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EveryMasala

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.

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
馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom and 4 moreRock samphire A coastal succulent with peppery leaves and carrot-scented roots, used fresh or pickled.Leaf 路 Hot and fiery 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚬馃嚟 Thailand and 3 moreThai basil喙傕斧喔｀赴喔炧覆 A Southeast Asian herb with purple stems and anise notes, used in curries and soups.Leaf 路 Anise and liquorice 路 Hot and fiery 馃嚮馃嚦 Vietnam and 1 moreRice paddy herbng貌 么m A tropical aquatic herb with lemon-cumin notes, native to Southeast Asian rice fields.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 馃嚚馃嚦 China and 5 moreGarlic chives闊彍 A flat-leaved Allium with a garlic scent, used across Asia as a herb and vegetable.Leaf 路 Sweet and mellow 馃嚡馃嚨 Japan and 1 moreSansho灞辨 The dried berries and young leaves of a spiny Japanese shrub, prized for their numbing citrus heat.Seed 路 Citrus and bright 路 Numbing and tingling 馃嚠馃嚤 Israel and 5 moreCoriander The leaves and dried seeds of an annual Mediterranean herb used in cuisines worldwide.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Warm and sweet-spiced 馃嚥馃嚲 Malaysia and 3 moreKesum An aromatic herb from Southeast Asia, used fresh in salads and soups.Leaf 路 Sharp and pungent 路 Herbal and green 馃嚥馃嚱 Mexico and 2 moreP谩palo A pungent herb from central Mexico to the Andes, used fresh in salsas and tacos.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sharp and pungent 馃嚤馃嚘 Laos and 5 moreLemon basil A hybrid herb with a bright citrus scent, used across Southeast Asia and Africa.Leaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Herbal and green 馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreLemongrasssereh; tanglad; takhrai; sera A tropical grass with citrus-scented stalks used in Asian soups and herbal teasLeaf 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sweet and mellow

Photo credits on this page

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

The weekly digest

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