Guess what? Cinnamon isn't just for baking – it's a versatile spice that can elevate your savory fall and winter dishes to new heights. Its warm, earthy flavor adds depth and complexity to chili, soups, stews, and even roasted vegetables.
Perfect for cozy winter meals, cinnamon enhances the natural sweetness of ingredients like squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots, while complementing robust flavors like tomato, cumin, and garlic. It adds a unique twist to your recipes, making it a must-have ingredient for your winter cooking arsenal.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Why Cinnamon Is The Perfect Winter Flavor Booster
Beyond its association with some of our favorite winter sweets, cinnamon is a secret weapon in savory cooking, adding depth and a subtle sweetness to a variety of dishes. Its aromatic qualities are similar to cumin, paprika, cloves, ginger, allspice, and turmeric, all of which you're probably already using in your recipes without a second thought. By pairing cinnamon with other types of spices, you can further enhance the complexity and richness of your dishes.
Whether you're crafting a hearty stew or experimenting with roasted meats or veggies, adding cinnamon is an easy place to start.
Hannah Hufham; Food Stylist: Tricia Manazanero Stuedeman; Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee
Adding Cinnamon To Your Favorite Winter Dishes
After enjoying cinnamon in your morning oatmeal or that batch of tender cinnamon buns, leave the jar on the countertop so you'll remember to add a pinch to some of your favorite dishes throughout the day for added warmth and depth:
- Chili: Add a pinch of cinnamon to your next batch of chili to enhance the natural sweetness of tomatoes, and balance the spice of peppers and richness of ground meat or beans. It pairs well with chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, and other classic chili seasonings.
- Soups and stews: Cinnamon is a natural complement for creamy butternut squash, sweet potato, or pumpkin soup, but can also complement red meat and root vegetables.
- Roasted vegetables: Try adding a pinch to your next batch of roasted veggies – it helps bring out the flavor of carrots, parsnips, sweet potatoes, squash, and more.
- Braised meats: Cinnamon adds a subtle warmth to braised meats like lamb, beef, and chicken, creating a great depth of flavor.
- Winter grains: Add cinnamon to quinoa, rice, farro, and other grains for a seasonal side dish you'll love, pairing perfectly with additions like orange zest, nuts, and dried cranberries.
- Salad dressings: A pinch of cinnamon in your dressing for your next winter-inspired salad can add that extra hint of flavor.
Tips for Adding Cinnamon To Your Favorite Winter Recipes
While we've learned that cinnamon can enhance both sweet and savory recipes, it's important to use it wisely for best results:
- Less is more: Cinnamon has a robust flavor, and it's easy to overdo it. Start with a small pinch, tasting as you go and adding more as needed until you're happy with the flavor.
- Add it early: Cinnamon's flavor develops over time as it melds with the other ingredients in the dish. Add it early in the cooking process so it has time to infuse fully.
- Balance with other spices: Pairing with other spices like ginger, cloves, nutmeg, cumin, paprika, allspice, and more, can help round out the flavor profile – particularly for savory applications.
- Make sure it's fresh: If you've had the same jar of cinnamon in your cabinet for a year or two, it might be time to swap it out with a fresh one for the best flavor.
- Toast for added depth: Toasting your dried spices in a pan before using can help bring out their natural oils and intensify their flavor.
This article was written by Katie Rosenhouse from Southern Living and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
