Review of the best seasonings and spices for potatoes in different cooking options

It’s not for nothing that potatoes are called “second bread”: but they will be much tastier if you add spices or seasonings for potatoes to them. These can be store-bought spices or mixtures prepared independently from any ingredients. They are selected taking into account gastronomic preferences and cooking methods. To achieve the best result, it is advisable to adhere to culinary traditions.

Seasonings suitable for potatoes

Potatoes have several hundred varieties and are popular in most countries of the world. It is boiled, fried, baked, and turned into chips. The vegetable goes well with any spices and seasonings.

It is easier to list those that do not harmonize well with potatoes, so great is the variety of spices that go perfectly with them. Yet there is a common set of ingredients that are used most often.

Successful combinations

Usually, to improve the taste of boiled potatoes, housewives use bay leaves, onions, black and allspice, basil, parsley or dill. They try to enhance fried or baked root vegetables with the help of thyme, thyme, and marjoram. However, professional chefs advise adding not just one seasoning to a potato dish, but mixtures of them.

Note to housewives! When purchasing seasonings in a store, you should give preference to those mixtures that do not contain artificial additives.

The following combinations are considered the most successful:

1. Dried parsley and parsnip roots, onions, carrots, celery, bay leaves.
2. Dill, thyme, basil, chopped bay leaf, ground coriander seeds, black peppercorns, ginger powder.
3. Ground black pepper, sweet paprika powder, dried onions and garlic, dill, savory, marjoram, thyme.
4. A mixture of ground pepper - red and black, crushed coriander seeds, ajgon, garlic, basil.

For dishes from nutritious vegetables, both ready-made combinations and those prepared independently, taking into account individual taste preferences, are suitable. It will not be difficult for experienced housewives to create a spicy bouquet, but for beginners it is advisable to use store-bought products at first.

Review of store mixes

Today, almost all manufacturers produce seasonings for potatoes. They are a set of aromatic spices and herbs that allow you to change the aroma, taste and even color of a dish. Depending on the ingredients included, they can be hot, spicy or moderately sweet.

Seasoning for potato dishes "Kamis" contains:

• garlic;
• onion;
• chili pepper;
• dill;
• savory;
• paprika;
• marjoram;
• coriander;
• salt;
• ground black pepper.

The spicy mixture from Cykoria S.A. consists of the following ingredients:

• Luke;
• garlic;
• red sweet pepper;
• parsley;
• marjoram;
• caraway;
• salt;
• ground black pepper;
• flavor and aroma enhancer.

The Orient seasoning mixture differs from the previous ones in a large number of ingredients and contains:

• garlic;
• onion;
• paprika;
• thyme;
• turmeric;
• Cayenne pepper;
• flour;
• sugar;
• salt;
• yeast extract.

The Indana potato seasoning contains a traditional set of vegetables, herbs and spices:

• onion;
• garlic;
• sweet red pepper;
• parsley;
• dill;
• caraway;
• coriander;
• chili pepper;
• turmeric;
• salt;
• black pepper.

The domestic manufacturer “Russian Appetite” suggests seasoning potato dishes with a spicy mixture, which includes:

• onion;
• carrot;
• garlic;
• sweet paprika;
• parsley;
• dill;
• leaf celery;
• basil;
• marjoram;
• savory;
• caraway;
• black pepper;
• salt.

The spicy mixture under the Farsis brand contains:

• iodized salt;
• sugar;
• hot red and black ground pepper;
• sweet paprika;
• carrot;
• garlic;
• onion;
• dill;
• parsley;
• green basil.

But the most popular seasoning for potato dishes is “Magic Tree”. The products of this manufacturer are known not only in Russia, but also far beyond its borders. The package contains a balanced composition:

• salt;
• sugar;
• ground black pepper;
• turmeric;
• paprika;
• dill;
• parsley;
• onion;
• garlic.

Note to housewives! A number of manufacturers under their own brand (Magic Tree, Maggi, Kamis) produce spicy mixtures for fried potatoes and fries. The seasoning can be sprinkled on potato slices both before frying and after the end of the cooking process.

Choosing seasonings for potatoes, taking into account the method of their preparation

To make a potato dish tasty and aromatic, experienced chefs advise: select spices and seasonings taking into account the method of heat treatment of the vegetable and other products (if they are provided for in the recipe), and also follow the cooking instructions.

Boiled potatoes

The taste of boiled potatoes has been familiar since childhood. However, simple methods will help add new flavor and aromatic notes to a traditional dish.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 peeled root vegetables;
• 1 carrot;
• 1 medium onion;
• 2 bay leaves;
• 3-4 peas of allspice;
• ¼ tsp. coriander and cumin seeds;
• 2-3 sprigs of parsley;
• salt, black pepper - to taste.

How to cook

Place onions, carrots, cut in half, as well as peeled and washed potatoes into the pan. Small tubers are boiled whole, large ones are cut into 2 or 4 parts.

After boiling, salt, black and allspice pepper, coriander, and cumin are added to the water. 5 minutes before the end of cooking, place parsley sprigs into the bowl.

Drain the water from the finished potatoes, add 50 g of butter to the pan, cover with a lid and let stand for a couple of minutes. Next, add 2-3 finely chopped garlic cloves and chopped dill. The dishes are shaken several times and left for another 1-2 minutes so that the tubers have time to become saturated with new tastes and aromas.

Fried potatoes

If the slices are fried in vegetable oil, butter or lard, they are covered with an appetizing crispy crust, but retain a bland, inexpressive taste and aroma. Correctly selected seasoning will help eliminate this drawback. The set of products goes equally well with fried potatoes and fries.

Ingredients

• 4-5 peeled potatoes;
• 2-3 cloves of garlic;
• ½ tsp. khmeli-suneli;
• ½ tsp each oregano, marjoram, dill;
• ¼ tsp. coriander seeds;
• salt, white pepper - to taste.

How to cook

1. The tubers are cut into slices or cubes, washed and dried. Sprinkle with a spicy mixture of the above ingredients, mix thoroughly and leave for 5-7 minutes.
2. Place potatoes in a frying pan with heated oil and fry them over medium heat until tender, turning regularly.

Note to the owner! It is better to add spices in ground form. Pieces of vegetables and herbs will begin to burn during frying, causing the taste and aroma of the finished dish to suffer.

Country-style baked potatoes

For baking or stewing potatoes in the oven, most often you limit yourself to salt, a mixture of peppers, and chopped dill or parsley. However, the dish will acquire a special taste and a richer aroma if you use bay leaves and complex seasonings: hops-suneli, curry.When planning to serve potatoes as an independent dish, experienced housewives resort to spices and herbs.

A dish called “Idaho”, known to many as “country-style” potatoes, cannot be done without these mixtures. In this case, it is recommended to bake the tubers whole or in large slices. There is no uniform requirement for the choice of seasonings; however, the following combinations are most often used in cafes and restaurants:

• Dried basil, parsley, dill, young onions, garlic, curry seasoning.
• Ground sweet paprika, garlic powder, a mixture of peppers, dried parsley, dill, leeks.
• Garlic, onion, mustard, smoked paprika, turmeric, as well as dried basil, dill, parsley.

How to cook

Preheat the oven to 180°C.

1. Peeled and washed tubers are cut into equal slices (this way they will bake more evenly).
2. The potatoes are rinsed to remove starch, dried and generously sprinkled with your favorite baking seasoning.
3. Place the slices on a baking sheet sprinkled with olive oil and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Seasoning for potatoes makes the vegetable tasty and aromatic. It stimulates appetite and improves digestion. It is recommended to serve the finished dish with spicy garlic, soy, yogurt, sour cream sauce, sprinkled with fresh chopped herbs.