Meet Nisha Vora, a vegan food blogger and creator of Rainbow Plant Life who is a master when it comes to culinary spices. In a recent interview, Nisha shared her insights and expertise on the world of spices and how they can elevate any dish. From learning about spices through her mother’s intuitive cooking skills to the essential spices to have on hand, Nisha’s knowledge and passion for spices shine through. She also provides helpful tips on toasting spices, understanding flavor profiles, and sourcing quality spices. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, Nisha’s advice will empower you to take your culinary creations to new heights by mastering the art of spices.
How Nisha Vora Learned About Spices
Meet Nisha Vora. We had the pleasure of talking with Nisha about all things spices. Nisha credits most of what she knows about spices to her mother. Her mother has been cooking Indian food for over 40 years, making cooking with spices intuitive for her. Nisha observed her mother in the kitchen and found herself feeling more confident and eager to experiment with spices in her own cooking. Learning from experience and family influence has shaped Nisha’s knowledge and love for spices.
The Importance of Spices in the Kitchen
Spices are an essential component of any kitchen and type of cuisine. They have the power to enliven virtually any dish, from bean chili to tofu stir-fries to breakfast cookies. Spices enhance the flavor and aroma of dishes, making them more enjoyable and memorable. Moreover, spices offer numerous health benefits, including antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and even glucose- and cholesterol-lowering activities. By incorporating spices into your cooking, you can not only elevate the taste of your dishes but also promote overall well-being.
Top Five Must-Have Spices
According to Nisha Vora, the top five must-have spices to keep on hand are cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, and chile flakes. Cumin adds an earthy flavor, coriander brings a citrusy note, and turmeric provides a bold and distinctive taste. Cinnamon adds sweetness and warmth, while chile flakes bring heat and spiciness to dishes. Although Nisha relies on other spices and dried herbs, such as garlic and onion powder, dried ginger, and oregano, for her, these top five spices are the essential building blocks of flavor in her cooking.
Common Mistakes in Using Spices
One common mistake people make when using spices is not toasting them first. Nisha emphasizes the importance of toasting spices as heat unlocks the volatile oils found inside, resulting in more complex flavor compounds. Failure to toast spices can lead to a bitter taste in dishes. When sautéing aromatics like onions and garlic, it is best to toast the ground spices afterward. Another mistake is using too much turmeric. Turmeric is a strong spice that can overpower a dish if not used in moderation. A quarter or half teaspoon is typically sufficient, and it needs to cook a bit longer than other ground spices to avoid a raw taste.
Enhancing the Flavors of Spices without Oils
To enhance the natural flavors of spices without using oils, Nisha recommends buying whole spices, toasting them, and then grinding them. Whole spices have a more potent and longer-lasting flavor compared to pre-ground spices. For example, freshly toasted whole cumin seeds have a nuttier, deeper, and more complex flavor than pre-ground cumin. To toast whole spices, preheat a dry frying pan over medium or medium-high heat, add the spices, and shake the pan or stir occasionally to prevent burning. After a few minutes, the spices will turn darker and become highly aromatic. Remove them from the heat, let them cool, and grind them using a spice grinder, mortar and pestle, or coffee grinder. Using freshly ground spices will elevate the flavors of your dishes to new heights.
Strategies for Understanding Flavor Profiles and Pairings
Understanding flavor profiles and pairings comes with practice and experimentation in the kitchen. Nisha recommends getting a copy of the Vegetarian Flavor Bible, which lists every imaginable whole food ingredient, including spices, and provides flavor pairings and sample dishes to spark creativity. Learning from chefs who specialize in specific cuisines can also provide insights into pairing spices. YouTube is a fantastic resource for watching Indian chefs and learning about spices, even if their recipes are not vegan. By exploring different flavor combinations and experimenting, home cooks can develop a better understanding of which spices work well together and in what quantities.
Sourcing High-Quality Spices
Not all spices are created equal, and sourcing quality spices is essential for optimal flavor. Smaller brands with shorter supply chains often offer the freshest and most flavorful spices. They also tend to have more ethical and transparent practices regarding sourcing, sustainability, and labor. Nisha recommends two favorite small businesses, Burlap and Barrel and Diaspora Co., which prioritize fair wages and sustainable sourcing. Additionally, supermarket brands like Frontier Co-op and Simply Organic offer a wide selection of organic and Fair Trade certified spices.
Proper Storage of Spices
To maintain the freshness and flavor of spices, proper storage is crucial. Spices should be kept away from sunlight and heat, ideally in a pantry or cupboard. Storing spices above the stove or oven should be avoided due to the proximity to heat, which can damage the spices. Minimizing exposure to air is also important, so using airtight containers, tight-fitting glass jars, or commercial-grade plastic bags is recommended. Ground spices typically have a shelf life of six months to a year, while whole spices can last one to two years. To determine if spices are still fresh, open the bottle and check for a strong aroma. If the aroma is faint or barely there, the spice is past its prime. However, older spices can be revived by toasting them in a dry pan. Whole spices should be toasted for three to four minutes over low heat until they appear slightly oily and smell aromatic. Ground spices only need a minute to toast.
Additional Tips for Using Spices in Cooking
In addition to the previous recommendations, Nisha offers a few more essential tips for using spices in cooking. She advises going easy on turmeric as it is a strong spice that can overpower a dish if used excessively. A quarter or half teaspoon is typically sufficient, although a teaspoon may be used in spice-heavy Indian dishes. Turmeric also requires a bit longer cooking time to prevent a raw taste. Nisha also suggests watching Indian chefs on YouTube, even if their recipes are not vegan. Learning from their use of spices can provide valuable insights and ideas for incorporating spices into your cooking.
Nisha Vora’s Forthcoming Book
Nisha Vora is a vegan food blogger, YouTuber, cookbook author, and the creator of Rainbow Plant Life. Her second cookbook, set to be published in 2024 by Avery Books/Penguin Random House, will encapsulate her approach to building maximally flavorful vegan food that is fun, exciting, and approachable. As a passionate advocate for plant-based cooking, Nisha’s forthcoming book will undoubtedly inspire home cooks to explore and experiment with spices in their own kitchens.
In conclusion, Nisha Vora’s extensive experience and love for spices have shaped her expertise in using them to elevate the flavors of her dishes. By following her tips and integrating spices into your own cooking, you can unlock a world of incredible flavors and enhance your culinary skills. Whether you’re an experienced chef or just starting your culinary journey, understanding and utilizing the power of spices can transform your meals into unforgettable culinary experiences.