Chamomile is one of the more popular herbal sleep aids. A big part of its popularity may be the fact that it has a more pleasant taste when compared to other similar options. While chamomile is common and very affordable, there are situations where you might be unable to find …
If you are fond of cooking Mediterranean or Thai food, then you may already know a few things about basil. It is a highly aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family and that is readily available in most grocery stores. Basil is familiar to many and versatile; it pairs …
Hazelnut flour is a healthy and flavorful wheat flour alternative. It is versatile and can be used in all kinds of applications, from the breading on fried foods to a homemade Nutella. While it can be a great option if you need to avoid gluten or reduce carbohydrates in your …
Shrimp is one of those foods that has a strong flavor in its own right, which is a big part of its appeal. That flavor by itself is not enough to keep it from being bland, but it will not go well with everything in your spice cabinet. When seasoning …
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a food additive invented in Japan and which has been adopted throughout Asia and the western world. It is a great tool for enhancing the umami flavor note. Umami refers to the intense savory taste that you detect in broth or any other liquid used to …
Rapadura is a brown sugar from Latin America that is not extensively processed. It is used in many traditional Brazilian dishes and in various other baked goods and sweets from Latin America. It goes by many different names, including piloncillo and panela. You should be able to find it in …
Salt is the most important seasoning in human history. It shows up in different forms in pretty much every nation’s cuisine. For many, all salts are interchangeable, but for serious cooks, they are not. When it comes to two of the most common forms in Western kitchens (kosher salt and …
Ginger and galangal are two Asian rhizomes that belong to the same family. Both provide flavors that are essential for making numerous Eastern and Western dishes. They are similar in a few ways, but very different in others. Let’s compare the respective qualities of galangal and ginger, so you can …