Spices for street food
Chaat masala, jerk, suya and shawarma: seasoning made for a fast hand and a hot pan.
Street food is where spice is eaten fastest, in markets and at stalls where a seasoned mixture is put together in front of you. It is one of the best introductions to a place's flavours.
Asia
Indian chaat, Thai som tam, Indonesian satay, Vietnamese banh mi and Korean tteokbokki all rely on spice blends or pastes made at the stall. Chilli, lime, tamarind and sesame are frequent.
Middle East and Africa
Shawarma, falafel and kebab are spiced with cumin, coriander, paprika and sumac. Suya in West Africa is rubbed with yaji, and Ethiopian and North African sandwiches carry harissa or berbere.
The Americas
Tacos al pastor use chilli and achiote, Peruvian anticuchos use aji panca and cumin, Caribbean doubles and jerk stalls use curry and pepper, and American food trucks use smoky rubs.
Street food on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 5 moreChili pepperch墨lli
The pungent berry of the Capsicum plant, used to add heat to dishes worldwide.Fruit 路 Hot and fiery 路 Earthy and deep
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 3 moreIndian prickly ash
A pungent fruit from a thorny shrub, used for its tingling spice in coastal India and Vietnam.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Numbing and tingling
馃嚚馃嚦 China and 5 moreSichuan pepper鑺辨 (hu膩ji膩o)
The dried husk of Zanthoxylum fruit, prized for its citrus scent and electric numbness.Fruit 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚚馃嚦 China and 3 moreStar anise鍏 (b膩ji菐o)
The reddish-brown star-shaped fruit of a Chinese evergreen tree, used for its licorice-like flavor.Fruit 路 Sweet and mellow 路 Anise and liquorice
馃嚨馃嚜 Peru and 4 moreRocoto
A hairy-leaved Andean pepper with black seeds and a distinct cucumber aroma.Fruit 路 Hot and fiery 路 Earthy and deep
馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 5 moreCapsicum annuum
A flowering plant producing berries of many colors and heat levels, from sweet bell peppers to fiery chilies.Fruit 路 Hot and fiery 路 Sweet and mellow
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreBlack pepper
The dried fruit of a climbing vine, the world's most traded spice.Fruit 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Hot and fiery
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Chili pepper: Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sichuan pepper: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Indian prickly ash: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Rocoto: The original uploader was Lrothc at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Capsicum annuum: Franz Eugen K枚hler, K枚hler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain, source
- Black pepper: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Star anise: Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, source