Cook from Scratch, with these amazing Spice Kits

If your goal for 2019 is learning to cook, or simply cooking more from scratch, then a spice subscription with the Spice Pioneer is the perfect place to start.

This February, the Spice Pioneer is on hand to spice up your evenings and help you get creative in the kitchen. With a different spice kit delivered to your doorstep every month, creating an authentic experience for the whole family couldn’t be easier – but don’t just take our word for it! We had a team of food enthusiasts try the spice kit for themselves and here’s how their evening of cooking went:

FIRST THOUGHTS OF THE SPICE KIT

The first things we noticed when opening the Phang Nga, Thailand spice kit were the powerful and aromatic smells, bursting through the pots of sumptuous spices including the Thai Seasoning Blend, Lemongrass, Whole Birds Eye Chillies, Thai Holy Basil, Seven Seas Spice, Tamarind Paste, Kaffir Lime Powder and Sea Salt. The spices arrived perfectly measured in small pots – making it easier than ever to know how much to use!

This spice kit from the Spice Pioneer, which comes in a perfect letterbox-sized cardboard box, guides you through the process of cooking a complete 3-course meal starting with a Coconut Lentil Soup with Pak Choi, Butternut Squash and a Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing, and Prawn Penang and Sticky Rice. We would never have attempted making this delicious food from scratch if it wasn’t for the Spice Pioneer.

Immediately catching our eye was the vibrant postcard written by the Spice Pioneer himself, telling us about his most recent adventures in Thailand. We read enviously and wide-eyed about his explorations through Asia, wanting to immediately drop our pans and join him on his travels! However, we had the tempting task of cooking up his latest mouth-watering recipe, inspired by the food he is eating abroad. We felt immediately fuelled and inspired to put our cooking skills to the test to produce his authentic Thai cuisine.

Each spice kit also comes with a handy shopping list for the additional ingredients needed that you can easily buy at your local supermarket, as well as useful information that teaches you about the wonderful spice combinations.

THE COOKING EXPERIENCE

The step-by-step guide is easy to follow and fun to do with friends or family. The instructions guide you through every step of making the three dishes at once. Before you know it, you’ll have created a selection of delectable, authentic dishes that fill the kitchen with a tantalising aroma guaranteed to get your taste buds tingling! Whilst you cook there’s the option to listen to a specially curated music playlist which is tailored to the region of the kit, allowing you to truly capture the essence of the culture.

A QUICK G&T

With the kitchen heating up and the cooking in full flow, it was time to rehydrate with a crisp, refreshing Gin & Tonic – and there’s nothing quite like a Spice Pioneer garnished G&T to help! The Spice Pioneer Gin & Tonic Garnish Box is the perfect way to transform your regular beverage into a one-of-a-kind drink. The G&T garnish box contains a tempting selection of spices and botanical ingredients guaranteed to take your simple Gin & Tonic tipple to the next level. The G&T garnish box includes Rose Petals, Lavender Flowers, Green Cardamom Pods, Pink Peppercorns, Juniper Berries, Star Anise, Saffron Threads and Rosemary, along with a drink pairing guide to offer inspiration when creating your ideal cocktail or G&T.

THE FINAL DISH

With the final dishes complete, we were very impressed at how authentic and delicious each one looked and tasted! They were certainly something to be proud of! The Phang Nga spice kit is described as ‘a fragrant, spicy meal for 4 people’ and we found it was exactly that. The dishes were flavoursome with just the right amount of spice in each one– and if a kick of heat is what you look for in your dish, then there is even the option to add more to your meal! The result of the spice kit was a hearty 3-course meal, which was ideal for serving at least four people.

So, whether you’re a novice cook who is looking to learn a new skill, or an experienced foodie who simply loves to entertain friends and family at the weekend, the spice kits cater for all needs and will whisk you away on an exciting, culinary journey. Take a look for yourself at www.spicepioneer.com