Garlic powder (an eighth of a teaspoon replaces one clove of fresh garlic), paprika (a burst of color on potato salad or deviled eggs), ground cloves (a baking-spice regular that also shines in beef and pork dishes), and cumin (earthy and central to Indian and Latin American cooking, from chili to guacamole) round out a well-stocked spice cabinet.
Kitchen Spice and Salt Essentials Worth Knowing
A spice comes from a plant's root, bark, or seed, while an herb comes from its leaves, and some plants supply both (cilantro the herb, coriander its seed). A pantry with just salt and pepper is missing out on a lot of flavor.
Stock Four Essential Spices
Season While Cooking, Not After
Adding seasoning throughout the cooking process, rather than only at the end, lets the flavor adjust and build properly. A pat of butter or a little oil can mellow strong flavors, while vinegar or lemon juice can cut through oversalting.
Choose the Right Salt for the Job
Kosher salt dissolves fast and works for most everyday cooking, crystalline sea salt adds a burst of flavor sprinkled on freshly cooked food, and flaked sea salt lends a light, briny finish to vegetables, fish, and just about anything else.
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