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If you are feeling a bit bored, it might be time to get some spice in your life. No, cheeky, not in that way! Spices in your tired old recipes. You can really add some flair to most dishes that receive spices well. So, here are some suggestions for bringing your vapid cuisine to life.
Try Some Easy Recipes First
Spices are, of course, ingredients. But you can’t just go shaking in a load of cumin into anything. It helps to first try some easy recipes that don’t require too much knowledge. Cookbooks are often great for this because some chefs explain why each spice is there and what it adds to the dish. Some spices are added as seasoning alongside salt and pepper, like in this recipe for chicken tortilla soup. But some are added for depth, others for color, and some, of course, heat.
Get More Spice in Your Life by Cuisine
There are around 50 common spices that are used in numerous cuisines around the world. Yet you can’t get to know these without understanding these cuisines first. For instance, if you think about it, you can probably name a handful. But there is a wonderful world of spices out there. And even nations and cuisines that use the same spice might use them in different ways. You can make it fun and educational by focusing on one cuisine at a time and learning to cook it.
Visit Local Ethnic Markets
Almost every Western country has ethnic markets. For instance, the city where you live might have Chinatown and other minority residential and commercial areas. And with these often come specialist markets and supermarkets offering unique cultural insights. These will often stock spices and other ingredients that you cannot find in your local supermarket chain. For example, it can be hard to find lemon grass, a standard ingredient in Pan Asian cooking.
Use Spices for the Benefits
Spices have been used in cooking since 4,000 BC, as the earliest records show. Perhaps more for flavor. But there are also many benefits of spices that can boost your health and well-being:
- Cinnamon can help lower and stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Turmeric has well-known health benefits, including reducing inflammation.
- Ginger is excellent for feeling better when you have the flu or cold.
- Garlic helps with heart issues and reduces excess cholesterol.
- Capsaicin in chilies is proven to naturally ease pain.
You can use spices in your food for the health benefits. But you need to use them often to see a difference. However, you can also take spice supplements from reputable online vendors.
Do It Together
There’s nothing more magical than cooking together and learning along the way. You can do this with your partner, your family, and children, or even as a group of friends. It’s great when everyone is a beginner, and you can learn from each other. Shared knowledge is always better, and insights from others help us all become better at doing things. Also, the knowledge you share and learn with your kids will help them for the rest of their lives as they learn to cook.
Get More Spice in Your Life on Holiday
More than a food ingredient, spices are an economic resource, a staple of food and medicine in countries such as India, China, and Thailand. And, like anything, the best way to learn about something is to see it at its source. As such, you can get a new respect and outlook on the use of spices when you visit some of these places, which are filled with spice markets trading spices all day long. And these are much better in taste, color, and health than any supermarket jar.
Learn About All the Different Spices
There are hundreds of spices all over the world. From nutmeg in the UK to the peppers of India, you could spend a lifetime learning about just one of these. So taking up spices as something of a hobby offers something a little different but also directly impacts your health in a positive way. Learning how spices can benefit you is great. But each spice also has an attached and unique history. For instance, the Age of Exploration was driven by the passion for finding new spices.
Summary
There are many ways and reasons to get more spice in your life. Spices come with health benefits and can make your food amazing. You can begin with some easy recipes. Then use spices for their health benefits, and learn about the history of each spice for a new respect.
