What’s the difference between herbs and spices? DIY Spice Blend Recipe and a Delicious Meal Prep idea!

I recently watched a cooking video where they didn’t share the recipe or even give the ingredients that they were using! One could see the ground meat, onions, and garlic, but what were the seasonings being used? You can imagine that there were lots of complaints in the comments! Using a different spice or seasoning blend, can completely change the outcome of your recipe.

Herbs and Spices- Overview:

• “Spices” refers to any part of a dried plant, used for flavoring food. For example: the leaf (ex. dried Parsley or dried Thyme); the seed (ex. Cumin or Mustard seeds -whole or ground); the flower or bud (ex. Saffron, Lavender, and Cloves); the bark of a tree or plant (ex. Cinnamon); the fruit/berry of the plant (ex. Peppercorns, Allspice, and Chili Flake); or the roots (ex. Turmeric or Ginger). Spices are always dried and found in the baking aisle of the grocery store to be kept in a cupboard or drawer at home.
• “Herbs” refers to only the leaves of an aromatic plant. Technically in my example of dried parsley or dried thyme, they are herbs. I differentiate herbs from spices by considering if it is fresh vs. dried. Herbs are always fresh– like a plant, or a package found in the produce section.

Are they interchangeable: Sort of. Fresh herbs and dried spices, even from the same plant or variety, taste different. They will affect the recipe in different ways. A general rule of thumb is considering that spices are dehydrated, they are stronger than fresh herbs. If a recipe calls for a Tablespoon of fresh basil, and you only have dried basil, you should use less. Start with a 1:3 ratio. The dried herbs should be a third of the fresh amount or conversely, the fresh amount should be three times the dried amount. Recipes calling for 1 Tbsp. of fresh basil could be subbed with 1 teaspoon of dried basil. This works well for cooked dishes like a sauce, stew, or casserole. But not with cold or uncooked dishes like salads, or when herbs are used as a flavor garnish, such as fresh cilantro on top of a taco. Dried cilantro would not work here.

Which herbs and spices should I start with?

Fresh cilantro is quite versatile and used in many cuisines such as Mexican and Latin American, Thai and Southeast Asian, Indian, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern. Fresh basil is delicious added to Italian inspired dishes such as pasta, pizza, and tomato salads.

I like premade or homemade Seasoning Blends for ease and convenience. This way, you don’t have to guess. You may not wish to purchase all the spices that it takes to make a delicious Indian inspired dish, however with the spice blend Garam Masala (or other types of Masala blends) one can create a tasty homemade Dal or Curry! With a basic Italian Seasoning, you can make your own Pizza sauce or Marinara sauce. With any other seasoning blend that sounds good to you- you can easily season your main dish and go from plain to YUM very easily!

If you’d like to purchase a few dried spices to get started with, some of my pantry staples are garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin powder, and bay leaves. With the addition of a few Seasoning Blends, you’ll be able to season your food like a pro.

Happy Cooking!

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