Tamarind paste is the processed pulp of the tamarind fruit. It is a souring agent popular in Indian cuisine for its ability to provide a tangy acidity to dishes along with mildly sweet notes. You can buy pre-made tamarind paste or a block of tamarind pulp that you can reconstitute …
Hazelnut flour is an alternative to wheat flour that is especially attractive to people who want to avoid gluten. It brings a rich, nutty flavor to savory and sweet dishes. If you cannot find it and need some right away – it’s not a widely available ingredient in stores – …
You can use onion salt to add a mild onion flavor along with salt. It is perfect for bread, dry rubs, and salad dressings where you may want onion and salt without the bulk of fresh onion. It is versatile enough that you should keep some in your spice cabinet, …
Refined white sugar is arguably the most common source of sweetness in cooking and baking. Its main benefit stems from the fact that it sweetens without any other effect on the flavor profile of a dish. Other benefits include the fact that it is easy to find and affordable. This …
Shiso goes by many names, including Chinese basil and perilla. You will find shiso leaves used in various Asian cuisines both for their flavor and for their size, which makes them useful for wrapping other foods. If you cannot find this herb or need some in a hurry, consider one …
Sambar powder is a blend of spices used to make a Southern Indian soup called sambar. The complexity that sambar powder provides is essential if you want your sambar to have an authentic flavor. Sambar powder is not the most widely known spice blend in the west, which means that …
Lemon thyme is the perfect herb for any dish that requires the flavors of both lemon and thyme. It can work as a seasoning for meat, and you can add it to salads as well. The big problem with lemon thyme is that it is not a particularly easy herb …
Shichimi togarashi is also sold as Japanese seven-spice powder and is a popular seasoning for soups and noodles. It can also be used as a rub or crust on grilled meat and seafood. It exemplifies the main characteristics of Japanese cuisine with its uniquely bold but clean flavors. While there …