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EveryMasala

Spices for lunch

Thalis, rice plates, stews and sandwiches: the midday meal.

Lunch is the main meal of the day in many parts of the world, and spice is central to it, from the Indian thali and the Ethiopian injera platter to the Mexican comida.

The midday meal

In South Asia and parts of Africa and Latin America lunch is the largest meal. A thali brings together dal, vegetables, rice, bread, pickles and chutneys, each with its own spice. In Ethiopia a shared plate of wats and injera is built on berbere.

Lighter lunches

In the Middle East lunch may be mezze, falafel and salads dusted with sumac and za'atar. In Southeast Asia, noodle soups and rice plates use pastes, chilli and fresh herbs. Sandwiches and salads in Europe carry pepper, mustard and herbs.

Packed lunches

Dabbas in India, bento in Japan and tiffins in Singapore keep spiced food portable. Foods that taste good cold, such as pickles, chutneys and spiced rice, travel well.

Lunch on EveryMasala

The spices written up so far, best known first.

PartSeedBarkRootFlowerFruitChilliLeafResinBulbStigmaBlendPasteSeasoning
FlavourHot and fieryWarm and sweet-spicedSweet and mellowEarthy and deepCitrus and brightSharp and pungentSmokyFloral and perfumedBitterAnise and liquoriceSour and tartSavoury and umamiNumbing and tinglingHerbal and green
🇵🇪 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 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreFennel The anise-scented seeds and crisp bulb of a Mediterranean perennial herbSeed · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBasil A tender culinary herb with glossy leaves and a licorice-like aroma, native to tropical Asia.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Warm and sweet-spiced 🇬🇷 Greece and 4 moreParsley A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf · Bitter · Herbal and green 🇦🇹 Austria and 5 moreCaraway The crescent-shaped fruit of a carrot-family herb, used to flavour breads and spirits.Seed · Anise and liquorice · Sharp and pungent 🇷🇺 Russia and 4 moreTarragon A slender perennial herb with anise-scented leaves, prized in French and Middle Eastern cooking.Leaf · Anise and liquorice · Sweet and mellow 🇴🇲 Oman and 3 moreDried lime Sun-dried limes from the Persian Gulf, used whole or ground to add sour depth to Middle Eastern dishes.Fruit · Sour and tart · Earthy and deep 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreCurry paste A blended mixture of spices and aromatics used as the base for curries in Asia.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep 🇯🇵 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 🇱🇦 Laos and 2 moreKhao khuaເຂົ້າຂົ້ວ Dry-toasted sticky rice, ground rough, the nutty backbone of Lao laabSeed · Smoky 🇮🇳 IndiaChammanthi podi A dry coconut and spice condiment from Kerala that preserves fresh chutney for months.Hot and fiery · Earthy and deep 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery 🇱🇾 Libya and 1 morePilpelchumaפלפלצ'ומה A steamed chili and garlic paste from Libyan Jewish cuisine, now common in Israel.Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent 🇳🇵 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 🇱🇰 Sri LankaLunumirisලුණු මිරිස් A traditional Sri Lankan condiment of ground chillies and saltHot and fiery · Sour and tart 🇪🇸 SpainChoricero pepperspimiento choricero A dried red pepper from Spain used to make rich stews and sauces.Chilli · Sweet and mellow · Smoky 🇾🇪 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 🇮🇳 IndiaErode TurmericErodu Manjal A Geographical Indication turmeric from Tamil Nadu with high curcumin content.Root · Earthy and deep · Bitter 🇮🇩 Indonesia and 2 moreIndonesian bay leafdaun salam The aromatic leaves of a Myrtaceae tree used to flavour soups and stews across Indonesia and Suriname.Leaf · Bitter 🇬🇭 Ghana and 5 moreGrains of Selimdiarr The dried fruit of a West African shrub, used as a peppery spice and coffee flavouring.Fruit · Sharp and pungent · Bitter 🇫🇷 France and 1 moreDijon mustardMoutarde de Dijon A sharp condiment made from brown mustard seeds and white wine or verjuice, originating in Burgundy.Sharp and pungent · 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 🇮🇳 IndiaKairकैर The spicy pink berry and flower bud of a drought-hardy desert bushFruit · Sharp and pungent 🇲🇽 Mexico and 5 moreAnnatto The orange-red pigment from achiote seeds used as a natural food coloring and mild spice.Seed · Earthy and deep · Sweet and mellow 🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 morePoppy seed The tiny kidney-shaped oilseed of the opium poppy, used in baking and cooking across Europe and South Asia.Seed · Earthy and deep 🇲🇽 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 🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 5 moreLovageлюбисток A tall European herb with celery-like leaves and spicy seeds used in soups and broths.Leaf · Sharp and pungent · Herbal and green 🇮🇳 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 🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreAsafoetida A pungent gum-resin from the Ferula plant, used as a garlic and onion substitute in South Asian cooking.Resin · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep 🇪🇹 Ethiopia and 1 moreBerbereበርበሬ (bärbäre) A complex Ethiopian spice blend built on chili peppers, coriander, and ginger.Hot and fiery · Warm and sweet-spiced 🇫🇷 France and 3 moreHerbes de Provenceèrbas de Provença A dried herb blend from southwestern France, now a global kitchen staple.Warm and sweet-spiced · Herbal and green 🇯🇵 JapanGariガリ Thinly sliced young ginger pickled in sweet vinegar, served with sushi.Sweet and mellow · Sour and tart 🇲🇽 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 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreMustard seed Tiny seeds from Brassica plants that become a sharp condiment or cooking oil.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery 🇯🇴 Jordan and 5 moreBaharatبهارات A versatile Middle Eastern spice blend used to season meats and soups.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sharp and pungent 🇬🇪 GeorgiaKhmeli suneliხმელი სუნელი A flexible Georgian blend of dried herbs and seeds for stews and meats.Blend · Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep 🇪🇹 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 🇧🇩 Bangladesh and 2 morePanch phoronপাঁচ ফোড়ন A Bengali blend of five whole seeds used to temper dishesBlend · Bitter · Warm and sweet-spiced 🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣 A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling 🇮🇷 IranAdviehادویه A fragrant blend of spices used to season rice and stews in Iranian cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Sweet and mellow 🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHawaijحوايج A ground Yemeni spice blend used for soups, coffee, and everyday cooking.Warm and sweet-spiced · Earthy and deep 🇮🇳 IndiaAmchoorआमचूर A sour powder made from dried unripe green mangoes, used to add tang to Indian dishes.Seed · Sour and tart · Citrus and bright 🇺🇸 United StatesKosher salt Coarse edible salt used for dry brining and general cooking, typically free of iodine.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 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGarlic powder A dry, savory spice made from dehydrated and ground garlic cloves.Seed · Sharp and pungent · Earthy and deep
More spices

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

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Every Monday: seven spices you may not know, what is cooking this week, and one blend explained step by step.