Seasonings should enhance the flavor of your dishes.
Cooking with seasonings is a way to enhance the flavor of any dish you cook. Certain seasonings, such as basil, oregano and garlic, can be used in every-day cooking, while you might use something like saffron for special occasions. Seasonings can turn a simple dish into an extravagant meal when used properly, and many can be stored in your pantry in dried form for six months or more.
Instructions
1. Consider the dish you are cooking and enhance the dish's flavor. According to Ina Garten, author of "Barefoot Contessa Back To Basics," seasonings should add depth and complexity to your dish, not overpower it.
2. Learn pair seasonings with meals you cook. You can do this by attending a cooking class, buying a cookbook or experimenting on your own. For example, cumin is a smoky, spicy seasoning you can use in many Mexican dishes. Fennel has a mild licorice flavor that works well with pork, and ginger is a sweet seasoning you can pair with Asian cuisine or orange vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes.
3. Experiment with seasonings to learn how they enhance or change the flavor of your cooking. Set aside a day of the week or on the weekend to cook something new or use a new seasoning in a dish.
4. Add seasonings during different stages of cooking to "layer" the flavor. You can add seasoning at the beginning of cooking to flavor a roux or mirepoix. Add seasonings while a sauce or meat is simmering to further enhance the flavor. Sprinkle on seasonings after you plate the dish to garnish and add a finishing touch to your meal.
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