Ten Tips for Spicing up Everyday Meals
Monday, 28 March 2011
The Irish people love their food and as a nation, we are happy to adapt our tastes to a wide range of cuisine. The popularity of Indian and Chinese food, not to mention recipes from a host of other countries across the globe, in Ireland today, means we are fortunate to have so many different foods on offer to us in the shops and restaurants around the country. Despite this, many people find that they tend to eat the same food day in, day out. Not even the burgeoning world of thousands of online recipes is enough to tempt them away from the food they know and love.
It does not have to be this way, though. You can still enjoy your favourite food, but change the flavours, by giving recipes a little twist and employing a little creativity and some of the best herbs and spices available on the market, to make your daily meal a little bit special. Outlined below are 10 of the most popular food items eaten daily in Ireland, together with a little spicy hint to make them that little extra special!
1. Chips: Adding unusual taste to chips is not as difficult as it seems, especially if you are making them at home. Five to 10 minutes from completion, liberally sprinkle your chips with some coriander and oregano for a tasty alternative; another is to try hot red paprika for a spicy twist to the humble chip.
2. Pasta: In most pasta recipes, all you do to the pasta itself is boil it, while the flavour comes from what accompanies it. Why not add a dash of garlic olive oil, salt and pepper and a pack of mixed herbs to the pasta, after it has drained, to give your dish its own distinctive taste? You can even add a small grating of parmesan to the top to finish it off.
3. Jacket potato: Just cook, slice and add butter. Then take a hint from Simon and Garfunkel and add a little Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme for a taste that will make you want to sing about it too!
4. Chicken: Do you only ever use sage with chicken in the form of stuffing? Delicious as it is, chicken is a perfect food for a myriad of herbs and spices; experiment with different tastes and herbs to see which you prefer. Try covering a chicken breast in a light coating of olive oil and sprinkling with chopped garlic, a little butter and a coating of hot red paprika for a delicious alternative.
5. Boiled rice: Like pasta, boiled rice is often served without any additions, but why? Why not make a rice salad instead? Add some chopped tomatoes and cucumbers, a little mayonnaise, plenty of Italian herb seasoning, some cashew nuts, cover with your favourite mature cheese and sprinkle chives over the top before placing under the grill for a few seconds. Delicious!
6. Couscous: Take your standard couscous, add two tablespoons of mint, a little vegetable stock, spring onions, tomatoes, cucumber, lemon juice and olive oil and stir well. Sprinkle on a tablespoon of thyme and sea salt and black pepper to season for an absolutely delicious and refreshing mint salad. One of the easiest and tastiest vegetarian recipes you can find!
7. Bolognese: Who said Bolognese has to have the same taste? Why not experiment by adding some hot chilli powder, cumin or garam masala to give your Bolognese sauce a bit of a kick!
8. Cheese on toast: Before you slide your sandwich under the toaster, add a sprinkling of freshly-chopped garlic along with some chives and oregano for a truly delicious alternative.
9. Baked beans: Beans will mean something different if you add them to a fried green pepper, some olive oil, chicken stock, two teaspoons of Herbs de Provence, a pack of mixed herbs, a tin of mixed beans and some smoked sliced sausage for a delicious and filling cassoulet.
10. Tuna Mayonnaise: Give this popular topping and filler a twist by adding a little crème fraiche, coconut milk, spring onions, ground ginger, coriander, crushed chillies and lime leaves to create an outstanding Thai Tuna topping, perfect for a baked potato or sandwich!
So, why not visit a specialist herbs and spice website for even more ideas on how to spice up your everyday cooking? It is the perfect way to liven up your favourite food in a healthy and cost-effective way!
Subscribe to read full newspaper »
Send to a friend
Please complete the following form to inform a friend about this page.
