Dining Routine a Little Drab? Spice Things Up with These Flavorful Recipes
Tell us if this sounds familiar. You’ve spent the last 12 months mastering a handful of go-to dishes, to great acclaim in your household—and then, WHAM, you’re bored. Don’t sweat it, even the most reliable crowd-pleasers start tasting a little tired once you’ve made them a dozen-plus times. So how does a weary home cook breathe life back into their cooking without breaking a sweat? Look no further than your spice cabinet.
Super-satisfying, restaurant-quality meals aren’t only made with heavy, indulgent ingredients. The good-for-you stuff—lean proteins, vegetables, and whole grains—can shine like the stars they are with help from flavor-bombs like Garam Masala and Herbes de Provence. Trust us, investing in high-quality spice blends will do wonders for your next weeknight recipe rotation. All you need is a little creativity, your spice blends, and these delicious ideas to get you going.
1/6Roasted Garam Masala Broccoli with Chiles
Never again resign yourself to boring old broccoli. A blast of Garam Masala, the aromatic blend that gives Indian curries their oomph, breathes new life into this go-to vegetable. Thinly sliced serrano chiles dial up the drama even more, while a handful of roasted peanuts adds just the right amount of richness and crunch.
2/6Herbes de Provence Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes and Garlic
When it comes to a spice blend MVP, Herbes de Provence is a surefire winner. A mix of fragrant herbs—thyme, rosemary, basil, marjoram, sage, fennel, and lavender—it’s excellent on everything from meat to fish and veggies. But sometimes you want something simple and super flavorful, and that’s where Herbes de Provence–spiked chicken thighs come in. Throw in some minced garlic, tomatoes, a thinly sliced shallot, and a heavy splash of dry white wine. You’ve got weeknight perfection.
3/6Bulgur Salad with Olives and Italian Vinaigrette
Stews and chili are great as the weather turns cold, but you can only spoon so much before you start craving something lighter. Enter this vegetable-rich bulgur dish made with crisp cucumber, radish, and earthy Castelvetrano green olives. This tasty and textural salad comes together with a dressing of olive oil, red wine and balsamic vinegars, Dijon mustard, and Italian Seasoning (a blend of basil, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, sage, and oregano).
4/6Tofu Tacos with Cashew Salsa
Don’t snooze on tofu! It’s not just for stir-fry. Well-seasoned and seared, this meat-free protein is the next star of your taco party—especially when paired with a fiery cashew-chipotle salsa enriched with a piquant Mexican Seasoning blend of cumin, onion, garlic, paprika, cilantro, red pepper, coriander, and oregano. Add to warmed tortillas and top with a pile of vinegary slaw, and you’re good to go.
5/6Cajun Chicken and Red Bean Soup
That chill in the air means it’s time to pile on the sweaters and hunker down with a bowl of something warming and wonderful like this hearty Chicken and Red Bean Soup. A heaping of Cajun Creole Seasoning—a zesty blend of paprika, garlic, lemon peel, chile pepper, allspice, thyme, cloves, and more—zings up this hearty bowl of red beans and tender chicken thighs simmered with tomatoes, green pepper, and onion. A few glugs of rich Worcestershire sauce at the end amps up the umami factor.
6/6Thai Pork Tenderloin with Pickled Vegetable Salad
Just say no to sub-par takeout. This flavor packed pork tenderloin is here to help, enriched with a fragrant Thai Seasoning blend of sesame seeds, chile pepper, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon oil, shrimp extract, and more. Paired with rice and a spicy side salad of vinegar-doused carrots, cucumber, radish, and jalapeño, it’s even better than delivery.
Inspired yet? We believe in you. Go forth and season!
