Best Spices to Give Dad
Lynley Jones
Father’s Day is this weekend, and your man of good taste wants something that tastes good. So stop pussy-footing around with ties and wallets. Give that man something he can EAT!
I’ve got just the thing.
(And psst - remember, we gift-wrap for free! And we offer FREE contactless delivery in the Montclair area or pre-order pickup at any of our farmers markets! All the options are here. Easy peasy!)
Here are my top spice recommendations for Dad this year:
#1: Sumac & Sage Seasoning Blend
This ready-to-go seasoning blend works on everything from meat to veggies to fish. Perfect for grilling or sprinkling over French fries or fresh veggies. It’s a unique combination of organic ground sage and sumac (an ancient spice that’s very trendy these days!), along with freshly ground organic black peppercorns and Kosher salt. Just sprinkle it on and go, and everyone will be very impressed. Find our growing list of ways to use this blend here.
Our original savory seasoning, created by our founder Lynley. You can use this super-versatile blend on chicken, meat, veggies, pasta, potatoes and more! Herbal and citrusy, it combines the depth of sage with the bright acidity of sumac. Use it in place of salt and pepper, or alongside other seasonings to taste. Made with organic and fair-trade ingredients. Locally made by us in small batches.
1/2 cup -sized jar.
#2: Aleppo Pepper
This is not your granddad’s red pepper flakes (unless your granddad is Syrian, and then it probably is!). Aleppo pepper has a little bit of heat, and a whole lotta flavor. It’s slightly smoky and full of rich chile aromatics. It’s addictively flavorful, so you can go to town on pretty much anything: meat, chicken, pasta, potatoes, veggies, and more. Lots of recipes here.
Originally from Aleppo, Syria, this pepper is now being grown in neighboring Turkey. Mildly spicy, it’s like a cross between ancho chile and red bell peppers. Addictively good on veggies of all kinds, as well as grilled meats, fish and more.
1/2 cup-sized jar.
#3: Indian Essentials Kit
Our heirloom pragati turmeric is grown on a 3rd-generation farm in India with zero pesticides, and above fair trade wages for the workers. It’s intensely flavorful and aromatic. Combine it with our whole cumin and our organic, fair-trade black peppercorns and you’ve got a great starting point for just about any Indian dish.
We are super proud to offer you this single-origin, heirloom-variety turmeric, farmed without pesticides and harvested and freshly milled each year! This pragati turmeric is an intensely flavorful and aromatic heirloom variety, grown on a 3rd generation family farm in India. 1/2 cup-sized jar.
Our flavorful organic cumin seeds come from India and Turkey. These high-quality cumin seeds have a robust flavor and a gorgeously deep brown color, flecked with green and gold. Cumin is a classic ingredient in cuisines around the world, including Indian, Mexican, Middle Eastern and many others. Use them whole in rice, curries, beans and soups to infuse the dish with flavor. Or crush them with a mortar and pestle to sprinkle on meats and taco toppings.
1/2 cup-sized jar.
Organic and fair-trade. We get our flavorful organic peppercorns from India. They’re bright and aromatic, with a nicely balanced flavor. A great stealth ingredient to take your everyday cooking up a notch. 1/2 cup-sized jar.
No grinder? No problem. We can now freshly grind these for you! Just click here to add this service to your cart before checkout.
#4: Chile Madness
Dried chiles pave the way to all kinds of cooking adventures. They add layers of flavor to Mexican cuisine, and they’re indispensable if you want to make the real deal. Find recipes to cook with guajillo or ancho chiles, or scroll through all our Mexican recipes for inspiration here.
These mildly spicy dried chiles are a classic ingredient in Mexican and other Latin cuisines. Ancho chiles add a deep, raisin-y chile flavor, just a hint of heat, and a rich, dark color when ground. Toast them first, or use them as-is. Drop them whole into a soup or stew pot, or grind or blend them into enchilada sauce and more.
About 6 chiles/bag.
See recipes below…
These mildly spicy dried chiles are a classic ingredient in Mexican and other Latin cuisines. Guajillo chiles add a brighter chile flavor than their ancho cousins. They’re mildly spicy and contribute a ruddy red color when ground. Toast them first, or use them as-is. Drop them whole into a soup or stew pot, grind or blend them into enchilada sauce, add them to chocolate and more.
About 6 chiles/bag.
See recipes below…
You can shop all our spices and specialty ingredients online or visit us at farmers markets in northern New Jersey every weekend.
(Hope to see you soon!)