Great dishes require great ingredients, but even the best ingredients can use a flavor boost. Herbs and spices, with their colors, aromas, and flavors, can turn any ingredient into something special. On June 10th, we celebrate Herbs and Spices Day, so it’s time to dust off those spice bottles in the cabinet and fill the kitchen with bright and fresh herbs.
Celebrate Herbs and Spices Day by cooking with an herb or spice that’s new to you or try a new exotic spice blend. So, kick it up a notch with these 25 flavor-filled recipes that celebrate delicious herbs and spices.
1. Chickpea Pizza With Herb Pesto
Pulses and legumes make wonderful pizza crusts that are lighter and more nutritious than the traditional dough kind. In this Chickpea Pizza With Herb Pesto, basil herb pesto, greens, and a variety of toppings sit atop a chickpea flour crust. This savory pizza is topped with olives and artichokes, but feel free to customize it with your favorite pizza fixings!
2. Garam Masala Veggie Burger
Bring some Indian spice into your life with these Garam Masala Veggie Burgers! Chock full of veggies, quinoa, and black beans, these burgers are flavorful and super filling. Enjoy the patties on burger buns, in wraps or on top of a salad.
3. Szechuan Eggplant in Garlic Sauce
Szechuan eggplant is a famous Chinese dish that’s traditionally prepared by deep-frying eggplant strips in a sticky, garlic-ginger sauce. This Szechuan Eggplant in Garlic Sauce dish has eggplant sautéed in sauce with molasses added to give it that glossy, deep-fried look. That means you can enjoy the same decadent flavors without all the oil. Serve this easy stir-fry over a bed of rice, so you don’t miss a single drop of garlic sauce.
4. Bean Burger With Herb Aioli
Skip the ketchup and make this Bean Burger With Herb Aioli instead. This meaty bean burger is paired with a refreshing and creamy aioli that has parsley and cilantro. Serve on toasted buns with leafy greens, sweet potato fries, and extra sauce on the side for dipping fries.
5. Roasted Cauliflower Curry
Curry dishes like this Roasted Cauliflower Curry are always a celebration of herbs and spices. Cauliflower florets are roasted until golden and tender and then stirred into an aromatic tomato curry that’s filled with a dry masala mix and bold spices. This impressive entrée is guaranteed to become a repeat in your household.
6. Marinated Tofu Feta Cheese
If you love feta cheese, try making your own Marinated Tofu Feta Cheese. The marinade is a mixture of bold flavors including thyme, Dijon mustard, lime, garlic, and red pepper flakes, to give the cheese that familiar, sharp taste. Try this cheese on your next Greek salad or vegan moussaka.
7. Spice-Rubbed Roasted Cauliflower Steak With Spinach Tahini Sauce
Turn any dinner into a special occasion with this Spice-Rubbed Cauliflower Steak With Spinach Tahini Sauce. Whole cauliflower steaks are rubbed with a special spice blend before being roasted in the oven until tender and juicy. Then, they are topped with a creamy spinach tahini sauce that complements the heat of the spices. If you’ve never had cauliflower steak before, it’s a dish that you must experience at least once.
8. Tofu Masala
This Tofu Masala is a flavorful dish that goes great with rice and takes less than 30 minutes to prepare. The South Indian recipe has tofu marinated in spices like turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, mace, maratha moggu, and coriander. Coconut milk is added to achieve a thick and rich curry consistency.
9. Tahini Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil
For a stunning dinner centerpiece that looks as amazing as it tastes, you have to try this Tahini Roasted Cauliflower with Lemony Herb Oil. Along with being absolutely gorgeous, it is craftily spiced, rubbed down with a nutty tahini coating, drizzled with lemony herbs, and eventually garnished with roasted almonds. Be ready to hear the “oohs” and “aahs” when this hits the table.
10. Spicy Curry Laksa
Laksa is a spicy rice noodle soup that’s popular in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries, and curry laksa is distinct for being rich and savory thanks to the use of coconut milk. This Spicy Curry Laksa is simple to make, nourishing, and full of fresh, vibrant flavors. You have to try it!
11. Indian-Style Curry Mushroom Bruschetta
Indian curry is delicious on its own, so you can only image how delectable it is on toasted Italian bread! In this Indian-Style Curry Mushroom Bruschetta, mushrooms are tossed in a zesty tomato purée seasoned with jalapeño pepper, cumin, coriander, and garam masala, and then placed on crunchy Italian bread slices. Spicy and tangy, this finger food work wells as an appetizer or a simple snack when craving Indian cuisine.
12. Baked Gochujang Tofu
Gochujang is a spicy Korean chili paste where the heat from the chili is subdued a little by the sweetness of the glutinous rice, and the fermented soybean gives that unmistakable umami flavor. Best eaten while hot, this Baked Gochujang Tofu is so flavorful and amazing, you’ll want to serve it with simple sides like rice and steamed vegetables. Or get creative by making a sandwich or wrap out of it.
13. Roasted Spiced Carrots
Who said carrots were boring? These Roasted Spiced Carrots will delight your palate in several ways. They’re tender, bursting with spices, and topped with a deliciously creamy tahini sauce. Served on a bed of alfalfa sprouts and wild rice and topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds and pine nuts, this dish will wow your guests!
14. Decadent Baked Herb-Crusted Cashew Almond Cheese
This recipe for this Decadent Baked Herb-Crusted Cashew Almond Cheese is unbelievable. It has a tangy, “authentic” flavor that’s just begging to be served with all kinds of flavors from sweet and fruity to salty and umami. The cheese is crusted with rosemary, thyme, and basil for a celebration of bright herbs.
15. Portobello Chana Masala
Chana masala is one of the healthiest Indian dishes you can make. Because of the entree’s heavy use of chickpeas, it is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with fiber, protein, and potassium. This Portobello Chana Masala takes traditional masala and puts a twist on it by adding mushrooms and peanut butter for a meatier dish that is as delicious as it is satisfying.
16. Rosemary Garlic Spelt Agnolotti
Agnolotti are a lot like ravioli. They’re tender stuffed pasta shells stuffed with deliciousness, but instead of cheese, agnolotti are stuffed with roasted vegetables or meat. These Rosemary Garlic Spelt Agnolotti are filled with a creamy rosemary garlic and white bean filling and served with a mesclun pesto. This is like a dish from a fancy Italian restaurant, but better, because they’re homemade!
17. Curried Tofu
This Curried Tofu is crispy, flavorful, and an easy to make. The marinade with curry powder, turmeric, cumin, and garam masala gives the tofu bold flavor. Serve this with your favorite grain or put it in a wrap for the best sandwich ever!
18. Mesabacha Hummus
You can never have enough hummus recipes, right? This Mesabacha Hummus is luxuriously smooth from tahini, and lightly seasoned with paprika, onions, garlic, and lemon. Mesabacha hummus is very popular in Israel, and we think it will be just as well-loved in your home too!
19. Onion and Bell Pepper Masala
Bursting with flavor, this Onion and Bell Pepper Masala is a delicious combination of flavors that will jazz up that bowl of plain, white rice. It is spicy and savory, with layers of herbs and spices turning the vegetables into the best you’ve ever tasted. Eat this as a main dish or pair with naan for an amazing appetizer.
20. Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad With Tarragon Dressing
This Roasted Corn and Tomato Salad With Tarragon Dressing is a celebration of fresh summer ingredients like radishes, celery, tomatoes, and of course, corn. A bit of habanero is added to the corn for an extra zing. Drizzle the salad with the herby tarragon dressing for a truly unique combination of flavors.
21. Baked Garlic Herb Shoestring Rutabagas
Swap out the potatoes and give rutabagas the place they deserve at your dinner table. These Baked Garlic Herb Shoestring Rutabagas are a sweet, savory, and nutritious side dish that’s a breeze to make. Rutabagas are simply spiralized, doused in flavorful garlic herb oil, and set to bake. You may never eat potato fries again.
22. Mixed Herb Lentil and Wild Rice Soup
Deliciously warming and chunky, this Mixed Herb Lentil and Wild Rice Soup definitely hits the spot. With sweet potato, carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, and mixed beans, this soup is filled with wholesome nutritional goodness! Adjust the spiciness level to your liking.
23. Za’atar Grilled Eggplant Salad
This fresh, summery Za’atar Grilled Eggplant Salad combines soft grilled eggplants and lots of fresh herbs. Be sure to make a big batch, since cold leftovers make great pita fillings, especially when you add hummus and extra greens. Serve with a big squeeze of lemon for a refreshing kick.
24. Marinated Tempeh Salad
If you haven’t tried marinating your tempeh, now is the time to start! Tempeh plays center stage in this delicious Marinated Tempeh Salad with sweet potatoes and crispy greens. It’s bursting with flavor and boasts an array of textures that is sure to make you want more.
25. Mushroom Pepper Masala
Within 30 minutes this thick, rich, creamy, savory, and flavorfulMushroom Pepper Masala can be on the table. This fragrant entrée includes spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and slightly tangy roasted green chili for an extra kick. Serve this dish warm with brown rice, naan, or quinoa.
Whether you like bold, zesty spices, bright fresh herbs or a combination of both, you’ll find that adding herbs and spices to your dishes can turn them from ordinary to extraordinary. Try a new herb or spice today and see the difference it makes!
Lead image source: Chickpea Pizza with Herb Pesto
