Spices by Cuisine
What each kitchen keeps
Start here
Three guides that set up the rest of the section.
In this collection 8 guides
- Ethiopian Spices Make Sense When You Learn Their JobsThe core Ethiopian pantry is larger than berbere. Berbere builds chile-rich stews…
- What Should an Indian Spice Pantry Include First?Start an Indian spice pantry with whole cumin and mustard seed, ground coriander…
- What Spices Define Mexican Cooking Beyond Chili Powder?Mexican cooking is not built from one chili powder. Whole dried chiles give color, body…
- What Spices Shape Middle Eastern Cooking?A useful Middle Eastern spice cabinet is not a long regional checklist. Start with tart…
- Which Herbs and Spices Define Vietnamese Cooking?Vietnamese cooking separates fresh leaves from cooked aromatics and whole broth spices…
- Which Japanese Seasonings Belong in Each Kind of Dish?Start with soy sauce, miso, dashi ingredients, mirin, rice vinegar, sake, sugar, and…
- Which Moroccan Spices Belong in Each Kind of Dish?Start a Moroccan pantry with cumin, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, black…
- Which Thai Spices and Aromatics Belong in Each Dish?A useful Thai pantry starts with lemongrass, galangal, makrut lime leaves, chiles…
Quick answers
From the guides in this section.
Can I build an Indian spice pantry with only six jars?
Yes. Start with cumin seed, ground coriander, turmeric, chile powder, mustard seed, and garam masala. Add regional spices only after your recipes need them.
Read the guideWhat spices are essential for Mexican cooking?
Start with dried ancho and guajillo chiles, Mexican oregano, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, bay leaves, black pepper, and annatto or achiote paste.
Read the guideWhat are the seven spices in Thai seven-spice?
Commercial Thai seven-spice blends vary and are not a universal Thai pantry. Check the label and match the blend to the dish.
Read the guideWhat are the most useful Middle Eastern spices to start with?
Start with sumac, zaatar, cumin, coriander, baharat, and a mild chile such as Aleppo-style pepper. Add cardamom or saffron when rice, coffee, or special dishes repeat.
Read the guideIs berbere the national spice of Ethiopia?
Berbere is the most recognized Ethiopian blend and central to many wot dishes, but it represents only one part of the pantry.
Read the guideOut of a spice?
211 tested swaps, each with the amount.
About this section
Eight regional pantries, each covering the small working set of spices a kitchen genuinely keeps rather than an exhaustive list. The habit of using them matters more than the length of the list, so every guide names the technique too.