[Migrated, see pinned post] Casual Conversation

I'm British

Cinnamon. Love it to bits.

Smoked paprika. It just adds so much depth to anything that I add it to! I'm also a big fan of cumin and turmeric.

I use paprika in pretty much everything I cook

Bebir (Aleppo pepper) - it's a very mild red smoked chili that has incredible earthiness, and only a soupçon of warmth. I put this in everything, even dishes that are supposed to taste bright

Espresso - I make lazy pot espresso and save the dregs. I put the coffee in so many dishes. Sometimes where the base ingredients are too acidic or sweet. But I will also add it in gravy, sauces, stews, braise my meat with it. A couple tablespoons in a pot of spicy soup. It's so versatile and deep

Cane sugars - raw, turbinado, or demerara - minimally processed where the molasses remains in the crystals. I know sugar has a bad reputation in our insane twisted diet lifestyle, but it's fine for a cooking, and it's amazing to caramelize things when frying or to take the edge off acidity. You need the tiniest amount. I will also pulverize it in a mortar and pestle... A teaspoon sprinkled on kettle corn is ludicrously delicious

Parsley, if that counts. I don't really enjoy spicy food 😄

Salt and pepper in every dish. Hands down my favorite.

“All the spices!” lol I really enjoy Tarragon and Black Garlic. Not necessarily together.

Sumac! And garlic, paprika, and asafoetida. Love ‘em all

I wanna say cilantro, but...

Can't go wrong with a combination of garlic, ginger, and chili pepper.

Smoked paprika ‼

Paprika, everywhere

Also Madras Curry

Tumeric paprika and cumin on potatoes.

Paprika garlic and chilli on chicken.

Coriander/cilantro on everything asian.

And a tiny bit of salt and sugar on all.

Based on frequency/amount of use, cumin.

Based on my favorite flavors, mustard seed, oregano, smoked paprika, lemon thyme, dill.

(The above excludes the obvious salt and pepper, as well as onion and garlic since I use those in enough quantity to be considered full-blown veggies, not spices.)

Black pepper and chili flake are my go-to. Chipotle powder too. I'm also a sucker for za'atar, which is amazing on roasted potatoes.

Bay leaves in savory dishes

Nutmeg on/in sweet things

The only 5 spices you'll ever need:

• Salt

• Pepper

• Onion powder

• Garlic powder

• MSG

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that doesn't benefit from these 5. You can always add other spices, too, but these are the baseline for every single dish that isn't meant to be sweet. And even on some sweet stuff, it's pretty good. I tried it on waffles once and it was amazing.

Hungarian paprika is awesome, I like to mix the sweet and hot varieties 50-50, and often use smoked paprika on top of that. I like paprika

Smoked paprika, turmeric, coriander, nutmeg, cinnamon

And salt/pepper

Garlic salt is what I use on anything when I don't wanna think about it but want it to be delicious. Black pepper to finish most things.

Probably cayenne pepper.

Thyme.

Aromat.

Black cumin and rosemary, sometimes habareno pepper

Ranch dressing.

I'm horrible in cooking, so basil and garlic powder. And maybe white pepper. I have no idea how to use the other spice tbh.

Do chilli flakes and black pepper count? Otherwise I don't really use spices... The food is plenty seasoned by the mountain of garlic and black pepper I use

I have this roasted garlic paprika blend I really love and use as a shortcut for a lot of dishes. It's got other spices too but it's just delicious. I think it is McCormick.

My next favorites are Johnny's seasoning salt, black pepper, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, basil, Italian seasoning. All of these would go in a vegetable soup.

MSG is also nice in moderation. And cinnamon for sweet things of course.

Salt, garlic, ancho chili powder, marjoram

Braai spice