The Quick Report

10 Must-Have Spices for Your Kitchen

Having spices on hand is good for many reasons when it comes to cooking. You never know when you will need to add a little flavor to your favorite dish! Here are the top 10 must-have spices for your kitchen! You will thank me later.

Cumin

Dish of Ground Cumin
Photo by monkeybusiness on Deposit Photos

Cumin can be used in many different cuisines, such as Latin, French, and Greek. It can be used in American staples, like fried chicken. You can also add it to your vegetables to give them a smoky flavor. Cumin is a spice you should keep in your kitchen.

Cardamom

Cardamom
Photo by Wikipedia and Silar

Cardamom is used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Indian dishes. It gives you a citrusy flavor and is great to go into desserts. It also can be added to your tea to give it some flavor. Cardamom is a versatile spice!

Dried Red Chile Flakes

Dried Red Chile Flakes
Photo by Wikipedia and Takeaway

Dried red chili flakes will spice up your food, literally. This is good to have on hand if you like your food spicy, but be warned, a little goes a long way. There are a lot of different varieties available. Regardless of what dried red chili flakes you have, this will add a kick to your meals.

Black Pepper

black pepper in a mortar and pestle
Photo by Nancy Hughes

Black pepper is used in meals a lot. There is a reason that people always have salt and pepper on hand, after all. There isn’t really one specific cuisine that has black pepper in it – most cuisines use it. Black pepper is versatile and can go with many different meals or side dishes. This is a staple that should be in your kitchen right now!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon
Photo by Wikipedia and Simon A. Eugster

Cinnamon is one of the spices that really grabs a hold of whatever you put it in. There is a reason why people use cinnamon in their favorite sweet treats like cinnamon rolls or put it as an additional flavoring in their tea. Cinnamon is flavorful and adds to any dish it is in.

Coriander

Coriander
Photo by Elena Schweitzer on Deposit Photos

Coriander is a great addition to soups, curries, and stews. It’s a unique flavor and it can liven up many dishes. To add even more flavor, it is recommended to grind your coriander seeds, which will intensify the flavor.

Garlic

Dry Organic Ground Garlic Spice
Photo by bhofack2 on Deposit Photos

Garlic can be in cloves or powder form. It is a good idea to have garlic powder on hand because it can be used in so many dishes. There isn’t a cuisine that couldn’t benefit from this all-star. Add it to any dish to get an out-of-this-world experience.

Sesame

Sesame seeds
Photo by shawn_hempel on Deposit Photos

Sesame can be in seeds, oil, or a paste. Whatever form you have on hand will be good to give your recipes a little extra lift. Many Middle Eastern, Asian, and Mediterranean meals thrive on sesame.

Turmeric

Turmeric
Photo by Wikipedia and Sanjay Acharya

Turmeric is used for many different things. It has been known to have healing properties such as being anti-inflammatory. It is also a delicious spice that adds a lot of flavor to whatever you put it in. Turmeric is a main staple for curries and other Indian foods. Just be careful with putting turmeric in your dishes – a little goes a long way.

Ginger

Different forms of ginger
Photo by Wavebreakmedia on Deposit Photos

Ginger is used in cuisines around the world. It is especially prevalent in Asian and Indian foods. Ginger can be used to boost your favorite meat dish or add to a dessert of your choice. It is always good to have ginger on hand because it is used for quite a few things.