Cooks around the world have used the seeds, roots, barks and leaves of plants to add deliciously subtle or bold flavor to their cuisine for centuries. These little gems add zip to dishes, but did you know they can add pep to your step, too? The health benefits of herbs and spices are numerous; they add antioxidants to our diet and are a versatile and flavorful alternative to salt.
From Aleppo pepper to za’atar, there’s a bounty of herbs and spices from which to choose. Here’s six of our favorites, along with their healthful properties:
Now that you know the hidden benefits of some of our favorite herbs and spices, let’s start using them. Get the most out of our herbs and spices by purchasing them in smaller quantities to ensure you’re using them at their peak flavor. We also recommend you store them in tightly sealed jars, and away from heat and light. When cooking with your herbs and spices, try toasting [1] or blooming [2] them first — it’s an easy way to bring out even more of their fragrance and flavor. If you’re hungry for more, our 12 Great Ways to Use Healthy Herbs and Spices [3] has got you covered.
Still hungry? We show you how you can eat your way to better health in our new ONE Food as Medicine Toolkit [4]. Better yet, try our African Heritage Spicy Chickpea recipe [5], which I fondly call the magic bean recipe. A couple of simple vegetables melded with a few teaspoons of spices and some chickpeas, and abracadabra, you have a heart-warming, fragrant, and filling dish in around 20 minutes. Now that’s magical.
Happy and healthy eating!
Deborah Plunkett, Program Manager, Oldways Nutrition Exchange (ONE)
Links
[1] http://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/articles/how-to-grind-and-toast-spices-and-herbs-a-step-by-step-guide.html
[2] http://www.finecooking.com/articles/spice-up-your-cooking-indian-spices.aspx
[3] https://oldwayspt.org/sites/default/files/FoodMed_12Ways_HerbsSpices.pdf?o=156953&a=6290&b=4289&c=deborah%40oldwayspt.org&d=1461079147&e=OW%20MFA
[4] https://oldwayspt.org/programs/oldways-nutrition-exchange/toolkits/food-medicine
[5] https://oldwayspt.org/recipes/african-heritage-spicy-chickpeas