How to spice up your food
Variety is the spice of life so, why should your food be bland. Spices are one of the most crucial ingredients in the kitchen any new or veteran athlete can have. The use of spices can complete change the tone of a dish. In one flavor combination you have a Mexican dish but, tweak just a couple of spices and ratios and you switch to an Indian dish. Knowing how to use spices and create these flavor combination and profiles will not only elevate your expertise in the kitchen but, also help you stick to your meal plan.
What are some of the most common spices?
Let's say that you just moved house or you decided to purge your kitchen and pantry so you can start over with a clean slate. What would be the best and most common spices to get so that you can get a multitude of dishes and flavor combinations out of them. Well here are some of the most common spices to stock up in your pantry:
Salt
Pepper
Cumin
Oregano
Paprika
Chile Powder
Bay Leaves
Cayenne
Cinnamon
Red Pepper Flakes
Rosemary
Thyme
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Curry Powder
Ginger Powder
Ground nutmeg
Coriander
Ground Mustard
Different Combinations
By using the above different ingredients we can hit a bunch of different flavor profiles as well as hit the different taste
receptors on the tongue. There are 4 different taste receptors on the tongue: sour, sweet, bitter, and salty (there is also umami). Below are some of the most common and easiest spice combinations to do with the above spices.
Italian
Oregano
Thyme
Garlic Powder
Rosemary
Mexican
Chili Powder
Oregano
Cumin
Cayenne
Indian
Turmeric
Cumin
Coriander
Ground Mustard
Chili Powder
Mediterranean
Cumin
Coriander
Chili Powder
Paprika
Garlic
BBQ
Paprika
Cayenne
Thyme
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Brown Sugar
Sweet
Nutmeg
Sugar (white or brown)
Cinnamon
Cajun
Cayenne
Paprika
Oregano
Thyme
Ground Mustard
How to use the spice combinations
To use the combinations above the best you must know what you are trying to meal prep in order to optimize the use of the spices. By knowing what you want to meal prep you can make sure your carbs and fats are in order and how to base them based off the cuisine you are trying to make. But most of all have fun and play with the different spice combinations. Different ratios will lead to different notes and flavors so have fun and eat good food.
In conclusion, spices are one of the best items in the kitchen. It can transform one dish into so many different dishes with different flavor profiles. So, think of a country or dish type that to you is the best in the world or just taste so amazing you could eat it every day. That way when you are meal prepping and trying to lose that weight, it will be that mush easier for you to do. Follow me on YouTube and Instagram @beginnertoironman and follow the journey and get inspiration for your own journey.