Spice Blends: The Lazy Person’s Way to Fast and Flavorful Veggies

Poor vegetables.  If they’re allowed on the plate at all, it’s rarely in a starring role.  More often than not, they’re just an afterthought.   As one Whole Kitchen participant put it, “After spending time on the entree, I end up just steaming  a vegetable real quick and call that good.”

Spice blends are the lazy (or just busy and harried) cook’s answer to bland veggies.  Who doesn’t have time to sprinkle a little spice over some cookedvegetables?  No one.  So there’s no excuse for having an unappetizing blob of vegetables taking up the real estate on your dinner plate.

I’ve always created custom spice combinations for my vegetable sides, and even wrote a series on how to become an herb and spice adventurer.  Recently I discovered an equally fun (and much less intimidating) approach in premixed spice blends.

In preparing for a Whole Kitchen class on chicken salads, I visited Savory Spice Shop, where Dan Haywood suggested I try Herbes de Provence, a classic French spice blend, as well as Tarragon Shallot Citrus Seasoning, a house blend.  I tested the two blends on and in everything from lamb chops, quiches and green beans to chicken and tuna salad.  The results: instant and delightful pizazz for less than a latte.  Check out this economical and easy kitchen trick:

The Blends:

• The expert balance of flavors in Herbes de Provence is  a sure bet for a wide array of dishes.  As a timeless classic, it  can be found anywhere herbs and spices are sold, from the bulk section of Vitamin Cottage to the herbs and spice section of a regular grocery store.  If buying in bulk, half an ounce will easily last a month or two.
• The Tarragon Shallot Citrus Seasoning is a custom Savory Spice Shop blend, but equally versatile and fun.   If you can’t get to a Savory location, order it on line.

Bulk Buying Best: I was always reluctant to try spice blends because the ones in a typical grocery store are fairly expensive, doubly so if I didn’t like  one and had to pitch it.  This problem is alleviated now that blends can be bought at spice stores (online or storefront), or from the bulk section of a health foods store.  You can do a taste test at the store to pre-qualify a blend.  Then you can buy just a small amount to cook with and make sure it appeals to your taste buds.  Buying in smaller amounts also means a blend will likely be used up before going bad and having to be tossed.

Watch Out: If you do choose a pre-bottled, commercial blend, read the ingredient label!  They often contain artificial flavorings, colorings and preservatives, needless additions since good spices have plenty of flavor  on their own.  One more reason to buy at a local spice store, where blends are made only with herbs and spices, what a surprise!

Crush and Sprinkle: Remember to gently rub Herbes de Provence (or any leafy dried herb) between your hands while sprinkling into a dish.  This helps release its  flavors more fully.

Did I Mention Fun? For cooks caught in a rut, the biggest problem often isn’t a lack of recipes, time or energy.  It’s an “inspiration-deficit.”  Just walking into a spice store will remedy that problem.  Wander around the flavors and blends and you’ll soon be itching to try something new.

Recipes Yellow summer squash may be bland, but it makes a perfect backdrop for pungent herbs.  Check out these two recipes, using Herbes de Provence as well as Greek Oregano (did you know there are both Mexican and Greek oreganos?)

Ready for an Adventure: Savory Spice has several locations in the Denver Metro Area, California and North Carolina.  Penzey’s Spices also has locations all over the country.  Both of these stores sell on line as does  The Spice House.  For a lot of interesting info on spices and delectable recipes, see Jane Spice.

Want to learn more abut herbs, spices and blends?  This is exactly what we do in Whole Kitchen Cooking Classes.  This week, seasonal cauliflower and carrots will be transformed from ordinary to sublime when jazzed up with two more of Dan’s suggestions: Vietnamese Sweet Lemon Curry and Vadouvan, a French curry blend.  Check out the current class flyer.