5 Game-Changing Spices Your Pantry Doesn't Know It's Missing
by Lynn Maleh
My parents are Syrian immigrants, and to be perfectly honest, they fit a few Middle Eastern stereotypes (I can say it; you can’t). They have dusty gold trinkets all over the house, my dad thinks the answer to most of life’s problems is to buy a rug, and yes–I actually and truly descend from a long line of spice dealers.
I’d love to say that no Middle Eastern person has ever traversed the desert on a camel selling spices, but that’s exactly what my grandfather did. And I’d love to say that my parents don’t have an entire spice store in their basement, but my dad used to own one, and that’s 100% where it lives now. Whether I want to perpetuate the stereotype or not, the truth is, I’ve got spice in my blood. And it’s mostly cumin.
I now live 3,000 miles away from my parents, but many of the spices from their pantry have since immigrated to mine. I’m writing this article, because–as much as I try to deny it–there’s a tiny Middle Eastern momma inside of me that really wants you to stop cooking such sad, boring meals.
So here it is, my gift to you: 5 Syrian woman-approved spices that will exponentially improve almost all of your everyday recipes.
1. Sumac
Hi. Hello. Can someone explain to me, seriously explain to me, why no one is using sumac? Sumac, made from beautiful bright red berries, is a coarsely ground spice that enhances the natural flavors of everything it touches. Sprinkling it on a dish is like squeezing a lemon on top of it. It offers the same lip-smacking tartness and acidity without the added liquid. The best part? The vibrant color adds visual appeal to any dish.
My favorite thing to do with sumac is to sprinkle it on hummus, but my mom will tell you its true soulmate is green beans. And again like lemon, it’s super versatile, so you can toss it in a homemade dressing, add it to a meat rub, or sprinkle it on just about any vegetable dish.
Recipe suggestion: Drizzle some olive oil on feta, add sumac, serve it with pita bread, then win your next dinner party (extra points for fresh chopped mint and/or pistachios on top).
I should mention that my absolute favorite place to buy spices is Savory Spice Shop, a mom and pop-owned business based out of Colorado. They usually have free shipping when you meet a minimum order, and their collection is so fresh and so flavorful. That’s where I get my Ground Sumac Berries Spice, but a quick Google search will lead you to sumac at Amazon, World Market, Walmart, Williams Sonoma, Whole Foods, and Kroger grocery stores.
2. Orange Peel
Orange peel is simply dried orange zest, which is the shavings of the outer peel of an orange. Since the world is already an expert on the multitudes of lemon zest, I think it’s as good a time as ever to start a conversation about orange zest. The peel of an orange contains the highest level of the fruit’s essential oils—meaning it’s the most flavorful part. But since zesting an orange on the regular isn’t really an option for anyone, orange peel provides a quick and equally flavorful alternative. One caveat: Orange peel can be a bit more difficult to find in stores, so I recommend buying it online.
There are a lot of fun uses for dried orange peel. Add it to a rice and bean dish for a Carribean-inspired flair, or toss some in your favorite cornbread recipe for extra zest.
My absolute favorite use of orange peel is in my Middle Eastern take on the classic yogurt parfait. Here’s what I do: I mix a bowl of yogurt with a drop of rose water (it’s very potent, so use sparingly!) and some honey. Then I top it with granola, pistachios, and of course, orange peel.
3. Chat Masala
I first discovered Chat Masala from Priya Krishna’s cookbook Indian-ish, which focuses on simple weeknight recipes from her Indian-American household. Chat Masala, also known as “Indian street snack spice” is typically a tangy, salty, funky combination of green mango seeds, fennel seeds, cumin, coriander, ginger powder, and other spices you probably don’t have at home.
The recipe that really won this spice over for me was Krishna’s Indian-ish Baked Potatoes, but honestly, you can (and should!) add it to so many different things. Sprinkle it on avocado toast, almond toast, popcorn, pizza, any fried appetizer, grilled cheese, or even soup, and instantly transform your everyday dish into a deliciously addictive Indian street food.
Chat Masala is easily available online. I use Rani brand, which just happens to be what my local Indian market carries, but I imagine there’s no going wrong with other options.
4. Dried Mint
I go through dried mint the way most people go through salt and pepper. You can use it as a quicker, easier alternative for fresh mint in recipes like this lemony quinoa salad. In fact, I love it on just about any salad–weeknight garden salad, green bean salad, pasta salad, or even tabbouleh. You can also add it to a homemade pesto for a brighter finish. Dried mint, like orange peel, is oddly not as available as I’d like it to be. I usually grab it from a local Middle Eastern market, but you can easily find it online.
No discussion of the Middle East and dried mint would be complete without a mention of mint and cucumber yogurt sauce (closely related to Greek tzatziki). In fact, this sauce is such a Middle Eastern staple that, to this day, the smell of toothpaste makes me think of yogurt. It can be served as a dip or drizzling sauce, with grape leaves, kebabs, rice, or pita bread. To make it, simply combine yogurt, chopped cucumber, minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
Dried mint can even be used like loose leaf tea. Just place it in your metal tea ball, steep, and voila–digestion-calming, breath-freshening, mood-boosting mint tea in minutes.
5. Chorizo Seasoning
Ok. You caught me. There’s nothing even remotely Middle Eastern about this spice blend (chorizo traces its roots back to Spain and Portugal), but I’m in love with it.
First thing to note: there’s no chorizo in it, but because it’s the same spice blend used to flavor chorizo, it adds a meatiness to any dish. This can be especially helpful for vegetarians or anyone just looking to cut back on their meat intake, without losing flavor.
While the exact ingredients vary from brand to brand, chorizo seasoning is typically a blend of chiles, peppers, cumin, and oregano. I’m a big fan of the Chimayo Chorizo Sausage Spice from Savory Spice, but you can also buy it from a number of sellers on Amazon.
Chorizo seasoning is super versatile and can be added to eggs, rice dishes, bean dishes tacos, ground meat, or even to kick up mac and cheese.
This article is my little way of saying there’s more to life than Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. All of the spices listed here descend from cultures that have been perfecting flavor profiles for centuries.
Adding them to your dishes is a powerful, delicious way of connecting with other worlds.
Lynn Maleh is a Syrian-American writer and comedian based in Los Angeles. By day, she writes online content, and by night she performs standup. See more of her articles here.
