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.
Recipe Spotlight
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.
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Published Apr. 3, 2019.
Tangy Garnishes
What it is: Sweet-sour preserve
Serve with: Rich meat, sausage, cheese, sandwiches
Total time: 3 hours Yield: 2 cups
Tip: To expedite cooling, spread the chutney into an even layer in a shallow dish.
What it is: Vinegary, gingery Chinese soybean sauce
Serve with: Pork, chicken, rice, noodles, eggs
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ½ cup
Creamy Garnishes
What it is: Tangy garlic mayonnaise
Serve with: Vegetables, seafood, sandwiches
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cup
What it is: Sweet, nutty sesame sauce
Serve with: Vegetables, French fries, falafel, grains, chicken, lamb
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ⅓ cup
Fresh Garnishes
What it is: Italian herb garnish
Serve with: Soup, pasta, fish, vegetables
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ¼ cup
Tip: Prepare the gremolata just before serving to prevent the garlic flavor from becoming too sharp.
What it is: French herb sauce
Serve with: Meat, fish, vegetables
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cup
What it is: Bright, subtly spicy Indian herb sauce
Serve with: Grilled or roasted fish, Indian curries
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 cup
Spicy Garnishes
What it is: Spicy, tangy honey
Serve with: Vegetables, pizza
Total time: 15 minutes Yield: ¼ cup
What it is: North African chile-spice paste
Serve with: Vegetables, eggs, lamb, soup
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ½ cup
What it is: Sweet and spicy sauce
Serve with: Stew, chili, rice bowls, noodles, macaroni and cheese, eggs
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ⅔ cup
Tip: Store in a squeeze bottle for easy drizzling.
Crispy/Crunchy Garnishes
What it is: Sugar- and vinegar-glazed bacon bits
Serve with: Creamy soup, salad, pasta, eggs, dips
Total time: 10 minutes Yield: ¼ cup
What it is: Earthy, bright Middle Eastern spice blend
Serve with: Dips, meatballs, kebabs, roasted potatoes
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ⅓ cup
What it is: Egyptian nut, seed, and spice blend
Serve with: Olive oil as dip for bread, soup, seafood
Total time: 5 minutes Yield: ½ cup
Microwave-Fried Shallots, Garlic, and Leeks
Serve with: Soup, salad, stir-fries, rice, burgers
Total time: 20 minutes
Tip: Save the allium‑infused oil for incorporating into dressings, mayonnaise, stir-fries, or curries or for drizzling over soups or stews.
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
One-Ingredient Finishers
These minimalist seasonings enhance food without distracting from its flavor. Just be sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Citrus zest: Grate over vegetables, chicken, fish
Grilled lemon halves: Squeeze over meat and seafood
Extra-virgin olive oil: Drizzle over soup, salad, seafood, steak, pasta, grains
Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese: Grate or shave over soup, salad, pasta, grains
Vinegar: Drizzle a few drops over soup, stew, sauces, fried food
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 | SALT FLAVORING | SALT MICROWAVE TIME |
|---|---|---|
Sriracha Salt | Sriracha Salt ⅓ cup sriracha | Sriracha Salt 6–8 minutes |
Mustard Salt | Mustard Salt ¼ cup Dijon mustard and ¼ cup whole-grain mustard | Mustard Salt 6–8 minutes |
Smoky Salt | Smoky Salt 1 teaspoon liquid smoke | Smoky Salt 1–2 minutes |
