Whether you’re an avid cook like myself or you’re fearful of boiling a pot of water for pasta, food should be an enjoyable experience. However, for some, cooking isn’t something that’s enjoyed and that might often be down to the way you’re preparing and making the food before it ends up on your plate.
I learned over the years of cooking that seasoning your food is essential. I am still somewhat of a typical white girl seasoner in that sometimes, the food is BLAND. However, I think living in London, travelling and just being keen to try anything that’s new at least once, my experimentation with seasoning has improved.
With that being said, if you feel as though there’s something missing from your food, then here’s how to spice up your meals for 2025.
Don’t be afraid of the herbs and spices
Too many people make the mistake when cooking to not adding enough herbs and spices to their food. As you’re cooking, it’s always handy to taste the food while you cook it, otherwise you’re not going to know what it tastes like until it’s plated up.
Along with the usual pinches of salt and pepper, add some extra herbs and spices where appropriate. Brush up on your knowledge of herbs and spices to understand what works best with the foods you’re cooking with.
There are some wonderfully flavoured Indian spices that you can add to your usual curries to enhance the flavour of them. Not only that but a lot of Indian spices can be added to other cuisines to add a bit of extra heat and depth of flavor to them.
Make use of homemade broths to add to soups and grain dishes
For those dishes that you’d typically enjoy with some crusty bread, like soup for example, homemade broths are a real treat. As well as adding them to grain dishes for flavour, if you’re able to make your own bone broth or vegetable alternative, then this can be a great way to add something else to dishes that would otherwise be a little plain.
Low-sodium vegetable or chicken broths are a go-to but if you’re looking to make a banging French Onion soup, try to make your own beef bone broth as this tends to compliment the flavour of the onion, the best.
Add citrus
Spicing up your meals doesn’t just mean adding some spice. It’s always worth doing the research to see what food types go well with what herbs and spices. Beyond these are other flavour combinations that go well together. For example, for fish dishes, you could take advantage of citrus notes like lemon and lime. These are a great accompaniment to seafood and really bring out the fresh flavours you find in most fish and shellfish.
Don’t be afraid to zest your citrus fruits too as this adds more flavor and can be used to flavour grains like your rice and paella.
Seek out aromatic vegetables
Aromatic vegetables are something to add to your dishes when it comes to flavoring them. From brown onions to garlic, these are essential vegetables that will help lift your flavours to new levels. Do you want a solid foundation in your dishes? The use of aromatic vegetables will make a big difference to the dishes you create as a result.
Taste your spices before you put them in
One final tip is to taste your spices before you add them in. If you don’t want to taste them, at least give them a sniff. This will give you an idea of what flavour you’ll be adding to your dish. For example, cumin will add a warm and nutty flavour, paprika a smoky one and turmeric adds a bright and earthy one.
Tasting your spices will help you make the right choices so that you don’t ruin the dish by adding in a herb or spice that doesn’t match up with the rest of the dish.
What are you like when it comes to herbs and spices? Let me know in the comments below.
