Wondering how to season vegetables to make them taste good? This post breaks down what herbs and spices go well with different veggies. Remember to bookmark this vegetable seasoning guide to pull up on your phone or tablet next time you’re in the kitchen!
One of the barriers to eating more vegetables is their taste. While some enjoy veggies with no or minimal seasonings, others find them to be bland and overall boring.
Truthfully, it doesn’t take much to transform plain vegetables into a more palatable dish. But knowing how to pair the right herbs and spices with a certain veggie isn’t always intuitive.
Luckily, this vegetable seasoning guide can help you! Scroll through the post to learn about the best way to season each and every veggie, from A to Z.
Herbs: Celery can be seasoned with a variety of herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, and dill. Spices: Celery can be paired with spices such as black pepper, paprika, and celery seed. Nuts: Celery can be paired with nuts such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts for added texture and flavour.
Seasoning Ideas by Vegetable
Some herbs and spices are “no brainer” companions to certain vegetables. Think: pumpkin and cinnamon! On this list, you’ll find tried-and-true seasonings + veg combos, plus some ideas you likely haven’t tried.
This vegetable seasoning guide stems from my many years of experience experimenting in the kitchen, as well as from one of my favorite books, The Flavor Matrix. If you love to cook, it’s a must-read! (Thank you to my in-laws for gifting it to me!)
- Pairs well with: sage, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and mint
- Recipe to try: Acorn Squash Egg-in-a-Hole with Sage Brown Butter
- Pairs well with: garlic, basil, mint, dill
- Recipe to try: Quinoa Arugula Salad with Pineapple
- Pairs well with: ginger, dill, fennel seeds, mint, tarragon
- Recipe to try: Shaved Asparagus Salad with Mint Tarragon Dressing
- Pairs well with: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary, chives, thyme
- Recipe to try: Spiralized Golden Beet Salad with Rosemary Honey Dressing
- Pairs well with: parsley, garlic, cilantro, basil, thyme, turmeric, oregano
- Recipe to try: Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Pairs well with: ginger, garlic, mint, cayenne pepper
- Recipe to try: Broiled Sesame Ginger Bok Choy
- Pairs well with: dill, garlic, coriander seed, ginger, chili pepper
- Recipe to try: Chili Sesame Sautéed Broccolini
- Pairs well with: garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, smoked paprika, chili powder
- Recipe to try: Sautéed Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts
- Pairs well with: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, sage, rosemary, vanilla
- Recipe to try: Whipped Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Dip
- Pairs well with: garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, dill, tarragon
- Recipe to try: Greek Yogurt Coleslaw with Radishes
- Pairs well with: dill, ginger, garlic, rosemary, parsley, tarragon, cumin, curry, nutmeg, turmeric, cinnamon, fennel seeds, cilantro, mint
- Recipe to try: Dill and Maple Roasted Carrots
- Pairs well with: garlic, cumin, chili powder, rosemary, parsley, mint, turmeric
- Recipe to try: Cauliflower Al Pastor Bowls
- Pairs well with: thyme, parsley, oregano, basil, chives
- Recipe to try: Celeriac Apple Soup
- Pairs well with: smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, ginger, garlic
- Recipe to try: Quick Braised Collard Greens
- Pairs well with: dill, cilantro, basil, parsley, cinnamon, mint, cumin, chili powder, tarragon, chives
- Recipe to try: Tarragon Roasted Summer Vegetables
- Pairs well with: dill, parsley, oregano, basil, mint, cilantro, cayenne pepper, chives
- Recipe to try: Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats
- Pairs well with: sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, cinnamon
- Recipe to try: Pistachio Crusted Delicata Squash
- Pairs well with: thyme, fennel seeds, cilantro, basil, garlic, oregano
- Recipe to try: Farmers Market One Pan Ratatouille
- Pairs well with: mint, chives, parsley, dill, thyme, tarragon
- Recipe to try: Endive Orange Salad with Tahini Dressing
- Pairs well with: turmeric, ginger, rosemary, thyme, garlic, basil
- Recipe to try: Shaved Carrot and Fennel Salad
- Pairs well with: garlic, cayenne pepper, chives, parsley
- Recipe to try: Sauteed Fiddleheads with Garlic Lemon Butter
- Pairs well with: oregano, parsley, dill, basil, thyme, garlic, chives
- Recipe to try: Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad
- Pairs well with: chili powder, cayenne pepper, mint, cilantro
- Recipe to try: Jicama Cherry Salsa
- Pairs well with: ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, curry, sage
- Recipe to try: Apple Ginger Kabocha Squash Soup
- Pairs well with: garlic, ginger, mint, parsley
- Recipe to try: Chopped Kale Salad
- Pairs well with: rosemary, thyme, mint, cilantro, basil, garlic
- Recipe to try: Kohlrabi Steak with Mushroom Sauce
- Pairs well with: celery salt, parsley, sage, thyme, paprika, rosemary
- Recipe to try: Braised Radishes and Leeks
- Pairs well with: garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, dill, oregano
- Recipe to try: Garlic Thyme Roasted Mushrooms
- Pairs well with: thyme, parsley, basil, rosemary, cumin, curry, turmeric, chili powder, cilantro
- Recipe to try: Caramelized Onion White Bean Dip
- Pairs well with: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, rosemary, parsley, thyme, celery salt
- Recipe to try: Spice Parsnip and Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Pairs well with: mint, garlic, dill, ginger, parsley, basil
- Recipe to try: Green Pea Smoothie with Mint
- Pairs well with: chives, rosemary, garlic, sage, thyme, fennel seeds, dill
- Recipe to try: Lemon Rosemary Roasted Fingerlings
- Pairs well with: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, sage, rosemary, vanilla, oregano
- Recipe to try: One Pot Pumpkin Tomato Pasta
- Pairs well with: mint, rosemary, thyme, ginger, fennel seeds, dill, basil, garlic, dill
- Recipe to try: Watermelon Radish with Rosemary Brown Butter
- Pairs well with: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, vanilla
- Recipe to try: Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal Muffins
- Pairs well with: thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, garlic, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg
- Recipe to try: Raw Rutabaga Salad
- Pairs well with: ginger, garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, paprika, curry
- Recipe to try: Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
- Pairs well with: garlic, mint, basil, thyme, parsley, dill, tarragon, ginger, chili powder, oregano
- Recipe to try: Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad
- Pairs well with: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, garlic, rosemary, basil, parsley, cilantro
- Recipe to try: Hasselback Purple Sweet Potato with Ghee and Parsley
- Pairs well with: garlic, ginger, dill, cayenne pepper, chili powder
- Recipe to try: Maple Swiss Chard Salad
- Pairs well with: basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, garlic, chili powder, chives, cayenne pepper
- Recipe to try: Fresh Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Pairs well with: thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, garlic, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper
- Recipe to try: Turnip and Beet Gratin with Gruyere
- Pairs well with: basil, oregano, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, turmeric, cumin, dill, tarragon
- Recipe to try: Easy Italian Zucchini Kabobs
If you’re intrigued by some of the combinations mentioned in this vegetable seasoning guide, the easiest way to experiment is by sautéing or roasting veggies in different herbs and spices.
You can cook veggies in a skillet with olive oil and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of your seasoning of choice, or toss them in oil, herbs, or spices and roast in the oven on a lined baking sheet.
Or, refer to one of the recipes on this site to make simple veggie dishes that use herbs and spices in sauces, dips, and more.
List of Herbs and Spices and Their Flavors
Herbs are derived from the leaves of plants. They include:
- Basil – aromatic and strong with a peppery and faint licorice taste
- Chives – taste like a cross between onions and garlic
- Cilantro – fresh and citrusy flavor that unfortunately tastes like soap to some people
- Dill – hints of fennel and celery
- Mint – sweet taste and cooling effect
- Oregano – earthy undertones with a slightly bitter aftertaste
- Parsley – fresh, grassy flavor
- Rosemary – piney, sweet yet savory, and strong
- Sage – also piney but with more citrus undertones
- Tarragon – strong and licorice-like
- Thyme – earthy, delicate, and savory
Spices come from the non-leaf parts of a plant, such as roots, barks, flowers, and seeds. They include:
- Allspice – strong and spicy with similarities to nutmeg and cloves
- Cardamom – full-bodied with hints of cinnamon and lemon, and a cooling effect similar to mint
- Cayenne Pepper – hot and earthy, stronger than other peppers
- Celery Salt – tastes like celery the vegetable combined with salt
- Chili Powder – weaker than cayenne pepper with an equal parts sweet and hot taste
- Cinnamon – sweet, spicy, and woody
- Cloves – also sweet and spicy, stronger than cinnamon but weaker than allspice
- Coriander – citrus-like and earthy taste; comes from the seeds of cilantro
- Cumin – earthy and spicy
- Curry – savory and sweet, with varying amounts of spice
- Fennel seeds – licorice-like taste
- Garlic – pungent, spicy, and sweet
- Ginger – zesty and hot
- Nutmeg – strong, nutty yet sweet
- Smoked Paprika – smoky and sweet, less hot than cayenne pepper
- Turmeric – chalky, slightly bitter yet sweet and earthy
- Vanilla – warm, floral, and sweet
Celery 101-Herbs & Spices That Go With Celery
FAQ
What does celery pair well with?
Which spices go with which vegetables?
What spices go with branch celery?
Branch celery is mainly cooked in soup or broth, mashed, in salads or pan-fried. The spices that go with celery are the 4 spice mix, turmeric, curry, ginger, pepper, coriander and ground garlic. Once again, you will have to choose the spice or spices to mix with the celery according to your tastes and the recipe.
What vegetables go well with celery?
Celery is a vegetable with several therapeutic properties and can be used in salads, soups or even eaten on its own. It can be prepared alone or accompanied by onions, nettles, parsley or cabbage.
Which herbs to put in celery soup?
To decide which herbs to put in celery soup, look at the way they taste. For example, if they are sweet then they go with carrots, parsnips, onions, shallots and leeks. If they are spicy then they go with garlic and chili peppers. If you like thyme or rosemary then these will be good for garnishing your dish.
What to eat with celery?
Dip celery in salad dressing. Ranch is a popular choice, but any creamy dressing will do: thousand island, blue cheese, Italian, Caesar, etc. Serve the dressing in a small bowl or tray for easy access. Be judicious; you can always pour more! Try dipping celery in yogurt or cream cheese.