Italian seasoning is a versatile herb blend that can be used to flavor Italian and other Mediterranean dishes. It’s easy to make your own Italian seasoning blend at home. An Italian seasoning blend is actually just a compilation of herbs that are often used in Italian cooking (like marjoram, basil, and oregano), however, it may …
Mahlab is the pit of a small sour cherry tree (St. Lucy’s) found in the Mediterranean. The pits are cracked and then ground, to form a powder. It has a fruity flavor but is also bitter. How Do You Use Mahlab? Mahlab is often used in Middle Eastern baked goods, like bread and cookies. It …
Fenugreek is used as both a herb (dried leaves) and a spice (seeds). It’s used in many dishes from the Indian Subcontinent and is a key component of several spice blends – including sambar, panch phoron (Indian five spice), and berbere. Although fenugreek is primarily grown in India, it’s used in cuisines around the world …
Cardamom is a spice made from seed pods – the most common of which have a papery green skin. Cardamom is highly aromatic and prized around the world. It’s the third most expensive spice (only eclipsed by saffron and vanilla). It’s unique, strong flavor is both sweet and spicy, making it an ideal ingredient for …
Shichimi Togarashi or Japanese 7 Spice blend is a peppery Japanese spice blend, typically made from a mix of chili peppers, orange peel, sesame seeds, ginger, and nori. It was originally made by Japanese merchants in the 17th century. Schichi means “seven” in Japanese and togarashi means “peppers”. How Do You Use Shichimi Togarashi? Shichimi …
Star anise is the prettiest of spices! The iconic star shape has eight points and is actually fruit harvested from an evergreen tree native to China and Vietnam. Star anise produces an oil that’s fragrant enough to be used in cosmetics and perfumes. How Do You Use Star Anise? Star anise is used in cooking …
Fennel seeds are native to the Mediterranean and are used extensively in Indian, Chinese, German, French, and Italian cooking. Fennel seeds have a licorice-like flavor and look very similar to cumin seeds. Fennel seeds are incredibly versatile and can be used in sauces (especially tomato sauces), with seafood, pork, in soups and stews, and in …
Sichuan peppercorns (also known as Szechuan peppercorns or Chinese peppercorns) are an aromatic spice from the Sichuan region of China. Although they’re called pepper, they have citrus notes and are not spicy or pungent like chili pepper and black peppercorns (although they do leave a tingly feeling in your mouth). Just the husks of the …
Curry powder is a spice blend that usually contains turmeric, ginger, and garlic. What’s curry powder? Spice blends similar to curry have been used in the Indian subcontinent for over 4000 years, however, curry powder is actually a British invention created to mimic the flavors of Indian cooking. Curry blends tend to be similar in …
Chinese Five Spice or Five Spice Powder is an aromatic spice blend from China and Vietnam. The most common variations contain five spices – star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, fennel seeds, cinnamon, and cloves. Ginger and anise are also sometimes added. In Southern Chinese cooking, dried orange peel may also be added. Chinese Five Spice is …
