Spices You Should Be Using

When it comes to adding a little extra flavour to your cooking, herbs and spices are pretty hard to beat. Whatever it is that your food is lacking, the right mix of herbs and spices is sure to put it right. Herbs and spices needn’t necessarily overpower your food; rather they reveal and add to the flavour that is already hidden in your dish.

Here at Shop Spicy we are experts in supplying Indian spice sand are always keen to see exactly how spices can improve our recipes. There’s a whole world of fabulous herbs and spices out there that are barely even known here in Britain, so in this blog we have compiled a list of the first three spices that you may never have heard of, but should be using;

Panch Phoran

Panch Phoran (literal translation: ‘five spices’) is a mix of spices, and typically contains fenugreek seed, nigella seed, cumin seed, black fennel seed and mustard seed in equal quantities. This wonderful spice mix adds an incredible depth of flavour to a wide range of dishes and is known for its flexibility. Whether you use it to accompany vegetable or side dish it is sure to be the perfect addition to your cupboard.

Black truffle salt

The black truffle is one of the most expensive and luxurious ingredients that you can possibly buy, and if you intend to use a significant amount of truffle then you will need a significant amount of money. One great way to get the flavour of truffles relatively cheaply is to use truffle salt in order to get this decadent flavour on a budget. Use this ingredient sparingly on egg and potato dishes and you will be in a new world of flavours.

Smoked garlic powder

Smoking foods began as a preservative measure but was soon recognised as a way to intensify the flavour in foods. Smoked garlic is one of the most incredibly deep and satisfying flavours available, and is a great addition to almost any dish. Half a teaspoon of smoked garlic powder in a spicy chutney is sure to give it an intriguing and beautiful flavour.

So if you are getting a little bored of your current spice cupboard contents and want to try something different then why not give these three a try. Make sure you stay tuned to our blog for part 2 of our rare spice blog in which we’ll explore another 3 lesser know spices that will make a great addition to your spice cupboard.