Spring has sprung, flowers are blooming, and the sun is
shining a little more brightly. That means it's time to start eating like it's
springtime! What does that mean? It's time to move your cinnamon, nutmeg, and
cloves to the back of the spice cabinet (although we do love those), and let
the bright flavors of spring fill your kitchen. Ginger, mint, rose, and parsley
will be sure to bring you out of your winter slumber and awaken your senses.
Flavoring your spring dishes won't only benefit your belly; they are amazing for your body as well. Spring spices pack an added nutritional punch; they rev up your metabolism, lower blood cholesterol, and help your skin glow. Try these spices today, and pretty soon the birds will be chirping and the bees will be buzzing.
Basil:
Basil is related to peppermint with its sweet, refreshing smell, and green
rounded leaves, yet has unique characteristics all its own. There are 60
varieties of basil, ranging from lemon basil to cinnamon basil; change the
variety you use based on your recipe. Basil has anti-inflammatory properties,
nutrients essential for heart health, and anti-bacterial effects. For a
delicious spring appetizer, layer fresh tomato slices, peach slices, mozzarella
cheese, and basil for a caprese salad, or put it on a crusty ciabatta with
pesto for a spring picnic lunch.
Curry:
You can never mistake an Indian restaurant from the block,
with its intense, sweet-spicy aroma. Curry is a mixture of traditional Indian
spices, and these combinations vary by regions across India, South Asia,
Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Cooked as a sauce with tomatoes, sugar snap peas, and
chopped summer squash, you have a beautiful spring dish to feed the masses.
Curry has shown to reduce the risk of cancer, aid in blood sugar control, and
can be used for detoxification.
Fennel:
Licorice, anise; "refreshing" is how to best
describe this mystery spice. Fresh fennel grows like a bulb in the ground. Chop
it up and eat it raw or in a salad—either way, it's super-delicious. Dried
fennel seeds are the source of the spice. Fennel is great for eye health, and
is useful in the treatment of high blood pressure. Grind fennel seeds or
quickly dry-fry them to bring out their flavor. Add them to recipes to flavor
meat and vegetable dishes, or mix into bread and muffin batters.
Ginger:
With medicinal properties acknowledged since antiquity in
Indian and Asian cultures, ginger is spicy and aromatic, with a hint of
sweetness. Turn up the heat, as well as your nutrition, on your spring dishes.
Your mom didn't tell you to drink ginger ale for an upset stomach for no
reason; ginger is known to cure gastrointestinal distress, decrease
inflammation, protect against certain cancers, and boost the immune system.
Grate fresh ginger over a stir-fry, add some to lemonade for a refreshing,
spicy flavor, or mix some with orange juice to make a marinade for roasted
sweet potatoes.
Mint:
The aroma of fresh green mint leaves just screams spring—fresh, lemony, and
delicious. Is the change of seasons leaving you with a runny nose and sore
throat? Refreshing mint is effective at opening up the airways and relieving
irritation from coughing. That pick-me-up you feel when drinking mint tea isn't
only in your head; mint is a natural stimulant whose essential oils are great
for relaxing anxious nerves and pulling you out of a moody rut. Try making
pesto with mint to mix into pasta, or drizzle over meat or fish. Chop up some
fresh watermelon and mix with feta cheese and top with sprigs of mint. For an
extra spring treat add a half cup of chopped mint leaves to your favorite
chocolate chip cookie recipe, for mint chocolate chip cookies.
Saffron:
The saffron plant is a thing of beauty—lavender petals, with
red and yellow threads blooming out of the center. These threads, called
stigmas, are cultivated and dried, and these red strands are what you buy in
stores. Up to 75,000 saffron flowers are required to produce one pound of
saffron spice, making saffron one of the most expensive spices you can buy. A
little goes a long way, however, and the flavor and color it gives to your
dishes is definitely worth the price. Saffron is good for reducing the risk of
cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. Popular as an addition to
rice, risotto, and even cakes and desserts, you will love that bright yellow
color that saffron gives your dishes. •
