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Essential Spices and Herbs: Discover Them, Understand Them, Enjoy Them
50 Herbs and Spices That Will Transform the Way You Cook
The key to becoming a skilled home cook isn’t about tracking down the perfect recipes or mastering the techniques of professional chefs. It lies in understanding the vast world of flavor, one that can be difficult to navigate.
Essential Spices and Herbs introduces you to the 50 must-know herbs and spices that will take your cooking to the next level. Detailed profiles of these game-changing flavors for the modern kitchen include pairing suggestions, complimentary foods, and noted health benefits, plus recipes to put them to use.
Acquaint yourself with the aromas and flavors of these fundamental herbs and spices, with:
• An overview of the healing powers of key herbs and spices
• Over 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes
• 10 essential spice mixes to quickly add flavor to any dish
• A guide to spice and herb combinations by cuisine to celebrate global flavors
• Informative tips for buying and storing spices and herbs
Part reference, part cookbook, Essential Spices and Herbs will guide you along your journey through the magical world of flavor.
Recipes include: Cold Bulgarian Cucumber Soup, Roasted Garlic and Brie, Rosemary Grits, Brown Butter-Sage Sauce with Tagliatelle and Pumpkin, Thyme-Stuffed Baked Tomatoes
The key to becoming a skilled home cook isn’t about tracking down the perfect recipes or mastering the techniques of professional chefs. It lies in understanding the vast world of flavor, one that can be difficult to navigate.
Essential Spices and Herbs introduces you to the 50 must-know herbs and spices that will take your cooking to the next level. Detailed profiles of these game-changing flavors for the modern kitchen include pairing suggestions, complimentary foods, and noted health benefits, plus recipes to put them to use.
Acquaint yourself with the aromas and flavors of these fundamental herbs and spices, with:
• An overview of the healing powers of key herbs and spices
• Over 100 delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes
• 10 essential spice mixes to quickly add flavor to any dish
• A guide to spice and herb combinations by cuisine to celebrate global flavors
• Informative tips for buying and storing spices and herbs
Part reference, part cookbook, Essential Spices and Herbs will guide you along your journey through the magical world of flavor.
Recipes include: Cold Bulgarian Cucumber Soup, Roasted Garlic and Brie, Rosemary Grits, Brown Butter-Sage Sauce with Tagliatelle and Pumpkin, Thyme-Stuffed Baked Tomatoes
501 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2015
638 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 6, 2016
If you're looking for depth of information about herbs and spices, then this is not the book for you. This book provides brief notes on each spice followed by a couple of recipes that use that spice. There are no pictures of any of the dishes. There's a small picture of the spice/herb itself.
It has a "healing power" section for each spice which I'm somewhat skeptical about. It's unclear a) how much you need to consume in order to experience the healing properties b) if prolonged cooking retains much of the healing powers c) how deep is the author's research
For instance in the healing power section for Juniper Berries (quoted in full):
"The berries have been used as both an appetite suppressant and an appetite stimulant"
Hmmm.
Although having consistent sections for each spice/herb is a nice idea, it results in some sections being not helpful at all as in the example above. Or being only partially correct in the case of "where to buy it" because it depends on where the reader lives so it was often too general to cover many instances.
I was really looking forward to a special book dedicated to understanding spices and herbs more deeply. Oh well.
It has a "healing power" section for each spice which I'm somewhat skeptical about. It's unclear a) how much you need to consume in order to experience the healing properties b) if prolonged cooking retains much of the healing powers c) how deep is the author's research
For instance in the healing power section for Juniper Berries (quoted in full):
"The berries have been used as both an appetite suppressant and an appetite stimulant"
Hmmm.
Although having consistent sections for each spice/herb is a nice idea, it results in some sections being not helpful at all as in the example above. Or being only partially correct in the case of "where to buy it" because it depends on where the reader lives so it was often too general to cover many instances.
I was really looking forward to a special book dedicated to understanding spices and herbs more deeply. Oh well.
April 25, 2021
I really liked this book. It opened my world of cooking to what spices and herbs can do.
I liked learning about historical uses of herbs and spices and healing powers of them as well as how to use them in the kitchen. Also where to buy them and which ones are possible to grow in a garden.
Fun, interesting and applicable.
I liked learning about historical uses of herbs and spices and healing powers of them as well as how to use them in the kitchen. Also where to buy them and which ones are possible to grow in a garden.
Fun, interesting and applicable.
February 15, 2017
Pretty basic overview, very Euro-centric.
Some of the information on Chinese spices and herbs are incorrect.
Some of the information on Chinese spices and herbs are incorrect.
October 30, 2023
Spices for Life
A simply fascinating journey through cultures, customs and longevity rituals.
Do you know which culture lives longest or why it's thought to be?
Pile up the various spices and herbs, grind them for health and taste! Use them as pastes, dry rubs and sauces. Add yoghurt or vinegar.....be brave to experiment and explore which combination fits your family. And create your own family's special mix.
Simple produce + a blend of spice = health, wealth and joy.
A Bible of flavour principles for the loving cook in your family to interpret and discover.
Such a well organised doorstop of a book, It kept me awake until the sun came up enjoying this marvellous discovery. I'm hooked and so will anyone else intrigued by flavour, health or cultural ideology.
I can't recall giving 5 stars for any factual read before.
So, enjoy your consumption on many levels.
(I've not received products or money to review this product favourably or otherwise ***AMANDA KITTERIDGE-STOTE***)
A simply fascinating journey through cultures, customs and longevity rituals.
Do you know which culture lives longest or why it's thought to be?
Pile up the various spices and herbs, grind them for health and taste! Use them as pastes, dry rubs and sauces. Add yoghurt or vinegar.....be brave to experiment and explore which combination fits your family. And create your own family's special mix.
Simple produce + a blend of spice = health, wealth and joy.
A Bible of flavour principles for the loving cook in your family to interpret and discover.
Such a well organised doorstop of a book, It kept me awake until the sun came up enjoying this marvellous discovery. I'm hooked and so will anyone else intrigued by flavour, health or cultural ideology.
I can't recall giving 5 stars for any factual read before.
So, enjoy your consumption on many levels.
(I've not received products or money to review this product favourably or otherwise ***AMANDA KITTERIDGE-STOTE***)
January 31, 2023
Loved It!
Facinating to read and it’s full of useful information. l can’t wait to try some of the recipes! I got the Kindle edition and I’m planing to buy the hard copy.
Facinating to read and it’s full of useful information. l can’t wait to try some of the recipes! I got the Kindle edition and I’m planing to buy the hard copy.
May 27, 2025
very interesting and informative book. I'm looking forward to trying some of the recipes.
February 16, 2017
Money saver
I was so impressed and shocked at the same time when I read this book. It was so insightful about simple spices that I can make myself like curry powder which I pay an arm and a leg for. Great storing and flavoring tips thank you so much.
I was so impressed and shocked at the same time when I read this book. It was so insightful about simple spices that I can make myself like curry powder which I pay an arm and a leg for. Great storing and flavoring tips thank you so much.
April 29, 2018
Although this book has some great insight into the world of spices and herbs, it is amazing to me that the author only mentions the Spice Islands of Indonesia once. Also, there is not one Indonesian recipe in the book. Indonesian use of spices of herbs is extremely sophisticated and varied.
January 12, 2016
Amazing
5 stars because this was the most thorough book I've read on spices so far. If you're looking to branch out your palate and experiment with new spices, this will be your go-to guide. A must read for anyone getting started in the kitchen as well.
5 stars because this was the most thorough book I've read on spices so far. If you're looking to branch out your palate and experiment with new spices, this will be your go-to guide. A must read for anyone getting started in the kitchen as well.
February 22, 2016
Informative book
This is a well organized book that offers interesting information on a many spices and herbs. The author writes well and clearly. I appreciated the section on the health benefits of each spice and herb.
This is a well organized book that offers interesting information on a many spices and herbs. The author writes well and clearly. I appreciated the section on the health benefits of each spice and herb.
April 30, 2016
Great descriptions through brief histories, medicinal uses, and compliments of different spices and herbs.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews