Spices for dinner

The main meal of the evening: curries, roasts, braises and grills.

Dinner is the main gathering meal in much of the world, and often where the full range of a cuisine's spices is shown, from slow-cooked stews to roasts and curries.

Slow-cooked dishes

Stews and braises use whole and ground spices cooked for hours. Moroccan tagines, Indian curries, Mexican moles, Persian khoresh and Hungarian goulash each use a different spice set, giving each its character.

Roasts and grills

Spice rubs and marinades, such as jerk, tandoori, suya, shawarma and barbecue rubs, flavour meat before cooking over fire. Pepper, paprika, cumin, coriander and garlic are common across them.

Table spices

Beyond the cooking, many tables carry their own seasonings, such as pepper mills in Europe, pepper sauce in the Caribbean, chilli oil in China and shichimi in Japan.

Dinner on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperchīlli The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep

🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep

🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreDalle Khursaniडल्ले खुर्सानी A round, fiery chilli from the Himalayas, known for its intense heat and vitamin content.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇳🇬 NigeriaYaji A spicy rub from Nigeria made with chili, ginger, and ground peanuts.Blend · Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep

🇯🇵 JapanYuzu koshō柚子胡椒 A fermented Japanese paste of chili peppers and yuzu citrus peel.Paste · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright

🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery

🇨🇳 ChinaYongfeng chili sauce永丰辣酱 A fermented paste of peppers, rice and wheat from Hunan province, one of the region's three treasures.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇧🇷 Brazil and 5 moreMalagueta peppermalagueta A small, fiery chili from Capsicum frutescens used across Portuguese-speaking regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreZhugسحوق A Yemeni hot sauce of crushed chilies, garlic, and corianderHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇭🇹 HaitiEpis A blended flavor base of peppers, garlic, and herbs essential to Haitian cookingHot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස් A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart 🇮🇳 IndiaKala masala A dark roasted spice blend from Maharashtra used for everyday home cooking.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇯🇵 JapanKarashiからし A potent Japanese mustard made from brown mustard seeds, served as a sharp condiment.Seed · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreChipotle Smoke-dried ripe jalapeño peppers used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cookingChilli · Hot and fiery · Smoky

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 morePaprika A red powder made from dried Capsicum annuum peppers, used to colour and flavour dishes across Europe and the Middle EasSeed · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry powder A Western adaptation of Indian spice blends for cooking sauces and stews.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreHabanero A very hot chili cultivar with a floral aroma, native to the Amazon and grown in Mexico.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Floral and perfumed

🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreBerbereበርበሬ (bärbäre) A complex Ethiopian spice blend built on chili peppers, coriander, and ginger.Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇵🇹 Portugal and 5 morePiri piri A very hot African cultivar of Capsicum frutescens used for spicy sauces and marinadesChilli · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreBird's eye chiliพริกขี้หนู A small, intensely hot cultivar of Capsicum annuum native to Mexico and widely grown in Southeast Asia.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇯🇵 JapanShichimi七味唐辛子 A Japanese seven-ingredient spice blend for finishing soups and noodlesBlend · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright

🇹🇭 Thailand and 3 moreThai basilโหระพา A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Hot and fiery

🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreLong pepper The dried fruit spike of a climbing vine native to Java, once the world's standard heat.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇪🇹 EthiopiaMitmitaሚጥሚጣ A fiery Ethiopian spice blend of bird's eye chilies, cardamom, and cloves.Blend · Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChili oil辣椒油 A red condiment of infused vegetable oil and hot peppers used across Asia and Europe.Hot and fiery · Smoky

🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣 A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling

🇫🇷 France and 1 moreEspelette pepperpiment d'Espelette A mild Basque chili with sweet, fruity notes and protected origin status.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 IndiaTandoori masala A spice blend for clay-oven cooking in the Indian subcontinentBlend · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 morePoblano A mild Mexican chili pepper that becomes the dried ancho when mature.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery 🇹🇳 TunisiaTabilتابل A Tunisian blend of coriander, caraway, garlic, and chili used to season stews.Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇨🇳 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

🇮🇹 ItalyPeperoncino A hot Italian chili pepper used in southern cuisine, dried and crushed for heat.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇬🇭 GhanaShitoshitor din A dark, spicy sauce made from fried fish and peppers, central to Ghanaian cooking.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreFresno chile A medium-sized Capsicum annuum cultivar with a conical shape and bright red skin.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇲🇽 MexicoCascabel chili A dried Mexican pepper with loose seeds that rattle like a bellHot and fiery · Smoky

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreAlligator pepper The seed pods of West African ginger plants, named for the bumpy texture of their inner kernels.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 IndiaIdli podiஇட்லிப் பொடி A coarse South Indian spice mix of roasted lentils and chillies, served with oil or ghee.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep

🇵🇭 PhilippinesSiling haba A long, bright green chili from the Philippines, prized for moderate heat in sour and savory stews.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇨🇳 ChinaEr jing tiao二荆条 A fragrant Chinese chili cultivar prized for its deep hue and medium heatChilli · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇨🇦 CanadaMontreal steak seasoning A dry rub of garlic, pepper, and dill for grilling meat, born in Montreal delis.Sharp and pungent · Warm and sweet-spiced

🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 morePiper chaba A creeping vine from South and Southeast Asia whose stems and roots are used as a pungent spice.Root · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreCapsicum frutescens A small, wild chili species with erect berries, native to the Americas and widely grown in tropical regions.Chilli · Hot and fiery

🇮🇳 India and 3 moreLong pepperpippali The dried fruit spike of a climbing vine, once the world's most prized spice.Fruit · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreWasabiわさび The pungent rhizome of a stream-side plant, grated fresh for sushi.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery

🇮🇩 Indonesia and 5 moreGinger The pungent rhizome of a flowering perennial, one of the world's most traded spices.Root · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreDatil pepper A very hot, sweet-sour cultivar of Capsicum chinense grown mainly in FloridaChilli · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow

🇲🇽 MexicoGuajillo chilichile guajillo A dried Mexican pepper with a sweet, fruity flavor and mild heat.Sweet and mellow · Hot and fiery

🇲🇽 MexicoChile de árbol A small, fiery Mexican chili pepper known for its grassy heat and bright red dried pods.Chilli · Hot and fiery · Smoky

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Karashi: yoppy, CC BY 2.0, source
Idli podi: Booradleyp1, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Peperoncino: Ramac, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Tandoori masala: Kamava1971, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Piper chaba: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Piri piri: Bovineone at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
Berbere: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
Mitmita: Caffe Vita, CC BY 2.0, source
Yaji: Salma kyari, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Habanero: André Karwath aka Aka, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Epis: LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Cascabel chili: Jessica and Lon Binder, CC BY 2.0, source
Chammanthi podi: Ranjithsiji, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Zhug: DonIncognito, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Malagueta pepper: Alex Popovkin, Bahia, Brazil, CC BY 2.0, source
Yongfeng chili sauce: Elena0100, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kroeung: Goomba King ( en:User:Trilinguist ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Yuzu koshō: njt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Dalle Khursani: Gaurav Dhwaj Khadka, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Curry powder: Slick, CC0, source
Chipotle: User:Carstor, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Thai basil: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Long pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Alligator pepper: NsirimS, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Capsicum frutescens: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Wasabi: Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Siling haba: Bagoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Er jing tiao: Borshingwoods, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Chili oil: Alpha, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source
Ginger: Venkatx5, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Datil pepper: Paullassiter, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Guajillo chili: Badagnani, CC BY 3.0, source
Chile de árbol: Cliff Hutson, CC BY 2.0, source
Fresno chile: Nadiatalent, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Espelette pepper: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Shichimi: http://www.recipelab.jp/sozai/detail/1779/, CC0, source
Crushed red pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Montreal steak seasoning: Laurent Bélanger, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Lunumiris: Yasith Silva, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Poblano: stef yau, CC BY 2.0, source
Paprika: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bird's eye chili: Daniel Risacher, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Shito: Flixtey, CC BY-SA 4.0, source