Spice pairings
How this works
Pick what you are cooking. Each page gives a ranked list of spices with the reason the combination works, the cuisines it belongs to, what else to add and where it stops working — because a pairing without its caveats is only half an answer.
Meat
Spices for pork
Fennel seed, Cassia, Paprika and 27 more
Spices for chicken
Paprika, Saffron, Scotch bonnet and 31 more
Spices for beef
Black pepper, Paprika, Bay leaf and 17 more
Spices for lamb
Cumin, Cinnamon (Ceylon), Ras el hanout and 16 more
Spices for duck
Star anise, Sichuan pepper, Dried orange peel and 5 more
Spices for turkey
Black pepper, Pasilla, Mulato and 2 more
Spices for goat
Uziza, Coriander seed, Black cardamom and 2 more
Spices for bacon
Black pepper, Juniper, Sage and 1 more
Spices for venison
Juniper, Black pepper, Allspice and 1 more
Fish and seafood
Spices for salmon
Pink peppercorn, Horseradish, Dill seed and 7 more
Spices for white fish
Saffron, Tamarind, Fingerroot and 14 more
Spices for prawns
Tamarind, Galangal, Garlic and 15 more
Spices for tuna
Black pepper, Wasabi, Shiso and 4 more
Spices for cod
White pepper, Dill, Turmeric and 1 more
Spices for crab
Cayenne pepper, Celery seed, Chilli flakes and 1 more
Spices for mackerel
Mustard seed, Sumac, Ginger and 1 more
Spices for mussels
Saffron, Fennel seed, Lemongrass and 1 more
Spices for scallops
Saffron, Tarragon, Cayenne pepper and 2 more
Spices for squid
Paprika, Garlic, Sichuan pepper and 1 more
Vegetables
Spices for potato
Mustard seed, Cumin, Nigella and 20 more
Spices for carrot
Cumin, Caraway, Ginger
Spices for cauliflower
Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander seed
Spices for soup
Bay leaf, Lovage, White pepper and 2 more
Spices for sweet potato
Cumin, Paprika, Cassia and 3 more
Spices for courgette
Black pepper, Fennel seed, Sumac and 2 more
Spices for cabbage
Caraway, Celery seed, Juniper and 2 more
Spices for broccoli
Calabrian chilli, Chilli flakes, Mustard seed and 1 more
Spices for mushrooms
Garlic, Thyme, Black pepper and 5 more
Spices for tomato
Fenugreek, Jalapeño, Aleppo pepper and 15 more
Spices for aubergine
Nigella, Cumin, Sumac and 6 more
Spices for pumpkin
Sage, Ginger, Cinnamon (Ceylon) and 1 more
Spices for spinach
Nutmeg, Cumin, Sumac
Spices for okra
Turmeric, Amchoor, Cayenne pepper and 1 more
Spices for squash
Sage, Nutmeg, Cumin and 2 more
Spices for beetroot
Horseradish, Cumin, Dill and 1 more
Spices for asparagus
Black pepper, Chervil, Nutmeg and 1 more
Spices for leek
Thyme, Nutmeg, White pepper
Spices for parsnip
Cumin, Nutmeg, Coriander seed
Spices for celeriac
Mustard seed, Nutmeg, White pepper
Spices for sweetcorn
Chilli powder, Smoked paprika, Cumin
Spices for green beans
Mustard seed, Sichuan pepper, Garlic
Spices for rhubarb
Ginger, Turmeric, Green cardamom
Grains and pulses
Spices for pasta
Chilli flakes, Black pepper, Calabrian chilli and 2 more
Spices for popcorn
Paprika, Cayenne pepper, Chaat masala and 1 more
Spices for rice
Saffron, Black cardamom, Annatto and 9 more
Spices for lentils
Bay leaf, Fenugreek, Cumin and 14 more
Spices for beans
Savory, Mexican oregano, Epazote and 7 more
Spices for chickpeas
Asafoetida, Ajwain, Amchoor and 6 more
Spices for tofu
Sichuan pepper, Chilli flakes, Ginger and 1 more
Spices for bread
Caraway, Nigella, Za'atar herb and 3 more
Spices for peas
Mint, Cumin, Chervil and 1 more
Spices for couscous
Saffron, Cinnamon (Ceylon), Ginger
Spices for quinoa
Cumin, Ají amarillo, Huacatay
Fruit
Spices for apple
Cassia, Caraway, Allspice and 9 more
Spices for orange
Habanero, Cassia, Coriander seed and 4 more
Spices for plum
Shiso, Star anise, Coriander seed and 1 more
Spices for peach
Vanilla, Green cardamom, Black pepper
Spices for cherry
Vanilla, Cassia, Tonka bean
Spices for banana
Cassia, Allspice, Green cardamom
Dairy, drinks and sweet
Spices for eggs
Mahleb, Tarragon, Chives and 7 more
Spices for yoghurt
Kashmiri chilli, Black salt, Mint and 10 more
Spices for cheese
Poblano, Black pepper, Za'atar herb and 14 more
Spices for dark chocolate
Cinnamon (Ceylon), Pasilla, Vanilla and 11 more
Spices for coffee
Green cardamom, Grains of Selim, Cassia and 2 more
Spices for black tea
Green cardamom, Mint, Cassia and 1 more
Spices for honey
Ginger, Lavender, Cassia and 2 more
Spices for halloumi
Za'atar herb, Mint, Sumac and 1 more
Spices for paneer
Garam masala, Fenugreek leaf, Kashmiri chilli and 2 more
Spice with spice
209recorded spice-to-spice combinations. These appear on each spice’s own profile, under Pairings, so that starting from a spice you already own leads somewhere useful.