Popular Italian Spices

• Make authentic Italian dishes with the right spices. Valueline/Valueline/Getty Images

  With all the Italian cooking shows on television, many people are inspired to head to the kitchen to try their hand at Italian cuisine. If you are an aspiring chef, it's crucial that you learn about some of the most popular Italian spices. Make your dishes ones to remember with the right combination of spices.

Saffron

• Saffron originates from the small stigmas of a small violet crocus plant (Crocus sativus), a part of the iris family. Saffron is a popular staple among Italian chefs. Among one of the pricier spices, saffron enhances seafood dishes, beef stew, risottos and tomato sauces. This rich yellow spice has a pungent and spicy but bitter taste. One of the basic rules for saffron is that a little bit of spice goes a long way. Avoid overusing it because it can overwhelm the dish and create a medicinal flavor.

Fennel Seeds

• Although actually a fruit cultivated from the sweet fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare), fennel seeds are called "seeds" because they are small and resemble a seed. Rich in magnesium, fennel has a sweet and aromatic flavor similar to licorice. This spice goes very well with meatballs, pizza, meatloaf and sausage dishes. You can toast these seeds if you want an intense flavor. Along with making dishes delicious, fennel seeds have health benefits. They bring quick relief to those who have digestive problems such as bloating, cramps and indigestion.

Nutmeg

• The seed of a large evergreen tree (Myristica fragrans) in Eastern Indonesia is the source of nutmeg. Nutmeg has a nutty, sweet taste similar to cinnamon but not as strong. This warm spice is a common addition to ravioli and recipes that call for cheese and spinach. It also enhances lamb, sausage, chicken and egg dishes. Bakers often use nutmeg in pies, custards and cookies. Small doses of nutmeg are useful to treat digestive problems such as diarrhea, nausea and loss of appetite.