A rainy Monday is here but it is getting warmer. I hope everyone is doing well.
You know in the past I have asked people about what their favorite herbs and spices are as well as I had posted about sweet vs salty.
Both were fun and created a lot of buzz so I thought I would go out on a limb and find out “What is your favorite seasoning?”.
According to Wikipedia, seasoning can be defined as…
Seasoning is the process of imparting or improving flavor of food.[1] Seasonings include herbs, spices, and all other condiments, which are themselves frequently referred to as “seasonings”. However, Larousse Gastronomique states that “to season and to flavor are not the same thing“, insisting that seasoning includes a large or small amount of salt being added to a preparation.[2] Salt may be used to draw out water, or to magnify a natural flavor of a food making it richer or more delicate, depending on the dish. This type of procedure is akin to curing. For instance, kosher salt (a coarser-grained salt) is rubbed into chicken, lamb, and beef to tenderize the meat and improve flavor. Other seasonings like black pepper and basil transfer some of their flavor to the food. A well designed dish may combine seasonings that complement each other.
Now with that being said -the choice of herbs and seasoning and the timing of when flavors are added will affect the food that is being prepared. The rule of thumb seems to be if you are using anything fresh whether it is herbs or spices - they should go at the end of the cooking process where dried would go at the beginning and develop a flavor throughout the cooking process.
In some cases, you often see the sauce/flavor added at the very end of the process. A variety of seasoning techniques exist in various cultures. For me it is hard to say what my favorite seasoning is… I bounce around a lot
Let’s not go the standard Salt or Pepper route – what do you love to use to add flavor and season to your favorite dishes! I would love to hear if ketchup is someone’s favorite seasoning.
When I write the word ketchup – I almost can hear zesty-in-laws cringe at the thought. Do you remember when I whipped up a quick leftover dinner with potatoes and eggs and of course I threw some ketchup on top… well let’s just say I got dragged over the coals for that one.
So really here it is….. Tell me your favorite seasoning or seasonings! I know it will be hard to pick just one but try your best. I can’t wait to hear them all.
Around the Blogsphere
In my spare minutes earlier today check out some great recipes I have found that may peek your interest.
- Aggie’s Kitchen whipped a pretty stellar Asian Couscous Salad. This looks amazing. great photography.
- Kath Eats pulls a great slow cooker recipe that I am dying to try. I think I have all the ingredients.
- Jenny really goes and kicks it up a notch and features… Peanut Butter and Jam Lattice Pies. Can you believe that?
Alright so do not forget to leave your seasoning with me and have a great Monday.
Take care
zesty
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
I bounce around with flavors and seasonings a lot, but one of my favorite flavorings is apricot fruit spread. I use it on fish, chicken, and in dressings/marinades. Garlic powder is another favorite, I use it in just about everything.
Jenn
From the spice rack: cumin. Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern yum.
I’m also totally crazy for Thai Basil and Kaffir Lime Leaves. If you’ve never tried them, you must.
Do chia seeds count!?
Cinnamon if not
I think cumin may be one of my favorites. I have gotten so I don’t ever brown ground beef without adding a bit of cumin!
Hard to choose! I like anything with a little kick to it: pepper, dry mustard, red pepper flakes. But if I have to pick an all-time, can’t-live-without, it’s cinnamon.
Rosemary,Garlic,Lemon,Thyme, are mine but I use lots more.
So many good ones!! I usually use Mrs. Dash in a lot of things and I always use cinnamon for sweet and savory dishes to add warmth. I just made some steamed pork buns using Chinese 5-spice which is wonderfully aromatic!
When I lived in a dorm room in college (without a full spice rack), I still always had two spices on hand: chili powder and cinnamon!
Well, I guess I’d have to say pepper, because I put it on EVERYTHING. But I also love garlic powder, and even onion powder to add to steamed vegetables.
This is so hard to answer. I love basil, black pepper on meats, and white pepper to flavor soups. Crushed red pepper flakes also…
I’m pretty boring, I have many herbs and spices but I always end up using garlic, ginger, oregano or basil. If you also want to look in the fridge, I also use tamari sauce and balsamic or apple cider vinegar.
red pepper HANDS DOWN!!
I’d have to say I love vinegar as a seasoning. Cider, balsamic, tarragon, red & white & rice wine etc. I try to incorporate them in everything I cook. Also the flavors of lemon and lime…I guess I like things tangy.
I know you said not to count pepper, but I put fresh cracked pepper on everything, even watermelon!!!
Favorite Seasoning: crashed Red Paper, Garlic & Black Lemon Powder (powder made from black lemons-dried lemons)
As an Asian I always use sambal (Indonesian chilli sauce), green onions, onions, shallot, garlic, ginger, coriander, fennel, anise.
I love pepper and sweet black soy sauce (kecap manis). I will add black pepper for every soup. And I love crispy-fried shallot (bawang goreng) as something to sprinkle on top of my noodles
That is a really tough one but probably cinnamon because it can go sweet or savory. but then there is ginger, red peppers, garlic, cilantro…
garlic!
I couldn’t live without crushed red pepper flakes. We go through them like crazy. But I love balsamic vinegar too. And lately ginger and sriracha sauce. In the summer i use a lot of fresh herbs from the garden. There’s nothing like some freshly picked basil sprinkled on a homegrown tomato (with a drizzle of balsamic, of course!). Yum!
garlic and cumin!!! hands down!!
Um well probably SALT… but if we don’t include that in this… than GARLIC!!
Garlic with olive oil is just amazing, I could drink it plain! ha ha!
1: Saffron
2: Cardamom
3: Turmeric
For grilled chicken: cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, cumin, coriander and sea salt.
For Chicken stock: turmeric, 7 cardamom, bay leaves with fresh garlic and onions.
For meat stock: cinnamon stick, 7 cardamon, 2 black cardamon, 2 pimento and fresh onions.