Different spices and their uses

In the kitchen there are different spices that enrich the gastronomic flavors in each meal. Each continent, each country has its traditional seasoning and you will surely have already realized that although the spices may be the same, the different mixtures between them, along with the combination of native products make a typical flavor that characterizes a region more than another. other. Hasn't it happened to you that when talking about the typical seasoning of a region, one spice immediately comes to mind instead of another? For example, when talking about Indian cuisine, curry is present or Mexican cuisine, chili. Additionally, some spices go better with one type of dish than another.

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If you don't know what type of spice to use in your favorite dishes or how to combine them, stay with us so you can learn how to classify them.

Classification of spices

base spices Base spices are considered an excellent companion for vegetables in general, soups, sauces and legumes. In this group we find garlic in any of its presentations, pepper, paprika, nutmeg, thyme, among others. sweet spices They are used to season sweet dishes such as soup and sweet cream, specific desserts and in salad dressing. This set is made up of cinnamon and cloves as traditional spices, as well as vanilla, anise and others. Strong or harsh spices Strong spices are used to perfect the flavor of all types of meats, including game meats. Likewise, they also combine with vegetables and legumes used in dishes such as stews. In this group we find black and white pepper, mustard, celery, parsley, dill, cumin, rosemary, turmeric, bay leaf, among others.

BLACK PEPPER, QUEEN OF SPICES

Filling spices Filling spices are used in small quantities and can be used to season some previous dishes and even others such as baked meat pie. The spices that we place in this group are ginger, galangal, fennel and cardamom. All of these aromatic herbs can be grown at home and always kept fresh or dried according to needs.

Use of spices according to the country

In India In Indian cuisine, vegetables are the protagonists in most dishes. In addition, this country is famous for being responsible for introducing spices as important as pepper and cinnamon, recognized throughout the world. They also have their own mix of spices such as the renowned garan masala . And we cannot fail to mention curry, whose preparation is a product of mixing other spices which cannot be missing on the tables of every home in India. in China In Chinese cuisine, spices are used conservatively and moderately. Rice is the most common dish; spices such as ginger are used there, which combines very well with vegetables, fish and sauces. They also have their own spice mix called five-spice powder, made from Chinese cinnamon, star anise, cloves and ginger. In the Mediterranean In Mediterranean cuisine, aromatic plants are preferred accompanied by garlic. Emphasis is placed on planting orchards, in small gardens or in private pots, fresh and natural things predominate. Among the most prominent aromatic plants are rosemary, parsley, thyme, oregano and bay leaf. More spices and less salt is a healthy way to eat , add them in moderate quantities since if you overdo it you could significantly alter the natural flavor of the food.