August 7, 2023

Successful Seasonings for Vegetables

As Mother said, eat your vegetables! For some, however, the lack of seasoning in their meal made for bland memories. Just like other things we cook and grill, you can enhance vegetable flavors by using any of our Cuso Seasoning selections. Go beyond salt and pepper! Bring new flavor profiles to your favorite vegetable dishes.

Now here’s the glitch. There are over 1,000 vegetable species (whew!). So, identifying overall seasoning choices that will work nearly all the time is a little difficult. Instead, I have set up a list of vegetables for you with the seasonings that make each pop.

Vegetable Spice Vocabulary

Asparagus: There is no mistaking the flavor of asparagus, so it can hold up to bolder spices like curry, dill, rosemary, and even nutmeg. Suggested pairing: Cuso’s Grass Seasoning.
Beans: Oregano, basil, garlic, onion, dill, chives, and red pepper flakes: Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Gravel Seasoning.
Broccoli: Basil, chives, curry, dill, marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Grass Seasoning.
Brussels sprouts: You can treat these like mini cabbage. Spice options include caraway, garlic, mustard, oregano, parsley, onion, and thyme: Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Dust Seasoning.
Cabbage: Cabbage tastes great with bay, dill, fennel, garlic, parsley, thyme, and caraway. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Hot Honey Seasoning.
Carrots: Carrots create a naturally sweet edge. Use cinnamon, ginger, cumin, sage, nutmeg, garlic, onion, and parsley. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Dirt® Seasoning.Cauliflower:
Cauliflower has a gentle flavor. Try it with garlic, basil, oregano, and parsley. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Coconut Rum Seasoning.
Corn: Look to dill, lime zest, cilantro, jalapeno, and smoky paprika. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Gravel Seasoning (or Cuso’s Tequila Lime Habanero Seasoning.
Cucumber: Chives, dill, onion, garlic, mint, tarragon, and coriander. Suggested Pairing (citrus edge): Cuso’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
Leeks: These are part of the onion and garlic family, so you can’t go wrong with those two herbs, along with celery seed: Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
Peas: Have a very mild flavor. Use hints of garlic, onion, mint, marjoram, and sage: Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Dust Seasoning.
Potatoes: Potatoes are like a glorious blank canvas: Look to basil, oregano, sage, thyme, ginger, onion, and chipotle. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Tequila Lime Habanero Seasoning.
Spinach: A hardy-flavored vegetable that goes well with dill, garlic, basil, chives, and thyme. Suggested Pairing: a sprinkle of Cuso’s Dirt® Seasoning.
Squash (winter): These are slightly sweet, so give them a little boost with ginger, cinnamon, curry, parsley, and basil. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Maple Bourbon Seasoning.
Sweet Potatoes: Your baking spices go well with these, including ginger, allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. For a little warmth, look to garlic and red pepper flakes. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Hot Honey Seasoning (or Cuso’s Coconut Rum Seasoning).
Tomatoes: These are actually fruits. Try them with basil, dill, garlic, curry, rosemary, oregano, parsley, chili, and even mint. Suggested Pairing: Cuso’s Gravel Seasoning.

Can’t Choose?

Unless there’s a powerful theme running through a meal, you’d be hard-pressed to find vegetable recipes with just one or two seasonings. Sometimes it’s hard to choose. So why not look at options?

Build your own 3-pack of rubs: Pick out any three that you find alluring. We’ll bundle them into savings.
Cuso's Essential Seasoning - 3 Pack (Cuso’s Dirt® seasoning, Grass, & Lemon Pepper Seasoning): If you feel torn between flavors, start out with our essential seasoning pack to begin your spice array.
Cuso’s Seasoning 4 Pack: Dirt®, Gravel, Maple Bourbon, Coconut Rum - Moving up from a three pack. How about a bundle with three of our newest and most playful seasonings alongside our premier blend?
Cuso's Variety 6 Pack Seasonings: When the cupboard looks bare, consider this cost-saving pack: Dirt®, Gravel, Grass, Spicy Garlic Buffalo, Lemon Pepper, and Maple Bourbon.
Cuso's Variety 10 Pack Seasonings: Go for the gusto! Get all 10 of our seasonings in one pack.

PitMaster’s Memo:

Many people think of vegetables as a side dish, and they are certainly wonderful in that capacity. The brightness of fresh vegetables especially adds harmonizing colors and flavors to a meal. The key caution with vegetables is that some flavors easily overwhelm them. So, add slowly (remember you can put in, but not take out).

Turn your side dish into a main remove, and amp up both the amounts and variety of vegetables you serve. Toss in nuts. Add edible flowers. Think about potential fruits for your dish. A central vegetable dish always benefits from having fresh bread and butter.