Start lightly carmelizing onions in a pan. Once theyre lightly carmelized throw in some garlic and whatever spices might be good for what youre making. Make sure theres enough oil, as spices tend to soak it up and you want to temper them in oil, not burn them. Throw in some tomatoes that have been quartered (or cut into eighths), and cook it all together. This makes a good tomato type base, you can fill it out with more tomato, or water, really whatever liquid youd like.

Alternatively dont put in tomato and instead add some a bunch of like ginger and chili and whatnot (or whatever stuff is in your favorite curry paste), and throw in some coconut cream to get a really good curry base. Bring to a simmer and cook your veggies and protein in it, serve over rice.

When in doubt, smell your spices and oils and sauces, and if they smell like they match, go for it. Youll find good combinations that way. Half my recipes just have "green spices" or "red spices" or "ginger et al" in the ingredients list cause i just go by smell half the time.

Also, remember sesame oil as a finishing oil, tastes amazing ^^

You can also cook sauces and things in wine for to get its taste ^^ use red for tomato based things, white for fish, etc. Wine ends up in half my sauces.