The term celery powder may refer to ground celery seed, dried celery juice, or dried and powdered celery. Whichever of these three products it indicates, celery powder makes it easy to add a concentrated burst of celery flavor to your food. The version made with dried celery juice can also …
Sand ginger is one of the names for Kaempferia galanga, a rhizome used in several South East Asian dishes and that only recently has come to the attention of chefs in the West. It offers a unique flavor that may not be easy to duplicate but there are some alternatives …
Vadouvan is a popular blend of Indian spices invented by French cooks. It can be used in any western-style curry dish. It is a way of simulating Indian food with a French aesthetic and was used in France’s Indian possession, Pondicherry. While trendy in some places, it may not be …
Kasuri methi (or kasoori methi) is a culinary herb that is especially popular in certain parts of India. Outside of the subcontinent, you might call it dried fenugreek leaves. These leaves are usually crumbled over curries to give the dish a savory herbal flavor along with a slight bitterness. The …
Umami is a flavor that many cooks actively try to develop in their dishes. It is the meaty, rich flavor that makes savory foods delicious. If you want to increase umami flavor, the most convenient option is usually monosodium glutamate (MSG). While MSG has been classified as safe by the …
Maldon salt is a flaky sea salt from England’s Essex coast that is well known for its clean, light flavor profile. It can be used to provide a salty flavor just like any other culinary salt, or you can take advantage of its clean flavor and pyramid-shaped flakes and use …
To some cooks, fleur de sel is an overpriced and unnecessary ingredient marketed to the gullible and the pretentious. To others, it is the source of the uniquely clean and briny salinity sought after by lovers of fresh seafood. It is widely considered to be among the very best finishing …
Galangal is an important ingredient if you plan to make dishes from Southeast Asia. Many would say that it is as essential as lemongrass or coconut milk. Its flavors are crucial to dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia, among other countries. You should do your best to get your hands …