Herbs and Spices - what are your favourites?

[Daisy]

I've recently tidied out the little cupboard I use for things like stock cubes, herbs, spices, odd packets of stuffing, sauce mixes, salt and pepper etc, and realised I use quite a limited range.

What are your most useful herbs and spices?

[Gemini]

I think thyme is my favourite herb, and I love nutmeg -grated onto rice pudding, or even in mashed potatoes!

I have recently discovered Knorr Stockpots and often add a vegetable one to my soups.

[Plantaholic]

Same for me Gemini, I like thyme and nutmeg. I don't have a sense of smell so I am not confident with flavourings, I always add nutmeg to white sauce.

[Qwerty]

Mixed herbs, oregano, paprika I use the stock pots too nutmeg for rice pudding , jar of ginger paste and one of garlic paste, tomato puree why then do I have 3 baskets of herbs

[Grauntie Mag]

Basil and marjoram mostly (tomato sauce for pasta), tarragon, sage, rosemary,thyme, parsley in freezer,mixed herbs, nutmeg. Bay bush in pot by back door. I grow most of the herbs but have dried in winter. I use them a lot.

[Enfys]

We have lots of bay trees in the garden so always pop one in casseroles or stews. I use parsley a lot too, grow my own then freeze it. We like oregano, thyme and mint. Chilli goes into soups, just a pinch for a little kick, and I use the stock pots too.

[Mimi]

I have a pot of fresh basil sitting on the kitchen windowsill, a wooden herb rack ( it spins rounds for ease) with several herbs pots .
I use mostly the Italian mixed herb, garlic salt(for when I run out of fresh) mixed herbs , thyme , nutmeg and cinnamon. I also use tomato purée and stock pots. I never use salt in any thing.

[Daisy]

Sometimes I get stuck in a rut with herbs and spices, but I've usually got fresh basil (my favourite) and parsley on the windowsill. I use tarragon, bay leaves, bouquet garni (in 'tea bags'). I use cinnamon, turmeric and paprika and of course, nutmeg. I bought some whole ones years ago and read somewhere that they will outlast me. I like a challenge!!!


I've never tried stockpots - but they sound really useful. Has anybody found one variety better than the others?

[Nanto2girls]

The only herb I use is dried sage. Have used it in Yorkshire puddings, and I like sage and onion stuffing. I like parsley sauce, but I don't make my own, I buy the granules.

I love nutmeg on rice pudding, and I use ginger,mixed spice and cinnamon in baking.

[Oma]

Love Basil and Ginger is a big favourite of mine we always have lots of herbs and spices in and stock pots , Come to think of it we use quite a lot

[Avo]

I grow parsley, thyme, sage, mint, basil and use garlic (a lot) both fresh and in the salt, I love paprika bought some in Hungary and am still using a smokey one I bought there, all the normal ones for baking, love ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg. Do use the stockpots they are ideal for stock for making soups.

[ZIZI]

Well I also use the stockpots and I have loads of herbs and spices in little sealed packets in the store cupboard. I have a standard bay tree in the garden and a large one in the front by my gate. I love coriander and froze a load in the summer. I usually have mint, basil, oregano, Rosemary, flat leafed parsley and coriander in my garden. I buy "Very Lazy Garlic" and chilli but also have garlic cloves in brine which I chop sometimes when I am not feeling so lazy!

[Gemini]

I love chives! We grow those in a couple of pots in the garden

[Shemadee]

Had a big clear out recently and got rid of many that were way out of date! Ashamed to say I found three pots of sweet basil and duplicates of a few others. Have a bay tree, thyme, marjoram, oregano, mint, chives, sweet basil, rosemary, flat and curly parsley that I grow. Current favourite is thyme! Quite often have fresh basil and mozzarella for lunch. Also have various curry spices but probably don't use them often enough to keep them fresh as I often resort to jars of curry paste!

[ZIZI]

Oh I have chives as well, I forgot about them!