Long pepper is one of two peppers in the Piperaceae family, relatives of Piper nigrum or black pepper, Indian Long Pepper (Piper longam) and Indonesian Long Pepper (Piper retrofractum). Both of these are quite similar to one another in culinary use. The fruits of these pepper plants are not small, round berries, like those of Piper nigrum, but 2.5-centimeter-long … Read more
The terms coriander and cilantro produce confusion for novice cooks. Are they the same? Are they different? Is coriander an herb or a spice? Is it a plant or a seed? It is all of these. The confusion, however, comes from how we use both terms from a culinary standpoint versus a botanical one. Coriander … Read more
Amchur (amchoor, aamchur) is dried unripe mango flesh, used either as slices or as a powder. It is an important spice in India, especially in the Northern states, where most of it is produced. Usually, unripened mangos which have fallen prematurely from the tree are used to make amchur. Mango is a climacteric fruit, which will continue to ripen … Read more
If you’ve only ever used the hard, dark cinnamon sticks found in most US grocery stores, you’re missing out on a culinary secret: Mexican cinnamon! Known in Mexico as Canela, this ‘true’ cinnamon is delicate, floral, and so soft it crumbles in your hands. Quick Guide: Why the Name Mexican Cinnamon? Cinnamon is used for … Read more
Grains of Paradise, or melegueta pepper (aframomum melegueta), are the small brown to black seeds of a perennial reedlike plant in the Ginger family, or zingiberaceae. The plant is also related to cardamom. Indigenous to the West Coast of Africa and growing in swampy terrain, the seeds look like small black peppercorns with a white interior … Read more
Many recipes call for chili powder, but once in a while, you will find one calling for chile powder. Is this the same thing with a different spelling? Can you substitute chili powder for chile powder? Chili Powder and Chile Powder are Not Really Interchangeable The answer to the last question is yes, you can, … Read more