The essential spices of Mediterranean cuisine and how to use them

Name: Solis
Address: 39 Avenue de Wagram, Paris, Île de France, 75017, FR
Telephone: +33 1 55 37 55 37
Price range: $$$

August 8, 2025

At Solis Bar & Restaurant, the Mediterranean cuisine is not just a matter of tastes: it is a true sensory experience, a vibrant tribute to sun-drenched lands, fragrant markets and culinary traditions passed down for centuries.

Every dish served tells a story. And at the heart of this story are Mediterranean spices, those botanical treasures that transform a plate into a journey.

In this article, discover how we enhance these aromatic herbs and spices in our cooking, their proven benefits, their cultural origins and how you can use them at home to recreate the Solis spirit.

Prepare to dive into a world of sunny flavors, traditions and authenticity.

🌿 From the Mediterranean to your taste buds: a story of spices

Mediterranean spices have accompanied the evolution of civilizations. Since ancient times, the Mediterranean basin has been a crossroads of trade where herbs such as thyme, THE rosemary Or oregano circulated as freely as ideas. The Greeks and Romans already used them to to preserve food, flavor dishes, and even in sacred rituals.

The influence of cultures Arab, Ottoman, Italian, French or Spanish has enriched this palette of spices, by integrating the cumin, there coriander, THE saffron, or even marinade and grilling techniques.

Today, these traditions are found in Solis, where they are creatively brought up to date.

🍃 The power of Mediterranean spices: proven taste and benefits

Mediterranean spices not only delight the palate, they are also known for their properties. antioxidants, anti-inflammatories And antimicrobials.

A review published in Nutrients in 2019 highlights their protective role against cardiovascular diseases and cellular aging

🌿 Basil: freshness, sweetness and health benefits

A symbol of Mediterranean summers, basil delivers an aniseed-peppery aroma ideal for salads, sauces and pestos.

But it also acts as an anti-inflammatory, thanks to the presence of rosmarinic acid, a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress, aids digestion, softens joints and can even relieve allergy symptoms.

📌 Solis Tip : add it at the very end of cooking to preserve its essential oils, and enjoy its delicate aromas in fragrant plant-based cuisine.

🌿 Thyme: aromatic intensity and natural defense

Robust grass par excellence, Thyme is full of thymol, a substance with strong antimicrobial power restored by chemical analysis: approximately 8.55 mg/g of leaves. Thyme is recognized for its ability to fight pathogens, justifying its use in marinades, soups and stews in the Mediterranean.

📌 Solis Tip : use fresh or dried thyme, it gently releases its aromas and enriches your recipes in a subtle and balanced way.

🌿 Rosemary: woody aroma and powerful antioxidant

With its resinous notes, rosemary enhances dishes while providing health benefits: rosmarinic acid, flavonoids and carnosol make it an excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidantIt protects the liver, the brain, and even has neuroprotective and anticancer properties.

📌 Solis Tip : crush its leaves before adding them to fully release their fragrance and aromatic power.

🌿 Oregano: the Mediterranean in powder

📌 Solis Tip : crush its leaves before adding them to fully release their fragrance and aromatic power.

🌿 Cumin: oriental warmth and digestive benefits

Ancestral spice from the Mediterranean basin, the cumin offers a warm, almost smoky flavor. It is praised for its digestive effects: a study published in Evidence‑Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine attributes to it the ability to relieve bloating and aid digestion.

📌 Solis Tip : dry roast it to awaken its powerful aroma before incorporating it into your recipes.

🌿 Coriander: lemony freshness and multiple virtues

Coriander seeds have a fresh, lemony, and slightly sweet note. They are valued for their hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, confirmed by research published in the Newspaper National Library of Medicine.

📌 Solis Tip : pound them in a mortar just before use to extract all their aromatic richness.

🌸 Saffron: aromatic luxury and proven benefits

Referred to as "red gold," saffron flavors risottos, paellas, and broths. It contains crocin and safranal, two antioxidant molecules capable of affecting mood, notably as a mild antidepressant, according to National Library of Medicine.

📌 Trick Solis : infuse a few filaments in a little warm water before adding them to maximize the diffusion of their aromas.

🧄 Garlic & Onion: Universal Aromatic Foundations

Present in almost all Mediterranean cuisines, garlic and onion are rich in sulfur compounds, allicin, quercetin, which promote cardiovascular health by regulating blood pressure and limiting vascular oxidation.

📌 Solis Tip : Gently brown the garlic in olive oil to provide sweetness and depth without bitterness.

🌞 A cuisine of taste, health and emotions

These Mediterranean spices, much more than flavor enhancers, are bearers of culture, memory, and natural healing. They embody the very essence of our fragrant cuisine at Solis Bar & Restaurant: generous, balanced, lively.

Do you want to discover them in all their authenticity?

📍 Reserve your table and let yourself be surprised by our dishes with aromatic herbs and sunny flavors.

🌿 How do we use our spices at Solis?

At Solis Bar & Restaurant, Mediterranean spices and aromatic herbs are never incidental: they embody our culinary signature. Our goal is clear: to create cuisine fragrant, generous and controlled, where every flavor has its place.

Our concrete commitments:

We favor short circuits: Our aromatic herbs and spices come from local producers or Mediterranean regions selected for the quality of their methods. We work with partners who respect sustainable agricultural practices, without harsh chemical treatments, in order to preserve the purity and richness of the aromas.
We respect the balance of taste: Instead of layering aromas, we seek to make them interact. A touch of rosemary is sometimes enough to evoke a Greek coast, just as a pinch of cumin can warm up a dish with Moroccan accents.
We adapt the spices to each preparation, ensuring the right dosage. No overloading. : we aim for harmony between texture, aroma, and intensity. The result? A refined, balanced Mediterranean cuisine that speaks as much to the memory as to the taste buds.

For us, spices are not just there for seasoning: they tell a story, that of a multiple and warm Mediterranean, which we bring to life with each course.

Book directly on our new website to benefit from exclusive advantages.

Tips for cooking at home with Mediterranean spices

Want to create fragrant, balanced cuisine full of sunny flavors at home?

Here are some simple but essential steps to get the most out of Mediterranean spices:

Add the fresh aromatic herbs at the end of cooking: Whether it's basil, coriander, or mint, their delicate aromas evaporate quickly when heated. To maintain their freshness and intensity, stir them in just before serving or as a finishing touch.
Wake up dry spices before use: To release their full aromatic potential, dry-fry them for a few seconds in a hot pan (without fat). This intensifies their essential oils and aroma. This technique works particularly well with cumin, coriander seeds, or fennel.
Store your spices correctly: Spices are sensitive to light, humidity, and air. Store them in airtight jars, away from heat and sunlight, to preserve their aromatic power.
Measure accurately: In Mediterranean cuisine, balance is the golden rule. A pinch too much can overpower the other ingredients.

👉 By applying these simple tips, you'll transform your everyday meals into true taste journeys. Because cooking with Mediterranean spices is much more than adding flavor to a dish: it's about conveying an emotion, a memory, a ray of sunshine to your plate.

🌞 Solis Bar & Restaurant: a culinary journey to experience

By incorporating Mediterranean spices into each of our creations, we offer our customers much more than just a meal: a true immersion in the landscapes, aromas and traditions of the South.

Each dish is designed as an invitation to travel, a tribute to aromatic herbs, to the products of the sun, and to this fragrant cuisine which speaks to the heart as much as to the palate.

It's the promise of sunny flavors, artisanal expertise, and a balance of flavors that we cultivate with passion. At Solis, each plate tells a story—that of a living, generous, vibrant Mediterranean.