even in sweet pastries and desserts.
8. Ginger Powder
Up until now I’ve been talking about spices that are well-rounded, mellow, colourful, and aromatic. Now it’s time to bring in some of the naughtier ones. Spices that add heat, and a real kick for much bolder flavours. One of those is ginger powder. It works really great in both sweet and savoury dishes. Asian stir-fries, and curry pastes owe some of their recognizable aroma to ginger. It is anti-inflammatory, and is an amazing addition to soups, and hot teas. Ginger can make you wince just a bit when tasting spicy dishes, but it won’t make you cry.
9. Cayenne
Sometimes a party needs a bit of sass, that’s where Cayenne comes in. You can take it in small doses but add just a little bit more and it’ll make you tear up. Still, Cayenne pepper creates a layer of extra boldness and depth. And, that additional heat, when done just in the right amount, brings out all the other flavours. It’s fiery, it’s smokey and gives everything from roasted vegetables to hot chocolate the nudge to push them from bland to memorable.
10. Cardamom
I’d like to wrap-up my list of spice essentials with one of my absolute favourites: Cardamom. This one always brings out fun memories of my grandmother making everything from desserts to sweet rice. When you open a pod or a jar of cardamom the whole kitchen becomes fragrant with cozy and mysterious aromas. It’s like someone lit a fancy candle and started baking delicious pastries at the same time. To me, its warm, earthy personality tastes both familiar and still somewhat exotic. Cardamom is vastly popular. You’ll find it in Scandinavian sweets, Indian Chai, curries, and beryianis. And cardamom absolutely shines in all Iranian dishes from a variety of festive rice creations to Persian coffee and traditional desserts.
You’re Much Better Than You Think!
If you’ve ever been hesistant to try your hand at cooking, let me tell you, it is much easier than you think. Just follow a recipe, cook things slowly so they don’t burn, and gently add layers of spices. Then give the flavours some time to come together, you’ll be surprised how great you are, and you’ll soon be eating homemade gourmet meals without the eye-watering cost of outside food.