Not too long ago, fennel pollen was a secret spice known only to a few Tuscan cooks. Today, it is a popular ingredient, made famous by celebrity chefs and a generation of foodies who are not afraid to experiment with new ingredients. Along with being nutrient dense, fennel pollen offers a …
Panch phoran (a.k.a. panch puran) is a Bengali spice blend that is sometimes referred to as Indian five-spice. You will need it for a variety of dishes, such as shukto and other favorites from Eastern India and Bangladesh. It may not be easy to find this spice blend in a …
Avocado oil is a versatile and healthy oil that has become trendy in recent years. It’s made from the avocado fruit, which is widely prized for its health benefits. And avocado oil is one of the few cooking oils not extracted from seeds. Avocado oil has a mostly neutral taste …
If you want to master Italian cooking, learning about the essential spices is a good place to start. Italian food is all about herbs and spices. An understanding of the most commonly used Italian spices and other seasonings is essential if you want to make the classic traditional dishes. The …
Anardana consists of dried pomegranate seeds and is excellent for bringing a tart flavor to dishes. This spice is most often used in the Middle East and India, so you may see it listed among the ingredients in recipes from those regions. Anardana is not the easiest spice to find …
Licorice is one of those flavors that you either love or hate, which means that it won’t be as common as some of the more popular spices. You may find yourself in need of a substitute if you want to make your own licorice candy, root beer, or licorice tea. …
Wasabi is a pungent member of the Brassicaceae family. It is related to both mustard and horseradish. Like horseradish, it is hot and can deliver an uncomfortable level of spiciness if you use too much of it. Its spiciness comes from isothiocyanates, which differs from the capsaicin that gives chili …
While there is a lot more to Indian cuisine than spices, it would be incorrect to say that spices are not a fundamental aspect. Similarly, curry dishes make up a significant part of Indian food culture even though there is vastly more to Indian cuisine than curry. While many spices …