Do you know that well-prepared food that no one can resist its smell, much less its taste? Well, it can be part of your daily life based on the form and ingredients used to season it.
The market offers a range of spices to give that special flavor when preparing dishes. Thus, nothing better than using them correctly to make your lunch or dinner even more tasty.
In antiquity, these spices, which came from India, were known as spices. The difficulty of bringing the products to Europe made them become a luxury item.
Over the years, these spices have become more accessible. Thus, it did not take long for them to be incorporated into the cuisine of many peoples, which made certain dishes gain even more flavor.
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The power of spices
When it comes to combining seasonings, whether with salads, beef, chicken, fish and even other dishes, many people find it difficult. In some cases, this combination is compared to wines.
However, based on the guidance of those who understand the case, many people will see this difficulty as another incentive to try the different combinations that seasonings provide to dishes.
According to nutritionist Heloiza Muniz , investing in a variety of seasonings is a great way to reduce the use of salt (sodium) in food preparation and also make them tastier and healthier.
Thus, seasonings are “great options for reducing salt in the diet, adding antioxidants (yes, natural seasonings are rich in antioxidants!) and varying the taste of everyday food,” says Heloiza.
Know the right seasoning
After this brief introduction to the power of spices, now it’s time to know the correct ingredient to use in a particular dish. Remembering that the indications are from nutritionist Heloiza Muniz.
- Cumin : use in preparations with meat, poultry, soups, cheeses, breads and sauces. Combines with cabbage, rice, and fillings.
- Turmeric (saffron) : use in soups, stews, fish, sauces, eggs, cheeses and salads.
- Curry : meat, fish, eggs, chicken, stuffed tomatoes, fish soup, shellfish, roasts in general and cooked vegetables.
- Ginger : pickles, ham or chicken sauces, tomato sauce, oriental preparations, sweets, cakes, breads and hot drinks, pies, biscuits and puddings, vegetable soup and cheese.
- Sesame : natural seeds – Breads, cookies, cakes, sweets and pies.
- Roasted seeds : green or potato salads, fresh cheese, chicken stew and soups.
- Nutmeg : fish, cheese-based preparations, white sauce, purees, hot drinks, cakes, pies, puddings, sauces in general, baked sweets, donuts, stoganoff and sprinkled on vegetables such as cauliflower.
- Paprika : potatoes, cauliflower, salad, fish and seafood.
- Black pepper kingdom White : fish, white sauce, potato salad, mayonnaise.
- Black pepper : red meat and stir-fry.
- Chili pepper : can be used in all types of preparations.
- Celery : stews, soups, sauces, salads, meats.
- Rosemary : meat, poultry, soups, sauces, potatoes, teas, lamb, goat and veal.
- Chives : omelettes, soups, sauces, cooked vegetables, meat or fish dumplings, salads, tartar sauce, green sauce, added to Minas cheese or ricotta cheese for sandwiches and canapés.
- Coriander : stir-fries, fish, seafood, shrimp, soups and salads.
- Lemon balm : soups, fruit salads, gelatin, herb sauce, salads and vegetables, teas.
- Fennel : fish, salads, roasts, soups, sauces, cutlets. Use the seeds in bread, fruit pie, pasta sauce, meatloaf, beans.
- Mint : potatoes, carrots, fruit juice, vegetables, teas, peas, beets, roast pork, roast lamb, sauces in general.
- Laurel : soups, beans, stews, roasts, fish, poultry, potatoes, carrots, ham, meat, minced meat, rice pudding.
- Basil : tomato salad, pizza, meat, poultry, scrambled eggs, tomato sauce.
- Oregano : pizzas, tomato sauce, meat, stews, baked fish, soups, sauces in general.
- Parsley : meat, poultry, fish, soups, vegetables and salads.
- Salvia : meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, salads, eggs, cheese, sausage and sausage.
- Thyme : soups, fish, meat, poultry, tomatoes, beets, carrots, onions, eggs and cheeses.
- Garnier Bouquet : strung with parsley, bay leaves, thyme and chives, which are added to the preparations to add more flavor. Use in soups, broths and sauces. Remove when serving.
The benefit of spices
In addition to adding even more flavor to the dishes, seasonings also have some benefits for human health. In this way, it is good to keep an eye out and start counting on these advantages in your daily life as well.
“One of the main advantages of natural seasonings is the fact that, because they are rich in antioxidant substances, they can help prevent premature aging, improve blood circulation, among several other benefits”, advises nutritionist Vanessa Lodi .
Some of the spices mentioned above have digestive, antioxidant properties that stimulate the immune system, with anti-inflammatory action, in addition to controlling anxiety and food cravings. See also: Seasonings that help you lose weight .
Oregano, for example, “is an antibacterial, antibiotic, analgesic, antifungal and sedative. It helps in the treatment of flu and colds and in the treatment and control of mycoses and fungal problems”, informs Vanessa Lodi.
Basil is rich in iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium. “The presence of magnesium helps to improve the health of the cardiovascular system, blood flow and reducing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias”, certifies the nutritionist.
Seasoning such as turmeric, for example, acts as a laxative, antineoplastic and also protects against cancer. While ginger fights infections and cardiovascular diseases and helps with weight loss.
Cumin stimulates the secretion of pancreatic enzymes, substances necessary for proper digestion and assimilation of nutrients. Furthermore, according to Vanessa, it “is a diuretic and helps in the treatment of flatulence (gas)”.
Finally, pepper aids in digestion, as it increases the production of gastric juice. “Furthermore, they have anti-inflammatory properties and speed up metabolism, which helps in the weight loss process”, adds the nutritionist.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.