Every cook needs an arsenal of finishing touches—tangy chutneys, piquant pastes, rich dressings, earthy spice blends, seasoned salts, and flavored butters—that can breathe new life into chicken breasts, jazz up vegetables, and add visual, textural, and flavor contrast to make a dish pop. Behold a larder’s worth of our favorites, both familiar classics and modern riffs. We’ve organized them by flavor and texture profiles and offered suggested uses, but these are just starting points; use your imagination.
Easy Garnishes We Can’t Live Without
There’s no better way to fend off dinner doldrums than to keep a variety of ultraquick and vibrant sauces, seasonings, and toppings on hand.
Compound Butters
Stirring seasonings into softened butter is an easy way to make a rich, flavor-packed condiment for meat, fish, and vegetables that can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen indefinitely. It’s also a great way to use up ingredients such as a single scallion, the last spoonful of honey, or stray bits of cheese. Here are a few suggestions.
Combine 4 tablespoons softened unsalted butter with the following:
| Compound Butter | Recipe |
|---|---|
Thai Chile Butter |
1 minced garlic clove, 1½ teaspoons thinly sliced scallion (green part only), 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, 2 teaspoons Asian chili-garlic paste, ½ teaspoon red curry paste |
Try Other Compound Butter Flavor Combinations
Seasoned Salts
Salt infused with herbs, spices, or other flavorings delivers distinct, punchy flavor. Store-bought versions are expensive, but it’s easy to make your own in the microwave by following these guidelines.
Combine ½ cup kosher salt and flavoring in small bowl. Spread mixture on large plate and microwave, stirring every 60 seconds, until only slightly damp (mixture will continue to dry as it cools).
| Salt | Flavoring | Microwave Time |
|---|---|---|
Sriracha Salt |
⅓ cup sriracha |
6–8 minutes |
Mustard Salt |
¼ cup Dijon mustard and ¼ cup whole-grain mustard |
6–8 minutes |
Smoky Salt |
1 teaspoon liquid smoke |
1–2 minutes |
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