Even though I’m not a nutrition student or expert, I am still a total nutrition nerd. One of my favorite nutrition books that I always go back and re-read offers a sentiment that always stuck with me: Dirty up your clean food. The meaning of this is to strive to eat clean most of the time but don’t be afraid to go heavy on the spices and herbs to keep your clean diet exciting! There are SO many different flavors to add to veggies; by changing up the spices you are using, you can completely change a dish. Below are some staples to have in your kitchen so that you can eat your veggies everyday without getting bored!
Spices:
- Sea salt
- Whole peppercorns
- Cumin
- Crushed Red pepper flakes
- Chili powder
- Italian seasoning
- Turmeric
- Ground garlic (also always great to have fresh garlic on hand!)
- Ground ginger
- Smoked paprika
- Pumpkin Pie seasoning (cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger)
Pastes and Sauces:
- Soy sauce / Tamari
- White wine vinegar
- Red wine vinegar
- Gochu Jang (fermented soybean paste with chili)
- Chili Garlic sauce
- Tahini
Produce and Herbs:
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Lemon
- Lime
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Green onion
This list might seem daunting but odds are, you probably have a lot of these in your cupboard already! With these things around, the combinations are endless for turning ordinary veggies into a delightfully “dirty” meal!
Written by GUADS staff member Kate with contributions from thespruceeats.com
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