It’s always fun to look at all the spices in that grocery store aisle. Buy how many of them do you really need for everyday cooking? Here’s my list of what I always keep on hand.
Some recipes call for a long list of exotic spices while others call for just some basics. Unless you are preparing a gourmet meal for a contest, you should be able to get by with some standard spices. Many times you can add “a little more of this” to compensate for “not having that.” I’m not always able to pick up a spice for just one recipe, nor do I want to clutter my spice pantry with a single use item, so I have learned to cook everything with combinations of these few spices. Whether you are just setting up your first kitchen, or are an experienced kitchen whiz, this list will help you simplify and remove some clutter from your spice pantry.
Spice Pantry Essentials
Salt
Sea salt
Black pepper
Onion powder
Garlic powder
Celery seed
Cumin
Basil
Oregano
Ground ginger
Ground nutmeg
Ground cinnamon
Seasoned salt
Dried cilantro
Cayenne pepper
Paprika
Parsley flakes
Bay leaves
Dried dill weed
Goya All-Purpose Seasoning
