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Aromatic Herbs & Spices
Spices and aromatic herbs are ingredients that are increasingly used in the kitchen, giving a unique flavor to their dishes. Sometimes it happens to confuse one with the other, even if they are different products, but their function is usually the same, that is to flavor the dishes, enhancing their flavor. The taste and benefits of aromatic herbs With the expression aromatic herbs, we generally refer to vegetables or herbs grown in pots and in the garden, but also available in the wild. There are several types, but among the best known products stand out bay laurel, basil, borage, oregano, parsley, thyme and sage. The aromatic herbs in the kitchen are used in many countries: for example pasta with tomato and basil is an indispensable must of Italian cuisine. The nutritional value of aromatic herbs is in itself rather poor, but these are very important ingredients because they vary the palatability of the foods and allow some useful substitutions for the body's well-being, such as spicy herbs as an alternative to salt. The aromatic herbs for sale on Natura d’Oriente are products of the highest quality, ideal for making your dishes tastier and to amaze your guests with unforgettable recipes. The taste and the benefits of aromatic spices The term spices indicate dry vegetable products that generally come from tropical countries or in any case from quite distant places, widely used since the past to preserve and flavor foods. Aromatic spices are obtained from different parts of the plants: cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric and ginger stand out among the most appreciated. Spices and aromatic herbs can give any recipe a unique touch, whether it is a meat dish or a tasty side dish: the secret is to find the right balance!
Green pepper is used to flavor fish and meat dishes (chicken, turkey, pork, beef). The recipe for fillet with green pepper is famous. It is particularly appreciated for its spicy, fresh and delicately herbaceous flavour. Green pepper also goes well with other spices, including nutmeg, coriander and juniper.
Cinnamon in bark is the spice preferred by cooks to give a particular flavor to their recipes. In healthy terms, cinnamon helps keep blood sugar in balance, helps prevent cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, triglycerides and ulcers. Tip: do not cook it too long, it can become bitter.
Cassia ground cinnamon has an intense flavor that goes well with salty foods and flavors meat. In the Middle East it accompanies stews, lamb, goose and duck meat; in Thailand pork and dried fruit; in Morocco it is combined with pigeon pastilla; in Yorkshire it is excellent in braised ham. A pinch of cinnamon is perfect in mashed potatoes, ravioli and pumpkin risotto. It gives a unique aroma to vegetable pies or natural yoghurt.
Malagueta pepper or Guinea pepper is particularly rich in essential oils. Its scent is reminiscent of ginger, but notes of cardamom can also be perceived, so much so that it is often used or recommended as a substitute for the latter in recipes. It is used to flavor stews and some grains of this spice are added to the traditional drink based on kola nut typical of Sicily.
Il Pepe nero di Sarawak, originario della Malesia, si caratterizza per l'aroma piccante e asciutto, che non risulta invasivo poichè tende a sfumare, sottolinea il gusto delle pietanze senza sopraffare il palato, si abbina con ogni tipologia di piatto tanto da poter essere etichettato come "spezia multiuso" ed é particolarmente apprezzato anche dai neofiti delle spezie.
Chinese five spice powder is a traditional spice blend, used in Chinese cuisine. This mix gives the dishes a light hint of minty taste, which still includes all the five flavors in cooking: sweet, sour, salty, spicy and bitter. A special taste to flavor meat and fish dishes, marinades and exotic sauces.
Ingredients:
star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, fennel.
Red kampot pepper has a mild, yet strong aroma. Its flavor is unique and varied, it can be very spicy, slightly sweet or have floral or citrus nuances. Indeed, the very spicy version has slight shades of eucalyptus and mint.
The cumin plant, is one of the oldest medicinal plants, it produces seeds that have a spicy flavor and a rich and singular aroma. Some research is also testing its slimming power. The scientists involved compared the effects of using cumin extracts on overweight and blood sugar.
This particular long red pepper, coming from Cambodia, is a very rare and precious pepper due to its low production, useful for creating delicious and refined dishes, with a sweet and warm taste. It resembles long Bengal pepper in shape but with a decidedly more vanilla flavor, reminiscent of the flavor of tonka beans.
Herbs of Provence are a blend of fresh or dried aromatic plants. Unmissable in the recipes of local cuisine, these herbs are used to give the final touch in vegetable-based dishes, in stews, sauces, ragu and in grilled fish and meat, such as that of Sisteron lamb.
Fenugreek grains have strong properties that make them a tasty and beneficial spice. They are used in cooking for many recipes, for a soothing action on the digestive system and to stimulate the metabolism of carbohydrates and triglycerides.
Wild fennel seeds are considered a particular aromatic spice in cooking, to enrich the flavor of our dishes with a rather sweet taste reminiscent of anise. They are used as ingredients in the home preparation of bread, crackers and breadsticks. Excellent flavorings for recipes with pork, boiled potatoes, gratinated vegetables and other Mediterranean cuisine specialties.