Spiced: Unlock the Power of Spices to Transform Your Cooking

Be your own spice blender! From America's Test Kitchen comes Spiced: Unlock the Power of Spices to Transform Your Cooking. Spices: You probably have a cabinet full of them, but do you know how to make the most of them? Spiced opens up the world of possibility hidden in your pantry, with six chapters, each of which shares a way to use spices to amp up the flavor of your cooking, along with foolproof recipes that put these simple techniques to work. Sprinkle a finishing salt you make from sea salt and herbs on seared white fish fillets to make them special. Make a different roast chicken every week by applying a different rub. Learn the best spices to use in curries—and when to add them for fragrant (not dusty) results. Add flavor—and texture—with homemade blends (you'll eat your spinach when it's topped with pistachio dukkah). Infuse condiments with spices (try chipotle ketchup on a burger). With the following six simple techniques, plus vibrant recipes, you'll find yourself not only spooning chili powder into the chili pot but making the chili powder yourself or flavoring desserts with saffron or cardamom rather than just cinnamon. The cookbook includes 47 easy spice blends and 139 recipes to help you harness the power of spices. To make all of the spice blends, you will need these spices.  The Spiced cookbook will help you master six techniques: Season smarter with salt and pepper. You'll learn about brining, using peppercorns of all colors, and making finishers like sriracha salt. Give meat and vegetables a rub. We'll provide blends you can use in our recipes (try juniper and fennel on salmon) or your own. Bloom and toast. Bring out ground spices' complexity by cooking them in oil; unlock dried chiles' fruity or nutty flavors by toasting them. Finish foods with flair. Spice-and-nut/seed blends like shichimi togarashi (a mix of spices, orange zest, and sesame seeds) add texture, too. Let spices steep. Infuse spices into condiments like pickled fennel that punches up a chicken salad or rosemary oil to drizzle over bruschetta. Bake with spices. Go beyond vanilla by rolling doughnuts in strawberry-black pepper sugar. Make your own rose water and add it to the pistachio baklava. Recipe for Fresh Herb Salt: 1/2 cup kosher salt 1 cup minced fresh herbs such as chives, dill, or tarragon Using your hands, rub salt and herbs in a large bowl until well combined. Spread the mixture into an even layer on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet. Let sit at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, until completely dry for 36-48 hours, stirring every 12 hours to break up clumps. Sprinkle on tomato salad, seared chicken breasts, bean dips, and fried eggs.