Reference for Spice/Food Matching

[legant]

Is there an easy reference guide to determine what spices go best with what food?

I made this cabbage-potato-smoked sausage concoction tonight. The only spices I added were: S&P, garlic, and a bay leaf. (I have no idea what flavor bay leaves are to impart; it just seems that everybody ultimately adds a bay leaf or two to most dishes.) I t was okay, but it needed something. I don’t know what. Just something.

How do I know – sans the trial and error route – what spices compliment certain foods? I could scour a score of recipes and get a general idea of what works. But, when you’re trying to throw together something quick, time is of the essence. There must be an Internet resource out there.

[ScotteeM]

Is there an easy reference guide to determine what spices go best with what food?

I made this cabbage-potato-smoked sausage concoction tonight. The only spices I added were: S&P, garlic, and a bay leaf. (I have no idea what flavor bay leaves are to impart; it just seems that everybody ultimately adds a bay leaf or two to most dishes.) I t was okay, but it needed something. I don't know what. Just something.

How do I know – sans the trial and error route – what spices compliment certain foods? I could scour a score of recipes and get a general idea of what works. But, when you're trying to throw together something quick, time is of the essence. There must be an Internet resource out there.

What a great question! I'd love to know the answer to this as well!

[lizzie]

Not sure about an internet source for what are you seeking, but you might want to try a few juniper berries with that dish.

[Mark Slater]

Is there an easy reference guide to determine what spices go best with what food?

I made this cabbage-potato-smoked sausage concoction tonight. The only spices I added were: S&P, garlic, and a bay leaf. (I have no idea what flavor bay leaves are to impart; it just seems that everybody ultimately adds a bay leaf or two to most dishes.) I t was okay, but it needed something. I don’t know what. Just something.

How do I know – sans the trial and error route – what spices compliment certain foods? I could scour a score of recipes and get a general idea of what works. But, when you’re trying to throw together something quick, time is of the essence. There must be an Internet resource out there.

Because cabbage + sausage reminded me of choucroute, I Googled a recipe and found this. Bay leaves are part of it, but also juniper berries, cloves and allspice. Here is a whole list of spice resources.

[Poivrot Farci]

Is there an easy reference guide to determine what spices go best with what food?

The venerable Culinary Artistry, pp196-208. $29.95

[hapatite]

Is there an easy reference guide to determine what spices go best with what food?

I made this cabbage-potato-smoked sausage concoction tonight. The only spices I added were: S&P, garlic, and a bay leaf. (I have no idea what flavor bay leaves are to impart; it just seems that everybody ultimately adds a bay leaf or two to most dishes.) I t was okay, but it needed something. I don’t know what. Just something.

How do I know – sans the trial and error route – what spices compliment certain foods? I could scour a score of recipes and get a general idea of what works. But, when you’re trying to throw together something quick, time is of the essence. There must be an Internet resource out there.

The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs