6 Healthy Spices that Amp Up Flavor (not calories)

6 Healthy Spices that Amp Up Flavor (not calories)

According to the American Heart Association, most of us consume too much sodium, and for good reason: Salt enhances the flavor of ingredients. Great news for French fries, but not so great news for our health. But, did you know that spices can enhance the flavor of your food just as effectively as salt? 

Spices also perfume your recipes, which could impact your waistline, too. According to research published in the journal Flavour, we unconsciously take smaller bites and eat up to 10 percent less when a meal has a strong aroma. It also doesn’t take an advanced degree to work out that the more flavorsome your food, the more satisfying your meal. 

Add Pizzazz to Your Dishes with These 6 Healthy Spices 

  

Best for Seasoning: Black Pepper 

 How to use: Throw whole peppercorns into stocks, stews, and sauces (it’s notoriously good on steak) and grind on every savory dish imaginable to bring out its flavor. Black pepper devotees swear a tiny pinch of black pepper even has the power to transform so-so strawberries into treats as sweet as candy — not as weird as it sounds when you consider that black peppercorns are actually berries themselves. 

Storage: Black peppercorns last up to four years in an airtight container, stored in a cool, dark cupboard. 

Best for Curries: Turmeric 

 How to use: You can grate the root fresh (it’s less bitter) or buy it dried and ground to sprinkle into curries. For a fail-safe stir-fry, toss turmeric in a wok with sesame oil, ginger, onion, garlic, and a rainbow of vegetables. 

Storage: Turmeric root lasts for up to two weeks in the fridge, while ground, dried turmeric can sit in your pantry for three years. 

Best for Salads: Chilies 

How to use: Finely chop one deseeded red chili pepper and mix with half a freshly-squeezed lemon and a dash of olive oil for a light and zingy dressing. Far healthier than a dollop of mayonnaise, and twice as tasty. 

Storage: Fresh chilies will keep in the fridge for a week, but you can keep them ready-chopped in your freezer, safe in the knowledge that they’re good for up to a year. Dried chili flakes can be stored in your cupboard for up to two years, though they will lose some of the potency with age. 

Best for Baking: Cinnamon 

How to use: Generally, most recipes can comfortably accommodate a third less sugar than the recipe suggests. If you test it and like it with less sugar, go with it. If not, remake the recipe using a little more (but not all) of the sugar until you find your happy medium. Add an extra teaspoon of dried cinnamon to the recipe for a natural, warm, subtle extra sweetness. 

Storage: Dried, ground cinnamon lasts in an airtight jar for up to three years; ditto for dried cinnamon sticks. 

Best for Tea: Chai 

How to use: Infuse a chai tea bag in boiling water for three minutes, then stir in milk and a tiny tot of honey to taste. 

Storage: Tea bags will last for up to year in the pantry. It’s still safe to use them after that, but the flavor is less intense. 

Best for Everything: Ginger 

How to use: Fresh ginger works best blended in smoothies, chopped into stir-fries, or grated into hot water for tea; use half an inch of the root per serving. For baking, opt for a teaspoon of dried ground ginger. If you’re feeling too nauseous to cook, make this low-effort ginger tea, and sip it slowly. 

Storage: Ginger root stays fresh in the fridge for around two weeks, but when the spice is ground and dried, it keeps in an airtight container in the pantry for up to three years. 

 

Source – Beachbody On Demand