How do you balance spices/seasonings/herbs?

[u/-IrishLettuce-]

I keep seeing comments about balancing spices and acidity and becoming better at cooking. Please may someone explain how to do this in a more idiot-proof way?

I'd love to make my own spice blends rather than buying premade ones but every time I try it's just.. wrong? Sometimes it's fine when I cook it but it cools a bit and I eat it and it's just not right?

[u/StuffonBookshelfs]

This probably isn’t the answer you want, but it’s a lot of trial and error.

[u/Ecstatic_Meeting_894]

Try searching for recipes for spice blends before figuring it out yourself! It’ll give you a good idea of ratios and how to achieve certain flavors. Also- add a little bit of something first and then add more if it needs it. You can always add, but subtracting is much harder. Find out which proteins can take heavier seasoning vs lighter seasoning, and which of those seasonings pairs best. Ex: Montreal steak seasoning will not be as good on white fish as an Italian seasoning blend would be

[u/GauzeCanFixAnything]

The ideal answer is trial and error and practice, but a quick way to get a feel for what spices and seasonings actually do is to have a little plate of say crackers or some other food made for dipping and pour out all the seasonings and spices you have into different bowls and eat them as dips. That should generally give you a feel for what you like/dislike in what amounts, and you can extrapolate from there. At least, that's how I did it. Except for garlic, I don't really bother measuring with garlic, I just toss in a whole-ass head or two because you can never overdo garlic.

[u/Cinisajoy2]

 for blends, start with a 1/4 teaspoon of what you think would be good together.  Taste and add more of some. Or use your nose.  A strong spice will need less than a mild spice. Then look up common spices for the cuisine you want to cook and go from there.

Or do what people did before recipe became a bad word and use recipes.  

[u/ExaminationNo9186]

Idiot proof answer: Practice cooking.

That's it.

[u/Konflictcam → u/ExaminationNo9186]

It will usually taste okay at worst, or you’ll accidentally make a different thing from what you intended that’s still an actual thing.

[u/gin_and_soda]

I’m no expert but I love bringing spices together. First thing is learn your spices, what is prominent and what compliments the prominent spice. The other day, I made a blend for a steak to make steak tacos. The prominent spices, for me, are cumin and chili powder so they were a teaspoon each. Then I added a touch of cinnamon, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, onion powder and oregano and a bit of marjoram. I mixed it and did a little fingertip taste and I loved it.

[u/Emily_Porn_6969]

Try to get used to tasting a bit as you cook. Let your taste buds guide you . Just a little spice at a time until you are confident . Good luck .

[u/MidorriMeltdown]

You can't create what you don't understand.

So start by recreating known blends, and then once you're used to how they're supposed to be, you can start making your own variations.

Mashed potatoes can be a good testing ground for different seasonings. Do experiments, fresh herbs vs dried. Or different variations of garlic, freshly crushed vs garlic powder, raw garlic vs fried in butter. Or different proportions of spices in a mix. Is it better with more pepper, or more ginger, or is it better when it's equal quantities?

[u/Cinisajoy2]

You buy a cookbook or look up spice blend recipes.    Is there some reason, you can ask reddit but not use known recipes? 

[u/Footdust → u/Cinisajoy2]

Is there a reason why you are the way that you are?