The starter cabinet
Ten spices that cover most weeknight cooking
If you are building from nothing, start here. These ten do the most work across the widest range of dishes, from a quick curry to a roast chicken. Buy small and replace often.
- 1Black pepper
The one spice almost every savory dish uses. Buy a grinder.
- 2Cumin
Earthy backbone of chili, tacos, curry, and beans.
- 3Paprika
Color and mild sweet-pepper flavor for stews, rubs, and eggs.
- 4Cinnamon
Warm sweetness for baking and savory braises alike.
- 5Oregano
The pizza-and-tomato herb, better dried than fresh.
- 6Ginger
Bright heat for stir-fries fresh, warm spice for baking dried.
- 7Cayenne
A pinch adds clean heat without changing a dish's color.
- 8Bay leaf
A quiet savory backbone for any soup, stew, or pot of beans.
- 9Turmeric
Earthy color for rice, dals, and curry powders.
- 10Coriander seed
Citrusy partner to cumin in most spice blends.