How to stay spicy with freshest seasonings

Published 8:01 pm Sunday, April 1, 2012

If you’re racing around the house, trying to get the spring cleaning finished before Easter weekend, make a quick swing by your herb and spice supply, too, when you have a minute to spare.

In the past, if or when in doubt, most of us have used the sniff-and-whiff system to check the freshness of our dried seasonings.

Come to find out about it, though, there’s another — right — way to determine whether we should reshelve them, toss them or use them right away before they’re good for nothing.

Thanks to the folks at Spice Islands, today we have not just the proper know-how, but the how-to for a nicely seasoned, funky bean salad recipe as well.

Spice Islands freshness tips

To determine if your spices are fresh, check the color. Green, leafy herbs will fade as they age. Red spices such as paprika, red pepper and chili powder will turn brown in color; so make sure your spices and herbs are still bright and radiant for the fullest flavor potential.

Take one of your ground spices and place a small amount of it in your palm and gently rub with your thumb to check the aroma. The aroma should be rich, full and immediate. If not, it’s probably lost potency.

For whole spices, break or crush to release their full fragrance. Then scrape with a knife or grater to determine freshness.

If you’re in doubt about the freshness, throw them out. If you question their freshness, it’s worth it to replace them.

To keep spices and herbs fresh, store them in cool, dry surroundings, away from direct light, heat or humidity. Keep them in airtight glass jars and close tightly after each use.

Don’t shake over a boiling pot. Moisture from steam may diminish the potency of spices or herbs remaining in the jar. Instead, pour a small amount into your hand and then add them to dishes.

Lemon pepper garbanzo salad

1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, drained

1 cup canned reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup celery, diagonally cut in 1/4-inch slices

1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 cup finely chopped green pepper

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons dried cilantro

2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning

1/2 teaspoons dried minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablelspoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons lime juice

11/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

In a large serving bowl, combine the beans, celery, peppers and red onion.

In a separate bowl, mix together the cilantro, lemon pepper seasoning, garlic, cumin, vinegar, lime juice and olive oil; pour over bean and pepper mixture and stir to thoroughly combine. Cover and chill a minimum of 1 hour to blend flavors.

Makes a nice accompaniment to grilled chicken, steak or burgers.