The word advieh means “spice” in Farsi. It derives from the Arabic word for medicine. In Persian cuisine, advieh refers to a spice in general or to a spice mix that Iranians make in their homes or buy ready-made to use at home. A cousin to Garam Masala, Advieh is not a standard mix but […]
Specialty Foods
What are Maraschino Cherries?
Most people think of Maraschino cherries as a cheap garnish used in cocktails. These are cherries that have been preserved with a chemical brine, pitted, dyed red, and then jarred in a sweetener solution, usually a corn syrup solution. Often, an almond flavor is added as this tastes of cherry. These “cocktail cherries” are imitation […]
Why Does Durian Fruit Smell So Awful?
Take some old rank cheese, mix it with some chopped onions, throw in some rotten fish, your old unwashed gym socks, and anything you can find from the bottom of a dumpster in the height of summer; add a bit of turpentine, mix it all up and let it stew for a couple of days. […]
What Are Castelvetrano Olives?
Castelvetrano olives are a variety of Lucques olives also called Nocellara del Belice which are also used to make Valle del Belice olive oil. They are primarily marketed as Castelvetrano in the United States and primarily grown in Sicily but also in India, Pakistan, and South Africa. Castelvetrano olives, often considered table olives, are a […]
What Are Alfonso Olives?
Alfonso olives are very large, dark purple to purple-brown olives that are grown in South America and primarily Chile, Peru, and Argentina. They have a meaty, soft, and tender texture with a rich-tasting olive flavor that is somewhat bitter and vinegary. See also: Is Your Olive Oil Fake? The most popular South American olive variety, […]
What are Taggiassca Olives?
Taggiasca olives are small, dark greenish, reddish-brown to purple olives grown in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. Processed with natural they are not a very meaty olive but have a firm, crisp flesh and a delicate, fruity flavor. See also: Is Your Olive Oil Fake? Taggiasca olives are water-cured olives. After cutting, the olives […]
What is Middle Eastern Halvah?
Halvah or halva is the name of varied confections or sweet desserts found in the Middle East, Central Asia, and India, dating back centuries. It’s name is derived from the Arabic word hulw, meaning sweet. It is a simple dish made from ground sesame seeds, honey, and often chopped dried fruits and pistachio nuts. Halvah […]
What is Baba Ghanoush?
Baba ghanoush is a Middle Eastern spread or dip that is quite comparable to hummus, except it is based on eggplant instead of chickpeas, together with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic (or onion). Other ingredients vary according to the region. Versions of the dish exist in Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, India, and even Romania. […]
How To Check if Your Saffron is Fake
Since saffron is the most expensive spice in the world, costing around $185 to $200 an ounce, there is plenty of motivation for dishonest dealers to sell fraudulent fake saffron. These may be labeled simply saffron but are sometimes sold under the names Mexican saffron or American saffron. In the past, red silk fibers and […]
Kaffir Lime Leaves: Fresh vs. Dried
Kaffir lime leaves are the leaves from the kaffir lime plant (Citrus hystrix), otherwise known as the makrut or leech lime. The plant produces a small wrinkly lime and aromatic leaves. These leaves are used extensively in Thai, Indonesian, and other South East Asian cooking to give a lemony aroma and taste. See also: What […]