11 January 2024 , 14:47
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It's so much fun to cook up a storm in the kitchen when you've got the right ingredients, and part of this process is knowing you've got a properly stocked spice cupboard.
Chef Martha Stewart has shared the nine spices she wouldn't be without so you can ensure that your spice rack is properly stocked so your cooking can be up to scratch - but she also highlighted that the storage of them is vital too.
Storing them in a cool, dark, and dry place is key if you want them to last, and they must be put into airtight containers as well.
Here are the nine spices Martha Stewart recommends keeping in your cupboard so you're covered for all cooking eventualities.
Sweet paprika
Sweet paprika is a powder made from ground red pepper pods, however, there are also hot and smoked paprikas. Martha explains that if it is not indicated on the spice jar as hot or smoked then it is likely sweet. Paprika is great because it can be used to flavour meat, poultry, and seafood, as well as vegetables. It can also be popped into a devilled egg mixture to make it tasty.
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Cinnamon
A firm favourite warming spice, cinnamon tends to be more popular in baked goods, especially when pumpkin spice season comes along. Think cinnamon rolls and autumnal drinks.
Cloves
Cloves, she says, are "a richly aromatic spice, cloves are powerful, and a little goes a long way", reports the Express. Cloves are also versatile as they can be used in sweet or savoury dishes. It's also good to have both ground and whole cloves to hand.
Allspice
While many mistake this for a spice blend, this multi-dimensional spice is solely the by-product of a large brown dried berry of the tropical pimenta dioica tree. Native to the West Indies and Central America, this clove relative can be used for both sweet and savoury recipes including Jerk chicken, and pumpkin pie. It can also be used in mulled wine.
Cayenne Pepper
Ground cayenne pepper is made only with cayenne peppers that have been dried and finely ground into a powder. Popular in Cajun and Creole cuisine such as jambalaya or mac and cheese, it is also used in Mexican-style street corn and certain curry dishes that are delicious.
Ginger
Ground ginger is a powerful spice filled with anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect to put into an invigorating detox smoothie. Again, it can go in both sweet and savoury dishes easily.
Cumin
"A very versatile spice, cumin adds an earthy, aromatic, slightly nutty note to all kinds of dishes", she says, and it's particularly popular in Middle Eastern, Latin, and South Asian dishes. Martha recommends getting cumin seeds that you can grind fresh, however, you can also buy it pre-ground.
Crushed red pepper flakes
If you're one of those people who can always stand a little more spice in your food, it's always great to have these on the shelves. Does your pizza need spicing up a bit? Add crushed red pepper flakes. Does your avocado on toast need a little more kick? No worries, just add some crushed red pepper flakes! Simple!
Nutmeg
Martha highly recommends buying whole nutmeg instead of pre-ground because it can make such a difference when cooking. Nutmeg is also great for autumnal pies, and putting on top of an eggnog cocktail.