20 Basic Pantry Spices

When I first started on my journey of learning how to cook, I would sometimes get frustrated that I had to buy so many spices to make a dish. Over time, I’ve learned to keep an arsenal of specific spices in my pantry at all times to I am better equipped to whip up my favorite meals throughout the week. Here’s a sneak peek at my 20 basic pantry spices:

1. Sea Salt: Besides black pepper, this is probably the most common spice in recipes! Of course, you don’t have to use sea salt, I just prefer the bigger granules.
2. Black Pepper Corns: Almost every savory dish is finished off with a garnish of black pepper.
3. Garlic: We keep both fresh cloves and ground garlic powder on hand at all times because we add it to almost every savory dish.
4. Onion Powder: Fresh onion is preferable, but sometimes it doesn’t make sense to put the regular onion in a recipe like these herby baked kale chips. Hence onion powder to the rescue.
5. Cayenne Pepper: An easy way to add a bit of heat to a dish.
6. Cinnamon: An essential spice for baked goods.
7. Smoked Paprika: I love the smoky flavor this adds to all kinds of dishes. It even goes well on popcorn!
8. Curry Powder: Usually a blend of several spices like coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek and more which is important for Middle Eastern dishes. Think homemade take-out!
9. Coriander: Coriander is often used in curry dishes along with cumin so it is good to have both on hand!
10. Oregano: Oregano is great added to pasta sauces.
11. Vanilla: Another baking essential.
12. Rosemary: Add this herb to stuffing, meat/fish dishes or roasted vegetables.
13. Thyme: Great with meat dishes, soups, sauces, and more.
14. Dill: We love adding dill to our homemade ranch dressing for an interesting twist.
15. Chili Pepper: Another great way to add some spice to a dish.
16. Turmeric: Often used in Middle Eastern dishes, this spice has a very mild flavor. It is often used to add yellow color as well like in this vegan tofu “egg” salad.
17. Ginger: Fresh ginger root or ground ginger powder can be used either in baked goods or Middle Eastern savory dishes like this vegan chickpea chana masala.
18. Bay Leaves: These add great flavor to soups and stews – just make sure to try and take the leaves out after cooking.
19. Cumin: A versatile spice often included in both curry powder and taco seasoning. Try it out in this vegan burrito bowl!
20. Nutritional Yeast: This vegan kitchen essential is a great way to add a “cheesy” like flavor to dishes without the dairy. Plus, nutritional yeast is a good source of B12!