From Bland to Grand: 12 Spices Every Kitchen Needs

Transforming your meals from plain to amazing is easier than you think. In this journey, we'll uncover the twelve spices that every kitchen needs. From the comforting embrace of cinnamon to the fiery kick of cayenne, these spices have the power to make your dishes extraordinary.

AUTHOR: Rebecca Holcomb

Table of Contents

1. Szechuan Peppercorns
2. Smoked Paprika
3. Cumin
4. Tarragon
5. Sumac
6. Monosodium Glutamate
7. Berbere
8. Thyme
9. Chinese 5-Spice
10. Everglade Seasoning
11. Rosemary
12. Nutmeg
Get Cooking
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1. Szechuan Peppercorns

Szechuan Peppercorns in Wooden Spoon With Glass Bowl and spill over — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

With heavy citrus notes and a numbness-inducing effect, meals with Szechuan peppercorns aren't likely to be forgotten easily. Used mainly in Chinese, Nepali, Indian, Tibetan, and Bhutanese cuisine, Szechuan pepper can add a very nice, spicy kick to any dish.

2. Smoked Paprika

Like its paprika cousin, smoked paprika comes from a selection of slow-roasted peppers over an oak fire. Once ground into a powder, they keep the notes of oak wood smoke in the fragrance of the powder. Paprika can be every heat level from hot and spicy to sweet and mild.

3. Cumin

This spice will save your chicken dishes if you store them in the fridge overnight. I once made white bean chicken chili, and the next day, I was desperate to find a way to save my meal. After some searching, I discovered that cumin neutralizes that 'left-over chicken' flavor, and I could use my chicken chili for another afternoon lunch meal.

4. Tarragon

Bowl of dry tarragon, scoop and fresh leaves isolated on white, top view — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

There are different forms of Tarragon, but French tarragon is used most often for cooking. Propogated by root division, it produces sterile flowers but potent leaves. In early spring, the stems can substitute for asparagus, and the flavor profile is similar to anise's.

5. Sumac

Dry spice sumac in a wooden spoon. Ground sumac spice. Dried ground red Sumac powder spices in wooden spoon with sumac berries on rustic table. Healthy food concept. — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Essential to Mediterranean cooking, this tangy, earthy, and slightly sour sumac has a deep red hue and a fruity flavor. Very astringent, sumac in Arabic means 'dark red' and is perfect for dishes that need a little acid. Not to be confused with poison sumac, which is white.

6. Monosodium Glutamate

Once considered harmful, MSG is said to be extremely tasty and a great way to give your savory dishes a nice punch of flavor. Research has shown that MSG, having been used for nearly 100 years, is not harmful and doesn't deserve the bad reputation it has.

7. Berbere

Berbere is the main part in the cuisines of Ethiopia and Eritrea. A mixture of spices, usually including red pepper, ginger, cloves, coriander, allspice. Wooden background. — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Made for helping to add some serious flavor to a great stew, this set of spices will give your bland stew a healthy boost. Berbere hails from Ethiopia and Eritrea and should mix well in that heavenly mix of meat, vegetables, and stock; it can also set well as a condiment.

8. Thyme

This leafy herb is perfect when you know how to use it. Be careful, though, when it's wrong is very wrong. I once made spaghetti sauce with Thyme, and it tasted quite a bit like dirt. My husband got a good laugh from that experience, mainly because he didn't have to taste it.

9. Chinese 5-Spice

Chinese Five Spice — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Made from anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, and Szechuan peppercorns, this spicy, intense spice mix is helpful in lots of different dishes but is best with roasted meats and especially as a kickin' spice rub.

10. Everglade Seasoning

Made only in Florida, this seasoning mix is the only one I use to make homemade chicken strips. Bursting with savory flavor, it pairs perfectly with chicken in a crispy, flavor-packed batter that compliments any Southern side dish.

11. Rosemary

This needle-like herb can do so much for roasted potatoes and chicken-centered dishes. Earthy and delightful, it adds a subtle punch of flavor to side dishes and entrees alike.

12. Nutmeg

When I was little, my mother would make heaping piles of French toast to feed her three children, two of whom were very athletic. I remember the lovely scent and subtle flavor of nutmeg fondly. When I'm feeling nostalgic, I put it in my recipe and thank my mom for such a wonderful experience.

Get Cooking

Woman cooking, man helping — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Cooking is one of life's little pleasures. You can experiment to your heart's content, and even if you mess something up, you can always try again. Next time you make a dish, consider adding one of these spice mixes to see how fantastic your food can be.

Source: Reddit, Master Class, Taste of Home, The Mediterranean Dish, Healthline, The Spruce Eats.