Not too long ago I claimed in all seriousness — and without hesitation — that should I for some reason be required to choose a food to eat every single day for the rest of my life, I would pick ginger. It sounds extreme, but this spice (actually a rhizome, basically a network of roots) is so versatile that not [...]
If you’re lucky enough to have ever lived in a region that experiences fall, you’re privy to the wonders of autumnal cooking: apples, squash, pumpkins — the whole shebang. More than a few time since it’s cooled down here in Minneapolis, someone has used the term “fall-y” (often followed by a dreamy smile and a sigh) to describe a casserole, [...]
Nutmeg is one of the greatest spice sidekicks of all time. Rarely will you come across a recipe in which nutmeg is the star (with the exception of nutmeg cake, which despite its name is actually more of a vanilla affair). The spice, which is derived from seeds within the fruit of the Myristica fragrans tree, works in concert with [...]
Caraway is another one to file in the “oft-misunderstood” spice category. Even if you’ve tried and failed to like it, don’t give up just yet. This spice’s flavor is pretty loud and its signature dishes are often polarizing (I have yet to meet someone who’s on the fence about pumpernickel or sauerkraut). But just like paprika, given the right foundation [...]
Mint is one of the easiest plants to grow and it complements just about any food. The herb’s entire family tree is about as confusing and dramatic as they come, resulting in countless hybrids, offshoots, and flavorings, each one crazier (and more delicious) than the one before it. So what’s not to love? Like a gentle giant who doesn’t know [...]
There are few spices as comforting and familiar as cinnamon. Just a whiff of it can conjure up thoughts of homemade cider, cookies, French toast, apple pie, and other cold-weather treats. But don’t be surprised if at some point you come across a very different version of the cinnamon you know and love, or if you end up finding a [...]
You’ve probably eaten millions of sesame seeds in your lifetime — and chances are you don’t remember a single one. These tiny seeds, harvested through a labor-intensive process from the flowering sesame plant, tend to get tossed around unceremoniously. Sesame is mellow but unmistakable, with a flavor that’s slightly nutty and that works as an interesting complement to almost any [...]
Normally, I would never go out of my way to applaud England for anything in the culinary department. (Comedy, yes. Food, no.) But the Brits’ appreciation of watercress, a peppery, crunchy, easy-to-grow plant, is something I can really get behind. Before we go any further, full disclosure: botanically speaking, watercress isn’t a spice. This leafy little guy is a crucifer, [...]
Would you believe me if I told you that one spice is not only responsible for making Moroccan stews to die for, Brazilian feijoada binge-worthy, and garam masala addictive, but it also acts as a digestive aid and serves as the secret ingredient in a 400-year-old Russian liqueur recipe? This all-purpose spice is the revered cumin — and what’s even [...]
Tarragon is a member of a pretty exclusive club: along with chervil, parsley, and chives, it’s considered part of the fines herbes combination, a group of four herbs that are fundamental to French and Mediterranean cooking. You’ll often see fines herbes included in recipes for real (we’re talking Julia Child-style here) French recipes. Pretty much everything they make — eggs, [...]
