The Ultimate Vegetable Seasoning Guide

Wondering how to season vegetables to make them taste good? This post breaks down what herbs and spices go well with different veggies. Remember to bookmark this vegetable seasoning guide to pull up on your phone or tablet next time you’re in the kitchen!

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One of the barriers to eating more vegetables is their taste. While some enjoy veggies with no or minimal seasonings, others find them to be bland and overall boring.

Truthfully, it doesn’t take much to transform plain vegetables into a more palatable dish. But knowing how to pair the right herbs and spices with a certain veggie isn’t always intuitive.

Luckily, this vegetable seasoning guide can help you! Scroll through the post to learn about the best way to season each and every veggie, from A to Z.

Or you can click a link below to jump straight to the veggie you want:

List of Herbs and Spices and Their Flavors

Herbs are derived from the leaves of plants. They include:

Basil – aromatic and strong with a peppery and faint licorice taste
Chives – taste like a cross between onions and garlic
Cilantro – fresh and citrusy flavor that unfortunately tastes like soap to some people
Dill – hints of fennel and celery
Mint – sweet taste and cooling effect
Oregano – earthy undertones with a slightly bitter aftertaste
Parsley – fresh, grassy flavor
Rosemary – piney, sweet yet savory, and strong
Sage – also piney but with more citrus undertones
Tarragon – strong and licorice-like
Thyme – earthy, delicate, and savory

Spices come from the non-leaf parts of a plant, such as roots, barks, flowers, and seeds. They include:

Allspice – strong and spicy with similarities to nutmeg and cloves
Cardamom – full-bodied with hints of cinnamon and lemon, and a cooling effect similar to mint
Cayenne Pepper – hot and earthy, stronger than other peppers
Celery Salt – tastes like celery the vegetable combined with salt
Chili Powder – weaker than cayenne pepper with an equal parts sweet and hot taste
Cinnamon – sweet, spicy, and woody
Cloves – also sweet and spicy, stronger than cinnamon but weaker than allspice
Coriander – citrus-like and earthy taste; comes from the seeds of cilantro
Cumin – earthy and spicy
Curry – savory and sweet, with varying amounts of spice
Fennel seeds – licorice-like taste
Garlic – pungent, spicy, and sweet
Ginger – zesty and hot
Nutmeg – strong, nutty yet sweet
Smoked Paprika – smoky and sweet, less hot than cayenne pepper
Turmeric – chalky, slightly bitter yet sweet and earthy
Vanilla – warm, floral, and sweet

Seasoning Ideas by Vegetable

Some herbs and spices are “no brainer” companions to certain vegetables. Think: pumpkin and cinnamon! On this list, you’ll find tried-and-true seasonings + veg combos, plus some ideas you likely haven’t tried.

This vegetable seasoning guide stems from my many years of experience experimenting in the kitchen, as well as from one of my favorite books, The Flavor Matrix. If you love to cook, it’s a must-read! (Thank you to my in-laws for gifting it to me!)

Acorn Squash

Pairs well with: sage, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and mint
Recipe to try: Acorn Squash Egg-in-a-Hole with Sage Brown Butter

Arugula

Pairs well with: garlic, basil, mint, dill
Recipe to try: Quinoa Arugula Salad with Pineapple

Asparagus

Pairs well with: ginger, dill, fennel seeds, mint, tarragon
Recipe to try: Shaved Asparagus Salad with Mint Tarragon Dressing

Beets

Pairs well with: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, rosemary, chives, thyme
Recipe to try: Spiralized Golden Beet Salad with Rosemary Honey Dressing

Bell Peppers

Pairs well with: parsley, garlic, cilantro, basil, thyme, turmeric, oregano
Recipe to try: Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers

Bok Choy

Pairs well with: ginger, garlic, mint, cayenne pepper
Recipe to try: Broiled Sesame Ginger Bok Choy

Broccoli

Pairs well with: dill, garlic, coriander seed, ginger, chili pepper
Recipe to try: Chili Sesame Sautéed Broccolini

Brussels Sprouts

Pairs well with: garlic, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, smoked paprika, chili powder
Recipe to try: Sautéed Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts

Butternut Squash

Pairs well with: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, sage, rosemary, vanilla
Recipe to try: Whipped Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Dip

Cabbage

Pairs well with: garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, dill, tarragon
Recipe to try: Greek Yogurt Coleslaw with Radishes

Carrots

Pairs well with: dill, ginger, garlic, rosemary, parsley, tarragon, cumin, curry, nutmeg, turmeric, cinnamon, fennel seeds, cilantro, mint
Recipe to try: Dill and Maple Roasted Carrots

Cauliflower

Pairs well with: garlic, cumin, chili powder, rosemary, parsley, mint, turmeric
Recipe to try: Cauliflower Al Pastor Bowls

Celery

Pairs well with: thyme, parsley, oregano, basil, chives
Recipe to try: Celeriac Apple Soup

Collard Greens

Pairs well with: smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, ginger, garlic
Recipe to try: Quick Braised Collard Greens

Corn

Pairs well with: dill, cilantro, basil, parsley, cinnamon, mint, cumin, chili powder, tarragon, chives
Recipe to try: Tarragon Roasted Summer Vegetables

Cucumber

Pairs well with: dill, parsley, oregano, basil, mint, cilantro, cayenne pepper, chives
Recipe to try: Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats

Delicata Squash

Pairs well with: sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic, cinnamon
Recipe to try: Pistachio Crusted Delicata Squash

Eggplant

Pairs well with: thyme, fennel seeds, cilantro, basil, garlic, oregano
Recipe to try: Farmers Market One Pan Ratatouille

Endive

Pairs well with: mint, chives, parsley, dill, thyme, tarragon
Recipe to try: Endive Orange Salad with Tahini Dressing

Fennel

Pairs well with: turmeric, ginger, rosemary, thyme, garlic, basil
Recipe to try: Shaved Carrot and Fennel Salad

Fiddleheads

Pairs well with: garlic, cayenne pepper, chives, parsley
Recipe to try: Sauteed Fiddleheads with Garlic Lemon Butter

Green Beans

Pairs well with: oregano, parsley, dill, basil, thyme, garlic, chives
Recipe to try: Italian Marinated Green Bean Salad

Jicama

Pairs well with: chili powder, cayenne pepper, mint, cilantro
Recipe to try: Jicama Cherry Salsa

Kabocha Squash

Pairs well with: ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, curry, sage
Recipe to try: Apple Ginger Kabocha Squash Soup

Kale

Pairs well with: garlic, ginger, mint, parsley
Recipe to try: Chopped Kale Salad

Kohlrabi

Pairs well with: rosemary, thyme, mint, cilantro, basil, garlic
Recipe to try: Kohlrabi Steak with Mushroom Sauce

Leeks

Pairs well with: celery salt, parsley, sage, thyme, paprika, rosemary
Recipe to try: Braised Radishes and Leeks

Mushrooms

Pairs well with: garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, dill, oregano
Recipe to try: Garlic Thyme Roasted Mushrooms

Onions

Pairs well with: thyme, parsley, basil, rosemary, cumin, curry, turmeric, chili powder, cilantro
Recipe to try: Caramelized Onion White Bean Dip

Parsnips

Pairs well with: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, rosemary, parsley, thyme, celery salt
Recipe to try: Spice Parsnip and Apple Baked Oatmeal

Peas

Pairs well with: mint, garlic, dill, ginger, parsley, basil
Recipe to try: Green Pea Smoothie with Mint

Potatoes

Pairs well with: chives, rosemary, garlic, sage, thyme, fennel seeds, dill
Recipe to try: Lemon Rosemary Roasted Fingerlings

Pumpkin

Pairs well with: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, sage, rosemary, vanilla, oregano
Recipe to try: One Pot Pumpkin Tomato Pasta

Radishes

Pairs well with: mint, rosemary, thyme, ginger, fennel seeds, dill, basil, garlic, dill
Recipe to try: Watermelon Radish with Rosemary Brown Butter

Rhubarb

Pairs well with: cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, vanilla
Recipe to try: Strawberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal Muffins

Rutabaga (Swede)

Pairs well with: thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, garlic, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg
Recipe to try: Raw Rutabaga Salad

Spaghetti Squash

Pairs well with: ginger, garlic, oregano, basil, parsley, paprika, curry
Recipe to try: Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

Spinach

Pairs well with: garlic, mint, basil, thyme, parsley, dill, tarragon, ginger, chili powder, oregano
Recipe to try: Spinach Artichoke Pasta Salad

Sweet Potatoes

Pairs well with: cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, garlic, rosemary, basil, parsley, cilantro
Recipe to try: Hasselback Purple Sweet Potato with Ghee and Parsley

Swiss Chard

Pairs well with: garlic, ginger, dill, cayenne pepper, chili powder
Recipe to try: Maple Swiss Chard Salad

Tomatoes

Pairs well with: basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, garlic, chili powder, chives, cayenne pepper
Recipe to try: Fresh Tomato Tortellini Soup

Turnips

Pairs well with: thyme, rosemary, parsley, basil, garlic, paprika, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper
Recipe to try: Turnip and Beet Gratin with Gruyere

Zucchini

Pairs well with: basil, oregano, garlic, paprika, cayenne pepper, chili powder, turmeric, cumin, dill, tarragon
Recipe to try: Easy Italian Zucchini Kabobs

If you’re intrigued by some of the combinations mentioned in this vegetable seasoning guide, the easiest way to experiment is by sautéing or roasting veggies in different herbs and spices.

You can cook veggies in a skillet with olive oil and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of your seasoning of choice, or toss them in oil, herbs, or spices and roast in the oven on a lined baking sheet.

Or, refer to one of the recipes on this site to make simple veggie dishes that use herbs and spices in sauces, dips, and more.

Is it better to use fresh or dried herbs and spices?

Spices are almost always dried when you purchase them. But some are available fresh, like garlic, ginger, and turmeric. On the other hand, herbs are available in both fresh and dried forms.

So you may be wondering: which is better? In short, it depends on how you plan to use seasonings in your cooking.

Dried herbs and spices tend to be more potent than fresh ones. It’s best to add them towards the beginning of the cooking process and fresh herbs towards the end.

If you need to substitute one for the other, approximately 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs is equal to 1 teaspoon of dried herbs.

Finally, herbs and spices may provide several nutrients, including antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols. Therefore, they may provide health benefits when consumed regularly.

But in some cases, nutrients may be lost during the drying process, which leads people to believe that fresh herbs are healthier than dry ones. However, fresh herbs will also start to lose nutrients as soon as they are picked.

Overall, both fresh and dried seasonings will provide flavor and nutrition. Eating more herbs and spices, in any form, can help you fall in love with veggies and possibly reap some health benefits in the process!

So, the next time you’re stuck on how to “spice up” vegetables, remember this vegetable seasoning guide. And if you are interested in learning how to preserve your leftover fresh herbs for later, check out my post on How to Make Frozen Herb Cubes.