#I got a 1lb bag online for like $8 and use that shit in EVERYTHJNG

[titus-androgynous-87]

How are you going to leave out aromatics like garlic or onion (fresh or powdered), shallot, leek, garlic scapes, chives (FODMAP folks I’m so sorry you have to live without flavor)???

Thyme, rosemary, oregano, marjoram, and summer savory all mixed together is store brand Italian seasoning mix. Add red pepper flakes to it for heat, to taste

Can’t get zata’ar? Mexican oregano is a good substitute

Vegans: get some nutritional or brewer’s yeast (marmite/vegemite is the same thing, but wet). A little goes a long way, but it’ll give you a similar umami/salty/savory flavor to cheese and good butter

Chinese 5 spice differs from region to region but the most common combo is: cinnamon, clove, star anise, bay leaf, and Sichuan peppercorn (which you can find pretty cheaply online. Green version is more numbing than the red)

Homemade stir fry not tasting quite right? Get black vinegar, sesame oil, and shaoxing wine (a type of cooking sherry that can be found online. I get mine from Oyo Just Asian Foods and IIRC it was $10 for about a liter). And don’t be afraid of MSG. Just a pinch for a pound of meat or veggies goes a long way to boosting flavor

Lemon or white vinegar adds acidity and brightness that cuts through fatty dishes for more balanced flavor. Acidic veggies like tomatoes also do this

Need buttermilk but don’t want to buy a whole quart? Mix about a tablespoon of white vinegar into half a cup of cow milk (I’m sorry vegans it doesn’t work, chemically, with plant-based milks. It does work with lactose-free cow milk)

Add a pinch of salt to your desserts to enhance sweetness and balance flavors

Genuinely, I don’t know how else to get the word out, but I feel like if your home-cooked dinners don’t taste right, you're missing either paprika, sugar, butter, or chicken bouillon.