Spices ~ Food Pairing

Caraway – apples cabbage, garlic, nuts, mushrooms, onions, pork, potatoes, tomatoes, root vegetables, sausage and rye breads.

Cardamom – apples, bananas, beans, caramel, cinnamon, citrus, coconut, coffee, dates, ginger, grains, nuts, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and yogurt.

Chilli – bananas, beans, cheese, cilantro, cinnamon, citrus, chocolate, coconut, corn, cumin, basil, beef, garlic, ginger, grains, oregano, potatoes, poultry, seafood, tropical fruits – but see below for smoked chillies.

Chipotle – limes, fresh coriander, cumin, avocado, beans, honey, chicken, beef and sweet potatoes. (See here for ideas for lovely smoky chipotle paste.)

Cinnamon – apples, bananas, peaches, oranges, caramel, other spices such as cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger and particularly vanilla, chocolate, grains, sugar, carrots, pumpkin and squash, sweet potatoes, coffee and tea.

Cloves – apples, beets, cinnamon, game meats, ginger, nuts, nutmeg, peaches, pineapple, pumpkin, squash,sweet potatoes, sausages, stone fruit, tomatoes and red cabbage.

Coriander – beans and lentils, cured meats, curry, game meats, chicken, potatoes, seafood,

Cumin – avocados, aubergines, beans, chickpeas, beef, coconut, cucumber, garlic, rice, grains, mango, mint, onion, parsley, poultry, seafood, squash, tomatoes and is much used in South American and India.

Fennel Seed – apples, artichokes, basil, beans, , cabbage, aubergine, figs, garlic, olives, onions, potatoes, , tomato, , seafood, veal.

Fenugreek – beans, cumin, cardamom, chiles, cinnamon, curry, game meats, ginger, potatoes, poultry.

Ginger, fresh or ground – chocolate, chilli, lemon, orange, lime, garlic, tropical fruits, vanilla, fish, honey, whisky an soy.

Juniper – duck, game, hearty meat dishes and cabbage.

Mustard – asparagus, beef, beets, blue cheese, cabbage, capers, , cured meats, fennel, honey, poultry, root vegetables and sausages.

Nutmeg – asparagus, blue cheese, cabbage, carrots, cinnamon, cheese, coffee, cranberries, eggs, foie gras, ginger, green beans, pasta, peaches, pumpkin, potatoes, sausage and veal.

Pepper – artichokes, asparagus, beef, blue cheese, cheese, figs, foie gras, game meats, mushrooms, poultry, seafood, tomatoes and strawberries.

Saffron – berries, garlic, ginger, grains, poultry, seafood, and tomatoes.

Sage – apples, bacon, pork, sausages, poultry, pumpkin and squash, eggs, onions, hard cheeses and some say pineapple, but I’ve not tried that yet – let me know if you do!

Star Anise – apples, beets, beef, caramel, carrots, chocolate, citrus, cinnamon, coconut, cranberry, figs, foie gras, game meats, root vegetables, seafood, stone fruits and tea.

Turmeric – black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, garlic and onions, ginger, chickpeas, lentils, coconut milk, cauliflower.

Vanilla – bananas, caramel, chocolate, chillies, coconut, coffee, cream, dates, figs, nuts, shellfish, stone fruit, tropical fruit.

Wasabi – raw fish, cooked salmon, tuna and prawns, soy, sesame, pickled ginger, potatoes and beef.