What spices do you always have on hand?

Hillary Pollak
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17 Comments

Stephanie April 6, 2015
So many that I had to add a second spice rack but I try never to run out of...

Peppercorns and salt (Himalayan pink, Fleur de Sel, and a smoked and/or infused salt)
Baking spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
Seeds: Fresh ground cumin, coriander seeds, mustard powder
Chiles: Aleppo chiles (so much better than crushed red pepper!), ground chipotle, and ALWAYS smoked Spanish paprika
Herbs: Basil, bay leaves, oregano (both Greek and Mexican), tarragon, an Italian Herb blend, Herbes de Provence, rosemary. Lemon thyme when I can get it

And yes, my spice rack is organized this same way!
 
aargersi April 3, 2015
SO many it's nuts, but I use them all and do a continual "sniff test" for freshness. I am crazy for the smell / flavor of whole cumin, white peppercorn, fenugreek and coriander toasted and bashed up together so ALWAYS have those. I have to have the usual suspects - curry, cinnamon (sticks and Vietnamese powder) bay leaf, different paprika, you know all of that stuff. My cousin brings me the best vanilla beans from France, I treasure them. Stuff I get here specifically - Herbs De Tejas (herbs de provence grown in Fredricksburg + dried jalapeno) - so good. My niece makes me salt with rosemary, citrus zest and chili flake. Then there are the herbs growing out back ...
 
luvcookbooks April 3, 2015
The answer is more: what spices am I helpless not to acquire? I have Turkish rose petals and Turkish dried nettles, eyeing mastic gum, which my local grocery store carries. I know it's only a question of time. Faves: pimenton, cumin, mustard seed, garam masala, oregano, cayenne, smoked salt, sea salts, cinnamon, nutmeg (I own a nutmeg grater), ginger, vanilla, vanilla beans, different kinds of pepper, dried chiles, Mexican and Greek oregano.
 
luvcookbooks April 3, 2015
The answer is more: what spices am I helpless not to acquire? I have Turkish rose petals and Turkish dried nettles, eyeing mastic gum, which my local grocery store carries. I know it's only a question of time. Faves: pimenton, cumin, mustard seed, garam masala, oregano, cayenne, smoked salt, sea salts, cinnamon, nutmeg (I own a nutmeg grater), ginger, vanilla, vanilla beans, different kinds of pepper, dried chiles, Mexican and Greek oregano.
 
ashugarg April 2, 2015
Pepper
Turmeric
Clove
Cumin
Chilli
Cinnamon
Basil
Aniseed
Tamarind
Tejpat
 
Rachel W. April 1, 2015
kosher salt, black peppercorns, crushed red chili flakes, turmeric, cardamom, coriander seeds, cumin, ancho chili powder, 2 types of paprika, cayenne, homemade blend of garam masala
 
Kristen W. April 1, 2015
Kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, cayenne, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, garam masala, mustard seeds, smoked Spanish paprika, chipotle powder (and various other chile powders), star anise...I'm sure there are more but those are probably my most commonly used ones.
 
creamtea March 31, 2015
Cumin (seed and ground), black pepper, Aleppo Pepper, Pimenton, salt- kosher and smoked, garlic powder (yes), cinnamon, ground and stick, saffron, cardamom, coriander, mustard seeds, ground mustard, celery seed, chili powder, ancho chili powder, whole chiles, chipotle chile powder, paprika, lavender buds, nutmeg, cloves (whole and ground), star anise, szechuan pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, allspice, sour salt, something called Peruvian barbecue blend, several spice blends brought back from the shuk, cayenne pepper,
 
boulangere March 31, 2015
Several salts: himalayan, French grey, Murray River
I fill my pepper grinders with a mixture of white and black peppercorns, pink "peppercorns," and coriander seeds
By "spices," am I correct that you imply dried? Cumin seed, fennel seed, dill seed, turmeric, coriander seed, garam masala, cinnamon, green cardamom, whole allspice, whole nutmeg, star anise, juniper berries, mustard powder, smoked paprika, paprika picante, dried lemongrass, red pepper flakes, dried Thai chiles, anatto, harissa. Not necessarily in that order.
 
Pegeen March 31, 2015
Way too many. I've been thinking of making an arrangement with a friend to split our spice purchases. It seems a huge waste not to use more of them, more often.
 
Ashley M. March 31, 2015
Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, Lavender, Basil, Smoked Paprika, Cinnamon, Cayenne Pepper, Coriander, Cumin, Ginger, Curry, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Fennel Seed, Sage, Marjoram and Tarragon. I am sure I am missing some but this is what I could think of off the top of my head.
 
Shalini March 31, 2015
Cumin, cardamom, (green), black peppercorns, sea salt, coriander, turmeric, smoked Spanish paprika, Indian chilli powder (ground dried chillies), fresh and dried ginger, saffron, fresh garlic, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary. Extras could be nutmeg and mace, and garam masala.
 
QueenSashy March 31, 2015
I tend to be spice obsessed so I carry them all, all the time. But if I had to pick only few -- say three, no four (salt and pepper excluded), I would go with curry powder, cumin, red pepper flakes and smoked paprika. One can cook about the entire world of dishes with these four alone.
 
Meaghan F. March 31, 2015
Black peppercorns, kosher salt, pink Himalayan salt, smoked paprika, Chinese five spice, dried chili pepper, basil, oregano, and chives. I have more, but I use at least three from that list every night.
 
JulieS March 31, 2015
Malden sea salt
Pepper
Herbs de Provence
Aleppo Pepper
Ancho pepper
Smoked Spanish Paprika
Tarragon
Fennel
Turmeric
Ginger
 
Cav March 31, 2015
Off the top of my head, and not counting herbs:

Coriander
Cumin
Chilli Flakes
Black Pepper
Green Peppercorns
White Pepper
Star Anise
Cinnamon
Fenugreek
Cloves
Mace
Anise Seed
Fennel Seed
Paprika
Smoked Paprika
Black Mustard Seed
English Mustard Powder
Saffron
Turmeric
Frozen Grated Ginger
Juniper Berry
All Spice Berries
Caraway Seed
Szechuan Peppercorns
Annato Seed


tsk. No Grains of Paradise.
 
HalfPint March 31, 2015
Black & white pepper
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Ginger
Smoked Paprika
Curry Powder


 
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