Adding the right amount of spice to your meals is an art. It’s all about balancing the flavors until they are just right.
The perfect seasoning can turn a meal from average to extraordinary! Today we’re going to share with you how to add the perfect amount of spice to your dishes.
Simply Add More Spices
The first way to add more spice to your meals is by taking advantage of your spice cabinet. Instead of dull and boring meals, adding fragrant flavors can easily take your meal to the next level of the taste scale.
However, it’s important to have the right spices. The first thing you’ll want to check is how fresh your spices are because the fresher they are, the tastier they will be. Having fresh herbs and seasoning is your best route however, we know that it may not be the most optimal.
When grocery shopping, try to choose a new herb or spice to work with every week to try out new flavors. Choosing those that are in the produce section that are fresh rather than dried will give you the most flavor.
But it is still important to have your dried seasoning well stocked. Be sure to include the staples like ground black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder but don’t be shy to reach for a seasoning you’ve never heard of before.
Use Jellies and Jams
One may think that jelly or jam will only add sweetness to your dishes but this is not entirely true. For example, Habanero pepper jelly can be your new go-to when it comes to making dishes as it is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy.
Experimenting with these different jellies and jams that have both a sweet and spicy flavor profile will quickly ramp up the taste of your meals.
Not sure where to start? Simply use a jam as a glaze to salmon or chicken to see just how different these flavors now taste.
Crank Up the Heat
Learning about different spices and condiments that can quickly intensify the heat of your dish is important when keying in on making meals more tasty and flavorful, however it can be tricky at first.
For beginners, if you’re not familiar with spicy flavorings like allspice, chile peppers, sriracha hot sauce, curry powder, and others it’s important to start small. Keep in mind that you can always add more spice to a dish but it can be pretty difficult to take it out when there is too much.
As you begin to explore spicing up your dishes more you can gradually add in more spicier flavors and see which flavoring you like with certain dishes. Just keep in mind that the key to adding spice is to enhance the flavor of your main dish, not cover it up.
Balance in Out
Lastly, an important tip to remember when introducing more spices to your dishes is having the right flavor combination that will cool it down. For example, you may or may not have guessed but the reason you are served ranch or blue cheese with your hot wings is to balance out the heat aspect of the hot wing.
You’ll want to do this at home too. Creamy textures and flavors are typically your best option for balancing out the heat profile of your dish so opting for a cream based dipping sauce or a blander side dish like coconut rice to balance the spiciness of the rest of your dish is the perfect way to go.
