“Damn Nick, this tastes awesome, where did you learn to cook?”
I get this comment often when we have guests come over for a meal. While I’m not competing for any Michelin awards anytime soon, I do have some basic skills in the kitchen that go a long way.
My method is simple – understand how 5 spices work together to make great tasting food.
Knowing these spice combos is a basic cooking skill that can be a complete game-changer when it comes to your health. Making healthy meals that taste great DOES NOT have to be this time-intensive, complicated process. In fact, it can be as simple as knowing how to use these 5 basic spices.
The more meals you prepare at home = the healthier you will be.
You’ll have more energy and more confidence in your body.
It’s really that simple.
But where to get started? You’ll need a few basic items. That’s why we’ve created our Meal Prep Guide which will give you everything you need to get started in the kitchen.
If you want to make more meals at home, have these 5 spices in the pantry. Learning the basics of how to use each of these spices will radically improve the taste of your food.
Make better tasting food and you’ll most likely do it more often.
Here’s a quick primer on the 5 spices that we use on 80% of our dishes.
1) Garlic – works with pretty much everything. Fresh garlic will always be the best, but use garlic powder if you have to. My favorite dishes that I use garlic: baked chicken, roasted veggies, and tuna salad. Pairs well with ginger and cumin.
2) Sea Salt – This one is a no-brainer as we all know adding salt to foods will bring out its flavor. I like to go with sea salt as it’s a purer form of salt that’s been processed less than its table salt counterpart.
3) Ginger – Strong and floral, ginger is a great way to add a little flair to any dish. I love using ginger in combination with soy on any chicken or fish dish. It works really well together. Pairs very well with garlic.
4) Cayenne – Ready to kick it up a notch? Cayenne will add some serious heat to any dish. I love using cayenne on eggs, in my tuna salad, or if I want to quickly add some heat to any dish. Pairs well with cumin.
5) Cumin – This pungent, powerful spice is the secret weapon for many meat dishes. This is one of the major ingredients in most curries. It can be slightly bitter as well. My favorite use of cumin is on chicken or beef stir-fry and always when I make my chili. Pairs well with garlic and ginger.
Knowing these spice combinations will immediately upgrade your cooking skills.
There’s a quick starter list for you. Check out the Meal Prep Guide for more useful information to help you become a better cook.
Happy cooking,
Nick
