10 spices and seasonings everyone should have in their cupboard to elevate their meals

10 spices and seasonings everyone should have in their cupboard to elevate their meals

Credit: Courtesy of brands

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10 spices and seasonings everyone should have in their cupboard to elevate their meals

By Amy Beecham

7 months ago

3 min read

Take stock of your spices and add these 10 essential seasonings into the mix. Your recipes will thank you. 


If your cooking style is anything like mine (enthusiastic but a little bit slapdash), your current spice rack probably looks like this: the same three seasonings you rely on time and time again, the saffron you bought for that one recipe and haven’t needed since and a load of other random jars you just never get around to using.

While seasoning is a fine art, it doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with a few key, hard-working spice blends, you can be well on your way to delicious meals full of flavour, no matter what ingredients you have in the cupboard.

Ready to elevate every meal, from weekend brunches to a weeknight stir fry? Here are the 10 spices and seasonings everyone should have in their cupboard. 


Seaweed Coastline Droitwich Salt

Seaweed Coastline Droitwich Salt

Salt doesn’t have to be simple: add a touch of wild fennel and lemon to your dishes with this infused blend.

Shop Seaweed Coastline Droitwich Salt at Selfridges, £4.99

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Tubby Tom’s Garlic x Herb Life Changingly Good Seasoning

Tubby Tom’s Garlic x Herb Life Changingly Good seasoning

This universal seasoning is ideal for sprinkling into your pasta sauces, fried mushrooms, roast potatoes and fries, adding to scrambled egg or potato salad and mixing with butter and spread on toast for low-key garlic bread. 

Shop Tubby Tom’s Garlic x Herb Life Changingly Good Seasoning, £4.95

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Zaytoun Palestinian Za’atar

Zaytoun Palestinian Za’atar

Aromatic and delicious, Za’atar is traditionally eaten as a dip with olive oil and bread or used to season meat, fish or roasted vegetables. Try tossing sliced butternut squash with oil and za’atar and roast for 40-60 minutes at 180 C. Serve with a spoon of creamy yoghurt. 

Shop Zaytoun Palestinian Za’atar at Sous Chef, £4.50

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Cornish Sea Salt Company Everything Bagel seasoning

Cornish Sea Salt Company Everything Bagel seasoning

This salty seed blend takes inspiration from the classic American ‘Everything Bagel’ seasoning. The nigella, poppy and linseed seeds combined with smoked sea salt, garlic and onion create a nutty taste when cooking, baking and topping dishes. We like ours on top of avocado and eggs for the perfect brunch.

Shop Cornish Sea Salt Company Everything Bagel seasoning, £2.55

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Mill & Mortar Colombo curry blend

Mill & Mortar Colombo curry blend

For a delightfully yellow sweet and spicy curry, look no further than this Colombo blend from Mill & Mortar which goes well in coconut milk curries and even as a dipping sauce.

Shop Mill & Mortar Colombo curry blend at Selfridges, £7.49

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Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning

Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun seasoning

Add some mild heat to your favourite dishes with this cheekily-named Cajun seasoning. For those who love spice, opt for the “extra hot” version.

Shop Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun seasoning at Amazon, £5.50

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Cool Chile Jaliscan birria seasoning kit

Cool Chile Jaliscan birria seasoning kit

Upgrade your next Mexican barbacoa night with this swicy seasoning kit. For best results, serve your slow-cooked Birria in bowls with broth and corn tortillas on the side. 

Shop Cool Chile Jaliscan birria seasoning kit at Selfridges, £4.99

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Just Spices Pasta Allrounder

Just Spices Pasta Allrounder

Fed up of chopping individual herbs? Just Spices’ Pasta Allrounder is here to save you all the hassle but still bring the taste of the trattoria to your table.

Shop Just Spices Pasta Allrounder, £4.99

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Ottolenghi Sweet & Smoky Seasoning

Ottolenghi Sweet & Smoky Seasoning

Straight from the famed Ottolenghi kitchen to yours, this warming blend of chipotle chilli and paprika is best used to flavour roast chicken, but also works great as a BBQ rub, sprinkled on roasted veg or stirred into olive oil.

Shop Ottolenghi Sweet & Smoky Seasoning at Waitrose, £3.95

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The Wasabi Company Sesame seeds with Ume plum

The Wasabi Company Sesame seeds with Ume plum

Top your favourite weeknight noodle dish with these roasted sesame seeds flavoured with ume plum for a surprisingly fresh fruit flavour.

Shop The Wasabi Company Sesame seeds with Ume plum at Selfridges, £6.99

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Images: courtesy of retailers

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