Food

Top 10 Spices In India

Published

3 years ago

May 16, 2021

List of Info

One of the things that people find intimidating about cooking Indian food is the vast array of spices used both whole and ground, which are often combined into complex spice mixes. However, having taught classes on Indian food, I find that as soon as people can identify and understand the spices we use, then suddenly they find this cuisine is not as hard to make after all.

Here are the 10 spices I reach for most often when cooking Indian food and how I use them!

Cardamom

Black and Green Cardomom

There are two kinds of cardamom used in Indian cooking: green and black. Green is the more common variety, used for everything from spice mixes to lassis to Indian desserts. The flavor is light and sweet, with a mild eucalyptus note. Green cardamom can be blended whole when making spice mixes, like garam masala, however, when using them in sweets or desserts, you would pop the pod open and lightly crush the fragrant black seeds before using.

Black cardamom, on the other hand, is very powerful and smoky and needs to be used with a lot of caution. Normally only the seeds would be used, and if using the whole pod, it’s best to pull it out before serving the dish, as it can be very spicy to bite into.

Clove

Cloves

Clove is a common spice in Indian cooking and its anise notes are easily recognizable in many Indian preparations. The strong, almost medicinal flavor of clove comes from the concentration of essential oils. Cloves are technically flowers, and a lot of their oils are pressed out before they are dried and used in cooking. Cloves can be used whole or blended into spice mixes. They do need to be used with caution, however, as they can tend to overpower more delicate spices.

Cassia bark

Cinamon Cassia Bark

Cassia bark is an interesting spice. Also known as Chinese cinnamon, it is a genus of the cinnamon tree. Cinnamon is a little bit different from cassia, and is usually differentiated by being called “true cinnamon.” Cassia is cheaper to produce, and the majority of ground cinnamon is made from cassia bark. Indians use cassia instead of true cinnamon in their cooking, as it has a milder flavor and can be used in larger quantities.

Cassia can also be used whole or ground in spice mixes. It is easily distinguishable by its rough, tree bark-like texture, and the best way to check for freshness is to rub a little on your fingers. If you can smell a cinnamon fragrance, then the bark is fresh.

Black pepper

Black pepper is native to India, primarily from the Western Ghats and Malabar region. It is a surprisingly hard spice to grow, as it depends on many natural cycles, like a set amount of rainfall, which is why prices for fresh pepper vary a lot.

Like most spices, black pepper needs to be toasted before blending. For the best flavor, however, fresh black pepper can also be ground directly into dishes.

Cumin

Cumin seeds

Cumin is used frequently whole and in spice mixes to add a characteristic smoky note to Indian dishes. It can be identified by its distinct ridged brown seeds and intense fragrance. It is sometimes confused with fennel, caraway, and anise seeds, but you can tell the difference by looking at its color (brown, as opposed to green fennel) and taste (smoky, as opposed to a stronger licorice taste).

Cumin is best used freshly ground for the most intense flavor. One thing to keep in mind while dry-roasting this spice is that it burns easily, and burnt cumin tastes very bitter and will be very noticeable in your dish.

Coriander

Coriander seeds

Coriander is probably the most ubiquitous of spices in the Indian spice rack. It is one of the oldest-known spices in the world, and it’s characterized by its golden-yellow color and gently ridged texture. The seeds are very aromatic with citrus notes.

Whole coriander is used as a base for many spice mixes, and ground coriander is one of the most commonly used ground spices in Indian cuisine. Like cumin, it needs to be dry-roasted until you can start seeing a light golden-brown tinge to the seeds and they start “dancing” and popping in the pan.

Nutmeg and mace

Nutmeg and Mace

Two of my favorite spices, nutmeg, and mace, are used a lot in Indian cooking. Mace is the dark-red outer covering of the nutmeg. Fresh nutmeg is processed by removing the pulpy outside and sliding off the mace. It has a tough outer covering that needs to be cracked off before grating.

When dried, mace turns golden-orange and adds hints of warm flavor. Once nutmeg is dried, it lasts pretty much forever, so it is best to buy it whole and grate as required into your dishes. I rarely ever use ground nutmeg, as it is one of those spices whose flavor degrades very fast once it is ground. Nutmeg does not need to be toasted before blending into spices, as toasting wrecks its delicate flavor.

Mustard seeds

Mustard

Mustard seeds can be yellow, black, or brown and are used interchangeably in Indian cooking. The flavor of mustard seeds is released when they are crushed or cooked in oil. Their smoky, nutty flavor is a staple in curries and curry powders, and mustard oil is commonly used in the North of India.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek seeds

Fenugreek is the spice that gives Madras curry powder its very characteristic, earthy, musky “curry” flavor and fragrance. The seeds are yellowish and look like tiny wheat kernels. Fenugreek leaves are also dried and used as a spice (they are commonly called Kasuri methi) and are what make butter chicken unique.

Fenugreek seeds are strongly fragranced and should be used with caution, just like cloves. They are also used in traditional medicine, and strangely enough, to make fake maple syrup.

Turmeric

Turmeric is another common Indian spice. Grown as a rhizome, it can be used fresh (like ginger) or dried. It has been known to have a host of health benefits and is used in a lot of spice mixes and curries. The flavor of fresh turmeric is slightly stronger than dried, and it stains very easily, so make sure you are careful with your clothes and utensils while using it.

It has a pungent, earthy fragrance; I use it in small quantities to give my curries a beautiful golden color.

Now, we’ve arrived at the end of inferring the goodness and flavors of the top 10 spices in India.

Food

10 Best Middle Eastern Foods

Published

2 months ago

March 2, 2024

nikita

List of Info

All foods have their most famous dishes. English food is popular for fried fish and French fries, Italian food is known for its astonishing pasta dishes, and the Middle East is renowned for hummus. Be that as it may, obviously, there’s another side to every one of the world’s cooking styles. So underneath you will track down the most well known and generally perceived Middle Eastern dishes and their recipes.

So here are 10 Best Middle Eastern Foods!

Hummus

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Hummus

Beginning with presumably the most popular Middle Eastern food, hummus is a crushed chickpea plunge made with tahini, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. It is a tempting starter, presented with pita bread and vegetables yet additionally astounding as a sandwich spread.

Tahini

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Tahini

A virtual tie for ubiquity, notoriety, and recurrence of purpose is tahini. The sesame glue is an establishment for the overwhelming majority great Middle Eastern recipes. It very well may be a fixing, a plunge or a spread and is utilized in both sweet and flavorful dishes.

Falafel

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Falafel

In the event that you request that somebody name the most well known Middle Eastern food and their response isn’t hummus, then being falafel is very likely going. This broadly perceived staple is a broiled ball made of chickpeas, onions, and flavors. It is served both as a starter on a mezze platter or as the protein in a veggie lover dinner. Falafel makes an incredible sandwich inside pita bread with Israeli plate of mixed greens.

Turkish Coffee

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Turkish Coffee

Center Easterners like their espresso solid and Turkish espresso is probably going to be the drink of decision. It has a striking, rich taste with a touch of cardamom. Arranged cautiously in an ibrik, it’s permitted to sit briefly prior to effectively permitting the espresso grains to tumble to the lower part of the cup. As per a Turkish saying “espresso ought to be dark as heck, solid as death, and as sweet as affection”.

Turkish Delight

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Turkish Delight

Turkish Delight is the quintessential confections (additionally called lokum) in the Middle East. Made essentially with sugar and cornstarch, they’re habit-forming and powerful!

Tabouleh

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Tabouleh

Tabouleh is a plate of mixed greens that is made with broke wheat (otherwise called bulgur wheat), mint, parsley, and vegetables. It’s served both as a starter or simply an extraordinary light and solid lunch.

Must Read :Top 10 Most Popular American Foods

Pita Bread

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Pita Bread

Pita bread is a staple in the Middle Eastern eating regimen. It is presented with essentially every dinner. Warm, toasted, stuffed, or plunged, pita bread is the most adaptable food in Middle Eastern cooking. It’s not difficult to make, as well!

Kebab karaz

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Kebab karaz

Also called cherry kebab or desert treats, this Syrian dish offers another inclination on the celebrated meat stick. Kebab karaz adds acrid cherries and pomegranate pips, delivering the substantial blend dark red, prepared.

Baklawa or Baklava

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Baklawa or Baklava

In the Middle East, baklava is frequently articulated baklawa. The spelling might be different however the preferences are basically the same. The Greeks utilize honey, while, in the Middle East, orange bloom or rose water is generally added to the sweet syrup. This flavorful sweet might be tedious to plan, however definitely worth the work!

Baba Ghannouj

Best Middle Eastern Foods-Baba Ghannouj

Baba ghannouj is a vegan number one. It’s a smooth and velvety plunge made with broiled eggplant and tahini, ideal for plunging pita bread or vegetables.

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Food

10 Best Foods In Romania

Published

2 months ago

March 1, 2024

nikita

List of Info

Coming to Romania is an unquestionable necessity for any movement devotee and food sweetheart since there is such a wealth as far as conventional cooking, that your faculties will be totally ruined with astonishing and extraordinary flavors. Romanian food may not be pretty much as extravagant as French cooking, and it isn’t excessively zesty or too convoluted all things considered. In any case, it is fascinating and welcoming, and it is the ideal solace food!

Pork is the most cherished “vegetable” however Romania likewise succeeds at soups and mixed greens.

The most impossible to miss thing about Romanian food is that it has an intimately acquainted taste, and yet it poses a flavor like something you’ve never attempted. This is on the grounds that the customary food is really a blend of dishes and cooking procedures acquired from adjoining societies, like Hungarian, German, Turkish and Slavic, however changed and Romanised with neighborhood spices and flavors.

So here are 10 Best Foods In Romania!

Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls)

Best Foods In Romania-Sarmale (Cabbage Rolls)

Viewed as Romania’s public dish, these stuffed cabbage rolls are really of Turkish beginnings, however the Romanians guarantee that theirs are awesome.

The underlying recipe was firmly adjusted over the long run until it arrived at what is viewed as now the ideal stuffing. A fair combination of rice and minced meat (typically pork or pork joined with hamburger) and different vegetables and nearby spices is moved in cabbage leaves or youthful grape leaves for a fragile character.

Ciorba de burta (garbage soup)

Best Foods In Romania-Ciorba de burta (garbage soup)

With regards to garbage soup, you either love it or can’t stand it. This customary food has an extremely impressive fragrance and a smooth surface which is the consequence of a few hours of work. Other than the meat garbage, this dish likewise utilizes hamburger and pork legs which, are bubbled for a few hours to get the delightful soup.

Irrationally, the garbage isn’t the main piece of the dish, yet the actual soup. Other than the bones, a few vegetables are utilized to get its heavenly taste, for example, carrots, ringer peppers, hot peppers, celery, and parsley.

Near the end, several garlic cloves are included request to enhance the flavor, and everything is presented with sharp cream, hot peppers, and toast.

Ciorba Radautean (Radauti Soup)

Best Foods In Romania-Ciorba Radautean (Radauti Soup)

Ciorbă alludes to a sort of customary soup which can be served in various ways, contingent upon the fixings utilized. In any case, the one called rădăuțeană is among the most valued in Romania.

“Concocted” in the last part of the ’70s in the city of Radauti, this dish is really an option in contrast to the previously mentioned soup – the garbage soup, which was viewed as too weighty and many individuals didn’t partake in the specific kind of the garbage. So rather than garbage, ciorba rădăuțeană utilizes chicken bosom.

To keep it straightforward, this dish has a lot of harsh cream and garlic in it, and for the particular sharp taste, vinegar is utilized. It’s a heavenly soup, not excessively greasy and not excessively weighty either, however an entire feast in itself.

Balmos

Best Foods In Romania-Balmos

100 percent Romanian, balmoș is a customary shepherd dish, a veritable recognition for the well known mamaliga, which will take your breath away while tasting it. It’s greasy, it’s rich and tacky, it’s delicate and sleek like a cream however weighty and wealthy in taste, and it has lots of cheddar in it.

Sharp cream is overflowed with margarine and a touch of salt for two or three minutes. Then, the corn flour is added until it is appropriately overflowed without any knots in it, lastly, a lot of pungent customary matured cheddar is added.

Served extremely hot, with a few margarine and sweet cheddar on top, balmoș is the ideal dish for cold winter evenings when all you need is something really scrumptious and consoling. Partake in this delectable dish following this amazing balmos recipe.

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Jumari (Smoked bacon and greaves)

Best Foods In Romania-Jumari (Smoked bacon and greaves)

This is a conventional Romanian canapé made, obviously, from pork.

In Romania, the customary bacon is called slănină, and it is really smoked pungent pig fat enhanced with garlic, pepper, paprika, and a few different flavors, and it’s a dish normally ready by all Romanian families for the colder time of year time.

The broiling crunchy rendition is called jumari, meaning greaves, and alongside slănină, went with crude onions, custom made bread, and a dose of țuică (conventional plum liquor) as stomach related, they compensate for the ideal starter of a valid Romanian dinner.

Mici

Best Foods In Romania-Mici

Otherwise called mititei, they are the most well known Romanian barbecue dish, and they are wanted to the point that there is positively no Romanian who can envision a legitimate grill without them. These caseless frankfurters are made of various blends of ground meat, dark pepper, and different flavors, and they are barbecued until they obscure a bit and become damp and delicate.

They are served just with mustard and bread. You can find mici in cafés, in quick food varieties, in road food shops or you simply can purchase the combination from any supermarket, new or frozen, fit to be barbecued or broiled at whatever point you feel like it.

Cighiri

Best Foods In Romania-Cighiri

Cighiri are something almost identical to immense meatballs, however next to ground pork, the recipe likewise incorporates the meat of a few organs like the liver, heart, and lungs. These are then joined with onions, eggs, narrows leaves, garlic, and a lot of salt and pepper.

The combination is then enclosed by a hoard stomach and broiled. They are totally heavenly, ideal for a hot speedy bite. Presented with any embellishment you want, a few pickles, and natively constructed red wine, these cighiri have high opportunities to become one of your next most loved solace food sources.

Salata de vinete (Roasted Eggplant Salad)

Best Foods In Romania-Salata de vinete (Roasted Eggplant Salad)

Perhaps of the most cooked and eaten Romanian hors d’oeuvre, the eggplant salad is the ideal decision for a fast bite and an astounding starter for a customary Christmas supper. It is simple and modest to make, and you can finish off it with tomatoes or feta cheddar.

The customary method for setting up this hors d’oeuvre is to cook the eggplants on a barbecue until they become truly delicate, yet you can likewise broil them on the burner or prepare them in the stove. A while later, you should simply eliminate the skin, cleave them, and dress them either with sunflower oil and slashed onions or mayonnaise and garlic.

Drob de miel (Lamb Drob)

Best Foods In Romania-Drob de miel (Lamb Drob)

In the Romanian practice, the Lamb Drob is a dish which is solely ready during Easter.

The Lamb Drob is a delightful starter made with sheep offals (liver, lungs, spleen, heart, and kidneys), eggs, green onions, bread dunked in milk, and a few spices like dill, garlic, and parsley. This is perhaps of the most famous Romanian dish, and there are various varieties of the recipe.

The Lamb Drob has a medium readiness trouble, however frankly, it’s not excessively complicated. The main part is washing and setting up the sheep offals. Subsequently, you simply need to slash them, blend them in with the other fixings, and prepare them.

The Drob is best served cold with mustard and bubbled eggs.

Tochitura moldoveneasca (Moldavian Stew)

Best Foods In Romania-Tochitura moldoveneasca (Moldavian Stew)

There is not at all like the popular Moldavian stew, and there is no embellishment in saying that this is a definitive Romanian dish, as it joins the best customary food sources Romania brings to the table: mamaliga (polenta), conventional pungent matured cheddar, seared eggs, broiled pork, conventional frankfurters, and pickles. It’s the ideal mix of tastes and surfaces.

The stars of this conventional dish are the pork and frankfurters, which are best cooked over an open fire in a cast-iron stew pot, however they can likewise be seared in a skillet. Over the flavorful meat is then added white wine, tomato glue, onions, garlic, and sound leaves.

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