Cooking will not be complete without spices, but do you know the kitchen spices that must be in the house? At least, basic spices such as salt, sugar, pepper, and so on.
Yes, by stocking various spices, you will not be bothered when you have to cook various dishes and you don’t need to buy snacks outside. So, the family budget is more economical, and in terms of time, it is also more efficient.
Wondering what kitchen spices you should stock at home/boarding house/when traveling? Here is the list!
1. Salt
A must-have kitchen spice at home, boarding house, when camping, or in any situation is salt. This spice is found in almost all types of cuisine in the world. Starting from wet to dry food. Its salty taste can be a flavoring for the food itself so that it is not bland.
However, if you cook vegetables, try to add salt at the end so that it is not too salty.
Also pay attention to salt storage techniques, such as preventing it from being exposed to direct sunlight, keeping it away from stoves that are usually used for cooking, and storing it in an airtight container.
2. Sugar
Sugar has many roles in the kitchen because this one component is not only used as a balancing seasoning in cooking but also as a sweetener in drinks. The role of sugar in typical Indonesian cuisine is very important because it can provide a stronger taste. For example, for various vegetables, making wet and dry cakes.
The use of sugar in the vegetable-making process is generally added earlier because of its easily soluble nature and its easy mixing with water.
3. Various Onions
Shallots and garlic are two types of onions or kitchen spices that are mandatory for cooking, both cooking vegetables and side dishes. Both have a very big role in Indonesian culinary history. Especially for dishes that require a variety of ‘method’ spices to maintain their delicious and appetizing taste.
Tips for those of you who want your shallots to last or not rot is to buy dry shallots (not wet) which are shallots that have light skin and sound ‘knees-knees’. As for garlic, if you are a boarding house child, try to stock up on garlic powder to make cooking more practical.
4. Pepper
The next must-have kitchen spice is pepper. Either peppercorns or powdered pepper. With its spicy taste and slightly pungent smell, pepper is often used in various types of dishes, especially vegetable soups, stir-fries, and grilled dishes.
In short, pepper is a daily cooking spice for housewives or boarding house children who like simple menus. Such as soup, stir-fried mustard greens, stew, stir-fried tofu, and so on.
5. Coriander
In addition to pepper, coriander also plays an important role in Indonesian cuisine! Some home cooking even uses coriander as the main spice. For example, lodeh, chayote vegetable, yellow tofu coconut milk vegetable, opor, fried tempeh, grilled fish, and so on.
Just like pepper, you can now buy ground coriander, either in sachets or bottles.
6. Oyster Sauce
Slowly, oyster sauce has also become a cooking spice that is always present in most mothers’ kitchens in Indonesia. Yes, the influence of oriental or Chinese cuisine is indeed quite large for the people in this country. Especially for all kinds of stir-fried dishes such as stir-fried water spinach, stir-fried pokcoy, stir-fried tempeh, capcay, fried rice, and so on.
Sat-set food lovers need an oyster sauce to cook provisions for their partners or children. Isn’t that right?
7. Chili
Most of the Indonesian people are spicy lovers, from snacks to main meals. The reason is that spicy food can arouse and increase appetite, especially when feeling restless, upset, and sad.
Therefore, red chili, cayenne pepper, and green chili are included in the list of kitchen spices that must be available for cooking. Even some Indonesian citizens who live abroad cannot be separated from the deliciousness of spicy food.
Plus, nowadays snacks like black, Hebrew noodles, wonton, garcon noodles, and the like use chili as the main attraction. So, what level do you want to be?
8. Flavor enhancer
Even though you have used salt and sugar, if you haven’t sprinkled any flavoring, the taste of the food will still feel lacking on your tongue. It’s a bit bland and tends to be… stale. Even in various outdoor events, the use of seasoning is the main key to the success of the food.
Now the seasonings used by most people in this country are starting to vary. One of the most popular examples is mushroom broth seasoning.
Don’t worry, adding flavorings to your cooking won’t make you stupid! As long as you use them in moderation and appropriately. For your information, flavorings also serve to reduce the amount of salt in cooking, which of course is also approved by several nutritionists or doctors in Indonesia for the sake of public health.
9. Candlenut
Candlenuts may not have a strong flavor like other herbs or spices, but this kitchen spice can thicken food or people now call it the “Bumbunya method”. Especially for coconut milk dishes with many detailed recipes. Such as chicken curry, capcay nyemek, pindang, and others.
10. Turmeric Powder
If chili can make food red, then turmeric powder can give a tempting bright yellow color. Yes, turmeric powder is also included in the kitchen spices that must be available for some housewives.
Why choose turmeric powder? Because its use is more practical and the color produced is not much different from turmeric in the form of medicinal plants. In addition, the storage period of turmeric powder is also more durable and long-lasting.
Because the price of kitchen spices tends to fluctuate, especially onions, chilies, and candlenuts, make sure you can estimate the stock safely so that your family’s finances remain well managed.
