Spices, Herbs, and other Flavorings

Spices and herbs make up the cornerstone of vegan cuisine. You can take the same three base ingredients and make a radically different-tasting and -looking dish if you change a few of the spices. The alchemy involved in layering flavors in a dish is more art than science, and one thing to keep in mind is that traditional recipes in cookbooks are considerably under-seasoned as they lack the multistep marinades, seasonings, and sauces that go into a gourmet dish. Your relationship with spices can resemble a lasting love affair where you place your trust in the same dependable combos (I’m looking at you, cumin and smoked paprika), or it can be filled with wanderlust as you craft spice blends to approximate faraway regional cuisines—a successful method for home chefs who want to revisit vacation memories without the expense and time commitment of travel.