Quick Ways to Add Flavour and Excitement To Any Meal

Get bored with meals sometimes? Feels like a chore? Tired of cooking the same thing on repeat? Stuck for ideas? Want that wow factor, flavour bomb, excitement for your taste buds kind of experience in an easy peasy way?

Never fear, I got you!

Here are seven surefire ways to add flavour and excitement to any meal. Psst…they’re also easy and quick because I’m a realist when it comes to cooking and know we don’t all always have the time or desire to be in the kitchen for long periods of time!

1. Get sauuuuucy
There are so many sauces / condiments / oils / call them what you like that will bring instant flavour and depth. When it comes to oils, try cooking with an infused olive oil like a garlic or lemon one. Coconut oil is also delicious for the base of curries or when cooking a protein like tofu or chicken. Or finish a stir fry or salad with a dash of sesame, hemp or macadamia oil. Better yet, try this golden spiced butter! When cooking, incorporate ingredients like tomato paste, wine, soy sauce, tamari, miso or vinegars. Explore various other condiments like mustard, horseradish, harissa, sriracha or chimichurri. And don’t forget about finishing a dish with something like hummus, baba ghanoush, raita, tzatziki or wasabi to elevate your dish. Don’t be afraid to get creative, experiment and tailor the flavours to your liking!

2. Add crunch
Playing around with crunchy textures are a great way to make a meal feel more lively. Some of my favourites include sprouts such as mung beans or fenugreek, toasted mustard seeds, buckinis, roasted chickpeas or various nuts and seeds (see Number 5 below).

3. Spice spice baby
Spices are your best friend. They’re an excellent way to instantly add flavour, are insanely versatile and have oh so many health benefits. Some of my favourites include cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, paprika, smoked paprika, and sumac. And don’t forget about spice mixes like curry powder or Mexican spice mix. Finishing a dish with dried chilli flakes, za’atar or dukkha is also faaabulous!

4. Get zesty
The natural acidity and zing citrus fruits bring can create a tangy and refreshing experience. Use lemon, lime or orange juice as a salad dressing, in a marinade, or added right at the end of cooking a soup or curry. Or perhaps use the zest as a salad topping, when cooking proteins like salmon or chicken, or sprinkled over the top of a piece of toast or whatever meal you’re making. Even simply adding a wedge to the side of your dish and squeezing it over the top will brighten up any dish.

5. Go nuts for nuts (…or seeds)
Nuts and seeds are an instant way to add texture and flavour to all sorts of dishes. My favourite topping is this spicy savoury seed sprinkle (deeelicious, easy to make a big batch, and easily stored in the fridge). Other top suggestions include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, these chilli lemon toasted peanuts, slivered almonds, roasted walnuts or pecans, sesame seeds, nigella seeds or pine nuts.

6. Load up with herbs
Fresh herbs are chock full of flavour and are super versatile. Simply chop or tear up the likes of coriander, parsley, basil, Thai basil, dill, chives, rosemary, sage, lemon sage...the list goes on! No fresh herbs? Dried are also fab, and don’t forget about things like pesto! Another great tip – if you have a heap of fresh herbs you don’t think you’ll get through – chop them up and freeze them as ice cubes with olive oil, then use them when cooking.

7. Finish with ferments or pickled friends
For a final idea, why not add some ferments or pickles when serving up? They add instant taste and texture. There are so many options but just a few include sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled vegetables and pickled ginger.