Cumin, Coriander, and Lime Brine

The combination of cumin and coriander may be exotic in mainstream America, but it is one of the most common pairings in world cuisine, helping to define the flavors of North Africa, the Middle East, India, and Latin America. This brine infuses whatever it touches with a fragrant base that can be made spicy, sweet, floral, or cooling by adding a chile pepper to the mix, substituting honey for the sugar, or replacing the cilantro with freshly chopped mint.