Spices have, historically, been a tricky ingredient. They're prevalent in everyone's kitchens, but too often are underused, stored badly and kept years beyond their 'best before date'. There's the perceived alchemy of making a curry from scratch and the stringent marrying of certain spices to specific cuisines. This cookbook encourages liberal, creative and everyday use – a well-timed pinch to elevate a dish, with a focus on great taste rather than being tethered to tradition. With colourful introductions give context to lesser-known spices and provide new insights into more familiar varieties, and accompanying recipes that are modern, global and taste-led, The Modern Spice Rack will transform standard groceries into something special.

Esther Clark trained and worked as a chef in Italy and Northern India. She then joined BBC Good Food as deputy food editor. Her clients include: Guardian Feast, Sainsbury’s Magazine, Waitrose Food Magazine, the Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.

Rachel Walker was working on the food desk at the Sunday Times when she founded the award-winning Rooted Spices in 2018, which sells single-origin and ethically-sourced spices.