Earthy and deep
Cumin, turmeric and fenugreek: the low, savoury base of a curry.
Earthy spices have a deep, savoury, slightly dusty flavour. Cumin, turmeric, coriander seed, fenugreek and black cardamom give food a rounded, grounded base.
What makes them earthy
Cumin contains cuminaldehyde, a warm, musky compound. Turmeric tastes of soil, ginger and a little bitterness. Black cardamom adds smoke and camphor. They hold the flavour together under brighter spices.
How cooks use them
They form the base of curry powders, chilli, tagines, falafel and many bean dishes. They are usually cooked in oil early, to remove rawness, and are often combined with sweeter or more sour notes.
Cautions
Overuse can make food taste muddy. A small pinch of a brighter spice, such as coriander or lemon, restores balance.
Earthy and deep on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreChipotle
Smoke-dried ripe jalapeño peppers used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cookingChilli · Hot and fiery · Smoky
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇸🇾 Syria and 1 moreAleppo pepperفلفل حلبي
A moderately spicy, fruity flake from Syria and Turkey, named for the city of Aleppo.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇨🇳 China and 2 moreCrushed red pepper
Dried and crushed chilli peppers, often with seeds, used as a spicy condiment.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreChimayó pepper
A prized New Mexico chile cultivar known for its sweet, smoky flavor and twisted dried pods.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Smoky
🇮🇳 IndiaRamanathapuram Mundu chilli
A round, mild red chilli from Tamil Nadu with a GI tag.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
🇮🇳 IndiaKashmiri red chilliकश्मीरी लाल मिर्च
A mild Capsicum annuum cultivar prized for its deep red colour and low heat.Chilli · Earthy and deep
🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreJalapeño
A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar from Mexico known for its green pods and moderate heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Jalapeño: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kashmiri red chilli: Miansari66, Public domain, source
- Chimayó pepper: Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chipotle: User:Carstor, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Aleppo pepper: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
- Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source