Spice Guide: How to Season Meat

Check out this spice guide for meats and finally know what spices go together!

By: Sara Raffensperger, Editor, FaveHealthyRecipes.com

By: Sara Raffensperger, Editor, FaveHealthyRecipes.com

When you're a beginner in the kitchen, one of the things you are probably wondering is "how should I spice my meat?" There are so many spice and seasoning options that you don't even know where to begin. We're here to help with our Spice Guide: How to Season Meat. From beef to pork, we've got you covered with this beginner's guide to spices. Since there are so many spice options, we highly recommend experimenting to find the perfect combination for you. Use this handy list of spices to make a shopping list for your spice cabinet. You won't regret having a large assortment on hand just in case a recipe calls for something like coriander or marjoram!

If you're unsure how to develop your collection of spices, it's good to start with the basics that you can use in just about any recipe. Once you have the basics then you can combine them in delicious and experimental ways. These are the spices that everyone should have in their collection: thyme, basil, oregano, garlic, rosemary, onion, sage, dry mustard powder, parsley, ginger, and paprika.

Beginner in the kitchen? Check out: A Beginner's Guide to Kitchen Knives

Beef

How to season your beef is a skill that everyone chef must know. Your homemade burgers are going to be the best your guests have ever had once you master a spice combination that tastes amazing.

Basil
Bay leaf
Black pepper
Cayenne
Chinese five-spice
Curry powder
Garlic
Green pepper
Dry mustard powder
Onion
Oregano
Rosemary (fresh)
Thyme (fresh)
Sage

Fish

There are so many different ways to season fish that there is a combination to please everyone. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and let us know what you like best in the comments below!

Bay leaf
Cayenne
Cilantro (fresh)
Coriander
Chili flakes
Curry Powder
Celery seed
Chives (fresh)
Dill (fresh)
Fennel
Ginger
Lemon zest
Marjoram (fresh)
Mint
Dry mustard powder
Onion
Paprika
Parsley
Pesto
Red pepper
Saffron
Sage
Sesame see
Tarragon (fresh)
Thyme
Turmeric

Lamb

You might be thinking: lamb? No way. I'm a beginner - I can't prepare lamb yet. And we're here to tell you that yes, yes you can. With the right combination of herbs and spices, you can make a delicious lamb dinner that everyone will love.

Basil
Cinnamon
Cumin
Curry powder
Garlic
Marjoram
Mint (fresh)
Onion
Oregano
Parsley (fresh)
Rosemary (fresh)
Sage
Savory
Sesame seed
Thyme (fresh)

Pork

If your only experience with cooking pork is frying up some bacon in the morning, then prepare for a whole new (tastier) world! Once you find the right combination of spices to season pork, your family is going to request you make it all the time.

Allspice
Caraway
Celery seed
Cloves
Coriander
Fennel
Ginger
Juniper berries
Dry mustard powder
Paprika
Rosemary (fresh)
Sage (fresh)
Savory
Thyme (fresh)

Poultry

When you're seasoning poultry, don't use a paltry amount of spices! Make sure that bird is tasty and flavorful with a winning combination of these seasonings.

Basil
Bay leaf
Cilantro
Cinnamon
Curry powder
Garlic
Mace
Marjoram (fresh)
Mint
Onion
Paprika
Parsley
Rosemary (fresh)
Sage (fresh)
Saffron
Savory
Tarragon (fresh)
Thyme (fresh)

What's your favorite spice blend? Let us know in the comments below!

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Sleepy Jules

May 04, 2017

Cinnamon as a savory seasoning? Hmm. I'll have to try that! I've definitely tried the basics, but some of these are tempting!

dkisamore 6587996

Apr 27, 2017

I haven't spiced meats with cinnamon and think I will give it a try on some poultry. I like Old Bay seasoning on fish and poultry. I like chili pepper in my ground beef.