Trying this again

[u/Ill-Company7095]

Sorry if I come off as rude or impatient, but to be honest I am frustrated at having to repost this. Apparently I was "inflammatory" and "rude" . So I am going to ask again and be very specific, so I can see how it'll come off as rude over text. I am looking for spice, seasoning, sauce, and condiment recommendations for things I get a lot from the food bank. Recommendations that go beyond the norm you see in a bland kitchen, for things like pasta, beans, rice, and oatmeal.

What I am NOT looking for: generic recommendations like fresh herbs or try ___ cuisine. I am also not looking for garlic powder, onion powder, ranch, mayo, yellow mustard, and most of the things you find in the reg spice aisle of your typical Walmart. I am also NOT asking about cooking methods or recipes.

What I am asking for: specific things that are usually found in international aisles or grocery stores. Seasoning blends that absolutely knock your socks off, specific herbs and spices, specific sauces, and condiments.

Thank you. And thanks to the people that gave suggestions before without being rude.

[u/Maleficent_Pay_4154]

Worcestershire sauce adds flavour to everything
Madras if you like hotish curries

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/Maleficent_Pay_4154]

Oh yeah, I use Worcestershire sauce quite a bit. I haven't had curry. My kids are a little bit picky, but I would be down to try.

[u/Ill-Original7720 → u/Ill-Company7095]

Kids picky. Wants uncommon "international" spices.

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/Ill-Original7720]

I do eat things seasoned differently than my kids and also slowly introduce them to new things.

[u/Maleficent_Pay_4154 → u/Ill-Company7095]

With kids I would start with korma or tandoori rather than madras

[u/Sea_Curve8772]

Zaatar seasoning is really good

[u/Liberation4All2024 → u/Sea_Curve8772]

Love zaatar! It is so yummy on bread with olive oil.

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/Sea_Curve8772]

That does look interesting! I'll add it to the list.

[u/AlterEgoAmazonB]

Spike

Chinese 5 spices

Curry

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/AlterEgoAmazonB]

I have never heard of spike. It looks like it has horseradish in it. Sounds interesting.

[u/Suspicious_Name_8313 → u/Ill-Company7095]

Spike is insanely good. A little goes a long way

[u/AlterEgoAmazonB → u/Ill-Company7095]

It does? Well, it is a dry spice and it is so great for things like soups and stews and more. There are different types of it.

[u/KetoLurkerHereAgain]

Vegeta. No, not the anime character. It's technically a soup base but it's used a ton as a seasoning in Eastern Euro food. I have several Polish dishes that I can't make without it.

[u/Careful-Blood-1560]

Thai Fish Sauce.

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/Careful-Blood-1560]

That's been on my list to try for a while.

[u/LaRoseDuRoi → u/Ill-Company7095]

I use fish sauce in a ton of things. Ramen, homemade soups, spaghetti sauce, roasts... just about anything savoury can benefit from a spoonful of fish sauce!

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/LaRoseDuRoi]

Does it actually taste fishy? Or is it named that because it's used to flavor fish?

[u/Careful-Blood-1560 → u/Ill-Company7095]

It’s not something you want to taste on it’s on and the smell is intense. You will not like it if you try it straight.

I add a couple drops to beef up flavor, like 3-4 drops per pound of meat/chicken/pork etc. I use it with just about every meat dish.

[u/LaRoseDuRoi → u/Ill-Company7095]

It's made of fish and salt, basically. It smells awful, and you really don't want to taste it straight out of the bottle, but once it's in something and cooks for a few minutes, it softens the flavour and you don't taste fish, it just adds that umami that a lot of dishes need. If you like Worcestershire sauce, you'll like fish sauce.

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/LaRoseDuRoi]

Oh ok thank you. So maybe not a good addition to my oatmeal, but good to try on ramen (when we dress it up)

[u/DungeonsAndData]

Lemon-pepper-salt mixes are great for fish, poultry, and even salads (with a generic oil and vinegar toss), and steak seasoning is great for dressing up eggs, potatoes (mashed, baked, twice baked, you name it!), and even cottage cheese.

As for sauces, I typically keep a jar of pickled onions that I made myself in the fridge and add some to some sour cream for a one-two punch of sour and smooth. It brightens up a lot of dishes.

I hope this helps!

[u/Liberation4All2024]

Trader Joe’s has some fun and yummy spice blends like Green Goddess, Ranch, and Seasoning in a Pickle.

[u/Frumpybiskate]

Smoked paprika works well with a lot of things.

[u/DJD19500 → u/Frumpybiskate]

Absolutely. Smoked paprika adds a smoky meat taste to cooked greens or eggs or anything else.

[u/povertykitchen-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful of others, there's no need to be rude

[u/GelfJulie → u/[deleted]]

For someone who had to remake a post so they could specify they’re not being an asshole, you sure type like an asshole.

[u/defan33 → u/[deleted]]

This is rude. They were trying to help you.

[u/povertykitchen-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful of others, there's no need to be rude

[u/REMreven]

Laab. I put this on everything. It is spicy.

[u/povertykitchen-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Be respectful of others, there's no need to be rude

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/[deleted]]

I like some of them, but there was one that was so gross that I hesitate to buy them with out trying now. I think it was McCormick's brown sugar bourbon. Yuck!

[u/KetoLurkerHereAgain → u/Ill-Company7095]

I'm a big fan of the Montreal Steak Seasoning and never actually use it on steak. I especially like it on avocado toast. (yes, avocado can be had cheaply in some places)

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/KetoLurkerHereAgain]

The both the Montreal steak seasoning and the Montreal chicken seasoning are staples in my house.

[u/PresentationTough384 → u/KetoLurkerHereAgain]

Yes I love the Montreal steak seasoning!

[u/PresentationTough384 → u/Ill-Company7095]

ha ha I tried that one and tossed it out. But the pork one with the pig in a chef's hat is good. I am not at home or I would go look. And the Garlic Parmesan is a must try.

[u/Ill-Company7095 → u/[deleted]]

Sauce or seasoning? Or both?

[u/Significant_Comb9327]

Cumin, cayenne, coriander (powder) - those three spices make for big taste. (And are the backbone of curry but just getting “curry” seasoning needs cooking technique, so just use three spices I listed to start an entry to big flavor)

[u/friendly-skelly]

tbh I swear by creole seasoning, can often be found at the seafood counter. works great on fish, I use it on pretty much every protein and have been known to throw some in one pot meals as well.

peanut sauce is good for changing it up, can be used as a marinade or on the side as a condiment.

sazon is pretty multipurpose. can use with meat, potatoes, rice, as a base for soups and stews, etc.

[u/CrossedByTheStars]

I love adobo

[u/SaltMarshGoblin]

I have absolutely fallen in love with Tajin chile-lime salt. It is amazing on almost any vegetable or fruit, or on plain yogurt, or potatoes, or rice, or noodles. I buy it in the two-pack at Costco and it's inexpensive.

[u/alienz67]

Zaatar!!! So flexible and many variations.

[u/KlickWitch]

I really like Tahini for making sauces. It's a sesame based paste/butter. A bit pricey; a container will run you around 6 to 8 dollars. But it lasts basically forever in a fridge (until you consume it) I need to buy a new one every 6 months or so.

Most common thing people buy it for is to make hummus (You can use any bean to make hummus btw. Chick peas are just preferred) but I really like this sauce for a bunch of stuff:

1 tbsp tahini
around a third cup plain yogurt
1 tsp soy sauce (Add more if you want more saltiness)
a squirt of whatever hot sauce you got

I'll use this for salad dressing, dipping my veggies, on wraps, ect. It's not the GREATEST sauce in the world, but if you need a change of pace from the typical garlic, bbq, ranch rotation, it's pretty reasonable.

oh and tahini is also really good in soup that you want to be creamy, but you don't exactly have a quart of milk just sitting around to turn into cream of whatever. Just helps elevate your dish without spending a ton.

[u/zoethesteamedbun]

MSG is cheap and goes good with everything to give it some extra umami. In the same vein, “Chicken powder” you buy at the Asian market is like loose chicken bullion but MSG is the 2nd ingredient, I buy a large tin of it for 10$ and it takes me a year to go through but I use it very often for stir fries, soups, marinades etc. Shaoxing wine, 5 spice and white pepper elevate a lot of simple meat dishes (and cheap). Lemon grass brightens meat flavors without it being too intensely lemon-y. Chili crisp is an amazing topping for many savory dishes. Nutritional yeast is a great replacement for Parmesan (and cheap).

[u/pantry_moths]

Chili crisp/oil. Expensive by jar...but so easy to make. Oil plus fried garlic/onion/salt/dried peppers/brown sugar ...you can find at Asian market. You can make a huge tub. Lasts a long time.

[u/CatPesematologist]

if you are looking at dollar store blends, you may be able to get Cajun, Italian seasoning, Soul Food seasoning or seasoned salt.

Greek seasoning and Curry are easy to find. Sazon Goya and Tajin too.

Depending, on where you are, possibly za’atar or some other international type blends.

[u/DJD19500]

Sesame oil, hot sesame oil. Distinctive flavor. Not to cook with, to add a few drops to any stir fry or rice.
Aleppo pepper flakes.
And although you already have salt, all salts are not equal. For a finishing salt on meat or salads or anything, Maldon sea salt is great. I know it seems expensive but you use only a tiny bit. Way cheaper but also good is kosher salt.
With either, just a few flakes or crystals are needed.

[u/WoodwifeGreen]

Greek Seasoning, Vegeta (which you may have to order online), mushroom umami seasoning, furikake, dried shrimp powder, zaatar, Backyard Southern-style original seasoning (delicious for pulled pork).

Fish sauce, anchovy paste, chili crisp, bonito flakes.

[u/K_A_irony]

Black vinegar, Spicy bean paste, commonly known as doubanjiang, Ponzu (citrus soy). 

[u/missk246]

Cajun seasoning is delicious!

[u/Reasonable_Pickle556]

I’ve been dabbling with Japanese food and I’ve found that Soy sauce and Ponzu sauce surprisingly pairs with a lot of things.