Spice Pairings and Flavor
Learn about warm, earthy, and refreshing spice families, which dishes each group pairs with, and how to build your own spice blend.
What Will You Learn in This Lesson?
- Distinguish warm, earthy, and refreshing spice families
- Choose which spice family pairs with a given dish
- Add fresh herbs at the right time
- Build a three-layer spice blend
- Explain the reasoning behind regional spice pairings
Equipment You’ll Need
Required
- Spice mortar or small grinder
- Dry skillet with a thin base
- Measuring spoons
- Airtight spice jars
Optional
- Grater (for fresh ginger or nutmeg)
- Small brush (for removing excess spice)
Alternative
- If you do not have a mortar: crush the spices in a clean cloth with a rolling pin
Safety
- Stay by the pan while toasting spices; they can burn within seconds.
- Do not inhale the smoke from toasted spices directly or lean over the pan.
- Ground spices are stronger than whole spices, so adjust the amount in the recipe accordingly.