A Beginner's Guide to Using Spices in Cooking

Beyond Salt and Pepper: A Beginner's Guide to Using Spices in Cooking

Whether you started out boiling eggs, cooking macaroni, making cheese and tomato sandwiches or trying your hand at whipping up some pap, the chances are you probably had some salt and pepper handy nearby. But as your palate and skillset grow and you begin to crave bolder and more exciting flavours, it may start to feel like only using salt and pepper in your cooking just won’t do.

Fortunately, with Robertson’s magnificent range, you can enhance any meal and transform it from bland to bursting with flavour, without any hassle. If you’re looking to enrich your meals with incredible tastiness, join us as we unpack a guide to using spices and uncover the secrets of flavour, balance and creativity they can bring to your cooking.

Unpacking Spices To Uncover The World of Flavour

Spices are the ingredients at the heart of every memorable meal, that transform the ordinary dish into a flavourful feast. The world of spices offers you an assortment of flavour-enhancing options, each offering unique benefits, tastes and aromas. Let’s quickly explore some of the reasons why this product is essential for flavourful cooking, and then get into a spice guide for cooking delectable dishes every time.

• Enhancing Taste: This one goes without saying but spices are the ingredients that bring your dishes to life. They enhance the taste of your food by adding depth, complexity and a burst of flavour. From the warmth of cinnamon to the delightful heat of paprika, each spice introduces a unique taste profile to transform your meals from bland to perfectly seasoned.
• Health Benefits: Beyond their culinary charm, many spices also boast health benefits. Turmeric, for instance, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, while garlic is believed to support heart health.
• Balancing Flavours: Spices are excellent for ensuring a well-balanced dish. They can add a touch of sweetness to offset bitterness or add a hint of acidity to help cut through richness. Using your spices correctly ensures that no single flavour dominates your dish, creating a harmonious blend that tantalises the tastebuds.
• Unlocking Creativity: Spices empower you to experiment and innovate. With a diverse selection of spices to choose from, you can push the boundaries of flavour combinations and craft dishes that are as bold and adventurous as they are delicious.

With these benefits, it’s clear that having a selection of spices in your kitchen is essential for flavourful, balanced meals. However, knowing how best to cook with these complex ingredients can be tricky. To ensure you can make the most of your spice rack and create dishes that never lack big, bold and delicious flavour, explore our tips and tricks guide for cooking with spices like a pro.

A Guide To Mastering Spices for Mouth-Watering Meals

1. Start with Quality Spices: The key to dishes that are balanced and bursting with flavour is the quality of your ingredients. Fortunately, Robertsons Spice range has got you covered with an assortment of the finest quality herbs and spices. Robertsons carefully sources every spice from the regions of the world where they grow best, to give you a range of high-quality spices crafted with the expertise only Robertsons can bring. So no matter the meal, reach for a Robertsons Spice to unlock a world of robust flavour in every bite.

2. Understand Flavour Profiles: Each spice has a unique flavour profile. Understanding each spice's flavour profiles and characteristics will help you create balanced dishes. For example, cumin and coriander will bring earthy notes to your dish, making them ideal for savoury dishes like stews, while chilli and black pepper will provide spicy heat, making them ideal for curries.

3. Don’t Hesitate to Experiment: Don’t be afraid to experiment with spice pairings. Some spices, like cinnamon and cayenne, might seem unconventional but work wonders together. Combining complementary spices enhances the complexity of the flavours for a richer, tastier, balanced dish. Try pairing nutmeg and chilli in your next curry to bring out robust flavour. Or try this Chilli Chocolate Cheesecake with a Robertsons Chicken Spice twist for a tasty treat.

4. Blend and Balance Like A Pro: While spices add excitement to your meals, exercising some caution is crucial when it comes to the amount you use and the flavours you choose. With Robertsons’ range, the hassle of trying to balance and blend spices is eliminated. Robertsons offers an exquisite selection of quality Masterblends and specialised spice mixes like our Spice For Rice, that make it even easier to enhance your dishes with spicy goodness.

5. Keep Spices Organised: A well-organised spice cabinet ensures you can easily access your ingredients. You can arrange your spices by cuisine, frequency of use or alphabetical order. Or you can choose the convenient option – Robertsons! The Robertsons range comes in colour-coded packaging that groups spices together under type, cuisine, specialised seasonings and more, to make it easy to identify your spices. So stock up on Robertsons to make it easy to keep your spice collection organised and tidy.

Robertsons’ spices are the key to unlocking the extraordinary in your culinary creations. With a broad offering of quality spices, ranging from the bold heat of our Peri-Peri seasoning to the rich meatiness of our much-loved Steak and Chops Spice, our range provides bold flavours and aromas for tantalising meals. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, use these tips to help you harness the power of Robertsons Spices and ensure that every meal is a delectable masterpiece.