Herbs and spices are versatile, and figuring out which herbs and spices go well with certain foods is a subjective topic. Therefore, you may want to try out different combinations to find your personal favourite. What a great excuse to keep cooking your most-loved meals!
We’ve broken down the most popular herb and spice choices for different foods to help you make the best decision for your dish.
Contents
Fish
Salmon
White Fish
Meat
BeefRoast BeefChicken
LambPorkTurkey
Vegetables
ArtichokesAsparagusAubergine (Eggplant)
BroccoliBrussel SproutsButternut Squash
CabbageCarrotsCauliflower
Courgette (Zucchini)Green BeansLeeks
MushroomsOnionsPeas
PotatoesTomatoes
Herb and Spice Mixes
Herb Pairings
BasilBay LeafDill
MarjoramMintOregano
ParsleyRosemarySage
TarragonThyme
Herbs and Spices for Fish
Basil, dill, parsley, tarragon, rosemary and thyme are great options for fish. In particular, basil and lemon pair nicely together, and can be used for any fish. However it is most popular on white fish, such as cod or haddock.
Salmon
There are many herbs that go well with salmon. These include parsley, tarragon, dill, bay leaves, rosemary, thyme and oregano.
If you want to pack a lot of flavour into your salmon, you can mix all of these herbs together in equal parts and spread it over your salmon before cooking. Alternatively, you can experiment with different herb combinations to find your favourite.
A combination that we recommend trying on your salmon is dill and parsley, mixed with fresh chives, garlic and lemon juice.
White Fish
White fish, such as cod and haddock, can be paired with basil, dill, lemongrass, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage and smoked paprika.
This herb and spice mix can also be used together in equal parts, or you can mix and match your own combination.
We recommend trying a combination of basil, dill, thyme, parsley and paprika mixed in equal parts on your white fish. Serve with a lemon wedge.
Herbs and Spices for Meat
See below for which herbs and spices go well with different meat options.
But don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs! The herbs and spices recommended for these meats are a recommendation only. They have been tried and tested, and we know they taste great! But taste is a personal preference. Feel free to throw some rosemary on your chicken, or some sage on your lamb. You’re the chef!
Beef
Enhance the flavours of your beef with celery, coriander, marjoram, sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano and garlic.
A combination we recommend trying is thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and garlic powder.
Roast Beef
Improve your roast dinner game with succulent roast beef seasoned with basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, mustard and garlic.
We would recommend using an equal mix of all of these herbs. Add some extra garlic powder if it’s to your taste!
Chicken
Many herbs and spices go well with chicken. However some of the best include garlic, marjoram, tarragon, oregano and coriander.
We recommended trying a herb mix with equal parts of each herb. Feel free to add or remove other herbs as per your taste preferences.
Lamb
Lamb pairs great with basil, coriander, garlic, mint, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.
A herb mix we recommend trying is rosemary, oregano, mint, basil and garlic powder.
Pork
Pork pairs well with garlic, marjoram, mustard, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme.
We suggest trying sage, thyme and garlic powder.
Turkey
Season your turkey perfectly for Christmas with basil, rosemary, cumin, oregano, thyme and sage.
This Christmas we recommend trying a blend of rosemary, thyme and sage. You can also add marjoram, parsley, garlic powder and onion powder for extra flavour power!
Herbs and Spices for Vegetables
There are many, many vegetables in the world, and lots of herbs and spices! Because of that, there are a countless number of herb and spice combinations to try and choose from. Below we’ve quickly put together a list of the best herbs and spices for each common vegetable (at least here in the UK) for you to try.
But, we understand that most people aren’t going to season each individual vegetable separately. Most, like us, will probably bung all of their veggies together and throw their chosen seasoning on it all. So if you’re anything like us, you’ll need a good versatile herb and spice mix! We’ve taken the time to put together a few different herb and spice combinations so you can find the perfect mix for your veggies.
For even better flavour, we recommend steam cooking your veggies in a steam oven. Steam ovens retain flavour and nutrients, so you don’t have to compromise flavour for health! Read about all the pros and cons of steam ovens here.
Artichokes
Artichokes pair well with bay leaves, coriander, parsley and paprika.
Asparagus
Pair your asparagus with dill, marjoram, nutmeg and rosemary.
Aubergine (Eggplant)
Aubergines, otherwise known as eggplants, pair well with curry powder, basil, garlic, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary and sage.
Broccoli
Pair broccoli with chives, garlic, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Brussel Sprouts
Brussel sprouts pair well with caraway, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley and rosemary.
Butternut Squash
Pair butternut squash with basil, chives, marjoram, oregano, parsley, sage and thyme.
Cabbage
Cabbage pairs well with bay leaves, chives, curry powder, garlic, lemon, marjoram, nutmeg and parsley.
Carrots
Pair your carrots with basil, dill, garlic, ginger, mint, parsley, sage and thyme.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower pairs well with basil, dill, coriander, curry powder, ginger, mint, nutmeg and oregano.
Courgette (Zucchini)
Pair your courgettes, otherwise known as zucchini, with basil, garlic, oregano and parsley.
Green Beans
Green beans pair well with basil, dill, garlic, nutmeg and pepper.
Leeks
Pair your leeks with bay leaves, celery salt, dill, mustard, paprika, parsley and thyme.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms pair well with basil, chives, garlic, onion powder, parsley, pepper, rosemary and thyme.
Onions
Pair your onions with basil, celery salt, coriander, garlic, marjoram, paprika, pepper and sage.
Peas
Peas pair well with basil, marjoram, mint, nutmeg, parsley, sage and tarragon.
Potatoes
Pair your potatoes with garlic, nutmeg, paprika, pepper, rosemary and thyme
Tomatoes
Technically a fruit, tomatoes pair well with basil, chives, dill, garlic, oregano, parsley, tarragon and thyme.
Vegetable Herb and Spice Mixes
Weeknight Delight Herb and Spice Mix
Basil, dill, garlic, nutmeg, parsley and thyme.
Christmas Inspired Herb and Spice Mix
Cinnamon, garlic powder, nutmeg, onion powder, smoked paprika, sage, rosemary and thyme.
Mediterranean Roast Herb and Spice Mix
Basil, garlic, oregano, paprika, rosemary and thyme.
Vegetable Curry Herb and Spice Mix
Basil, curry powder, coriander, garlic, oregano and nutmeg.
Versatile Vegetable Herb and Spice Mix
Basil, dill, garlic, mint, parsley and thyme.
Savoury Vegetable Herb and Spice Mix
Chives, garlic, nutmeg, paprika, rosemary and sage.
We hope these vegetable herb and spice mixes inspire you! Have a play around to see which flavours work best for your chosen vegetables. You could become the creator of your family’s very own top secret herb and spice mix! Don’t worry, we won’t tell.
Which herbs work best in this dish?
Need to add some more flavour to your meal? Read our helpful guide for which herb/s you can add!
Basil
Cheese, eggs, fish, lamb, pasta, potatoes, salads and tomato sauces.
Bay Leaf
Fish and vegetable soups, meat stews, poached fish and tomato sauces.
Dill
Cream based dishes, cottage cheese, fish, pickles, potatoes, tomatoes and vegetables.
Marjoram
Beef, cheese dishes, fish, pork, roast chicken, stew, stuffing and vegetable soups.
Mint
Pork, potatoes and peas.
Oregano
Chilli, fish and vegetable salads, pork, pizza and tomato sauces.
Parsley
Cheese, eggs, meats, soups and vegetables.
Rosemary
Cauliflower, fish, potatoes and poultry stuffing.
Sage
Burger patties, pork, poultry, sausage and stuffing.
Tarragon
Cheese dishes, chicken, egg dishes, fish sauces, meat sauces, pickles, salads, tomato sauces and vegetables.
Thyme
Beef, cheese, eggs, fish, pork, soups, stuffing and vegetables.
Conclusion
These pairings offer a starting point for flavoursome meals, but true perfection lies in exploration. The possibilities are as diverse as your taste buds!
For meats, the recommended herbs and spices serve as a solid foundation. Vegetables, with their unique profiles, find their perfect partners in herb and spice blends.
Steam ovens further lock in flavours and nutrients. Not sure if a steam oven is right for you? Call our friendly appliance experts on 0115 965 1937.
If you’re willing to share your own herb and spice mixes, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
For personalised advice, our friendly appliance experts are ready to assist on
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