When I first started cooking, I was afraid of branching out from what I knew. Boxed meals, pre-seasoned dishes, ready-made skillet meals. If I tried from-scratch cooking, everything went off the rails quick. Food was scorched, seasoned too little, super salty, or just the texture was off. What I have learned over the past 30 years is patience and a gentle touch, but being fearless when trying something new. Today I want to talk about flavor, but to be more precise seasoning.
Seasoning is the key to delicious and flavorful food. Whether you're cooking a simple weeknight dinner or an elaborate feast, the right combination of herbs, spices, and seasonings can transform a dish from bland to mouthwatering. In this ultimate guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know to season your food like a pro, including tips on flavor combinations, seasoning techniques, and more.
Understanding Herbs and Spices
Herbs and spices are the building blocks of flavor and understanding their unique characteristics is key to creating delicious dishes. Here are some of the basics to get you started:
Herbs
Herbs are simply plant leaves. Adding them to your dishes adds freshness and aroma. Some of the common herbs you'll find in most kitchens include basil, thyme, rosemary, and parsley.
Spices
Spices are the seeds, berries, bark, or roots of plants. Most spices will bring an earthiness or heat to your dishes. This is where you find the real depth of flavor in most foods. Spices seen in most pantries include cumin, cinnamon, paprika, and black pepper.
Flavor Combinations
Start slow and experiment with a few different herbs and spices at a time. You'll notice that some add a very potent flavor and others are quite nuanced. When you feel comfortable with the flavors that each add, it's time to start experimenting with flavor combinations. Here are a few popular combinations to get you started:
Italian Seasoning
The following combination of herbs will make you feel like you just stepped into a restaurant in Rome. A simple blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme comprises this classic combination seen in pasta dishes and Italian-inspired meals around the world.
Curry Powder
It's time to take a tour of the Asian continent with this unique blend of flavors! Curry powders can be used in dishes to make savory comfort foods or brain melting spicy broths that make you wonder why you thought ordering it was a good idea. Blends of coriander, cumin, turmeric, and other spices like hot peppers or star anise, curry powders transform bland ingredients into complex meals that just hit different.
Mexican Seasoning
The irresistible aroma of chili powder, cumin, and oregano are used to make some of the worlds most well known foods. You won't find a more recognizable combination of flavors in the western hemisphere. This combination is perfect for tacos, burritos, and other south-of-the-border inspired dishes.
Herbes de Provence
The country known best for love and cuisine have used what they could forage to create amazing foods worth of Michelin stars for centuries. These aromatic and flavorful herbs come together to bring a unique flavor that takes a dish from okay to out of this world. Herbs de Province is a simple blend of thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, and lavender but this combination delivers a perfect flavor fit for French-inspired dishes.
Seasoning Techniques
In addition to understanding flavor combinations, it's important to know how to use herbs and spices in your cooking. Here are a few common seasoning techniques:
Dry Rubs
Ribs, steaks, chicken, fish, pork, or really anything you can cook will be elevated by giving a little love with some dry rubs. Dry rubs, a blanket term so for many flavors, is a mixture of herbs and spices that are rubbed onto meat or fish before cooking. They can be used for grilling, roasting, or pan-frying. My favorite Rib Rub is a homemade blend of brown sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and white pepper. Slap it on some ribs, wrap them in foil, cook them in the over on 250 for 3 hours and finish on the grill. You can thank me later.
Marinades
A simple brining in salt water or a complex mixture of herbs, spices, and oils can really help change the flavor and structure of your next meal. Marinades can be that extra step in cooking we skip because we don't think ahead. Tonight, try letting your chicken soak in some soy, ginger and garlic before cooking and let me know if it was worth waiting that extra 30 minutes.
*Tip from a Chef: use a fork to add a few holes to your protein before putting it into the marinade to let it soak up more and faster.
Simmering
When I think of cooking, it feels more like and art while baking is the science side of things. Simmering is where science meets the art of cooking and flavors start to really explode. The chemical reactions that happen to food as they heat up can drastically change the flavors and feel that they produce. I won't bore you with a detailed explanation of caramelization, but if you're interested take a gander at the Maillard reaction. Suffice to say, simmering herbs and spices in a liquid, such as broth or tomato sauce, is a great way to infuse flavor into soups, stews, and sauces.
Finishing Salts
You cooked that steak to perfection. Medium-rare, seared, and basted in thyme and brown butter. Let it rest for 5 minutes and then ADD finishing salts. This is the step that takes your food from great to just divine. Finishing salts are coarse salts that are mixed with herbs or spices and used as a finishing touch on dishes. They can be used on meats, vegetables, or even desserts.
Tips for Seasoning Like a Pro
Seasoning is an art and it takes practice to master. Here are a few tips to help you take your seasoning game to the next level:
Start with a small amount
It's always better to start with less seasoning and add more as you go. You can always add more, but you can't take it away. There have been countless dishes left unfinished because I was too generous with the salt too early on. It's also important to note that adding seasonings at different times while cooking can change the finished product as well as the amount of seasoning that you add.
Use fresh herbs and spices
Fresh herbs and spices will always have more flavor than dried ones. Invest in a few basic herbs and spices and keep them on hand for cooking. Growing your own herbs sounds like a daunting task, but trust me the juice is worth the squeeze.
Experiment with new flavors
Don't be afraid to experiment with new flavor combinations and try new spices and herbs. It's a great way to discover new favorites and expand your culinary horizons. One of the biggest trends in the culinary world right now is fusion cuisine and for good reason. As the world continues to get smaller with technology, cultures are blending together to bring new and unique takes on traditions, especially food!
Toast your spices
Toasting spices in a dry pan before using them can help bring out their flavors and aromas. Just be careful not to burn them. This goes back to what I said earlier about adding some heat and changing the spices. You are actually changing them at a chemical level and creating a brand new flavor profile. Try it out the next time you cook.
Taste as you go
If you aren't tasting your food while you're cooking it, you are either extremely confident or love taking risks. Even chefs like Gordon Ramsey taste their food before they serve it, and with good reason. When you taste your food as you season it you can add whatever is missing while cooking and fix a dish before it is too late.. Remember, the goal is to enhance the natural flavors of the food, not overpower them.
Use quality ingredients
Quality herbs, spices, and seasonings will always produce better results than cheap or stale ones. The cost of food has gone through the roof recently and there may be times where reaching for that $1 bottle of seasoning is attractive. I get it, I have been there! Don't hesitate to grab it and cook as opposed to going without; however, when you can, invest in high-quality ingredients for the best flavor.FAQs
1. Can I substitute dried herbs for fresh herbs?
In most cases, you can substitute dried herbs for fresh herbs. Just keep in mind that dried herbs are more concentrated than fresh ones, so you'll need to use less.
2. Can I mix different types of cuisine when seasoning my food?
Absolutely! Experimenting with different flavor combinations from different cuisines can lead to some truly unique and delicious dishes.
3. How much seasoning should I use?
The amount of seasoning you use will depend on the dish and your personal taste. As a general rule, start with a small amount and add more as needed.
Seasoning your food is an essential part of cooking, and understanding the basics of herbs, spices, and flavor combinations can help take your dishes to the next level. By experimenting with new flavors, using quality ingredients, and mastering seasoning techniques, you can elevate your cooking game and create delicious and flavorful dishes every time. So, go forth and season like a pro with our ultimate guide to seasoning your food!