Aromatic Herbs and Spices transform the ordinary into something magical. These botanical wonders are more than just flavor enhancers. Herbs and Spices have been used for culinary as well as medicinal purposes for centuries. Herbs and spices add flavor and aroma to the food and excite the taste buds making food tasty. However, their use involves skill and art, which if mastered will make your meal tasty and healthy.
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History of Herbs and Spices:
Herbs and Spices have a rich history and many health benefits. Ancient Greeks as well as Romans were known to have used variety of herbs and spices in their daily diet. Since then, cultures have used them to not only enhance their food, but also for their medicinal effects. Turmeric, for example, is revered by Ayurvedic doctors for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. Modern kitchens are experiencing a renewed interest in herbs, spices and culinary traditions. Both gourmets and home cooks alike want to enhance their dishes and rediscover ancient culinary practices.
Fresh Herbs, such as basil and cilantro, can give meals a vitality that dried substitutes cannot. Spice blends like za’atar and garam masala are a great way to discover global cuisines, without having to leave your home. Herbs and Spices can be a passport to cultures that you find in our spice racks. Let’s explore this flavorful world and embrace their transformative power, not only on our plates, but in our relationship with food.
Culinary Magic of Herbs and Spice:
Before moving on to their uses, lets dive into the little chemistry of herbs and spices which will help in understanding their uses.
Herbs:
Herbs are usually taken from plant leaves and stalks. The aroma and flavor come from tiny droplets on oil in tiny glands in leaves and stalks. These tiny oil droplets easily dissolve in oil/ fat and poorly in water.
Types of Herbs:
Herbs have two categories that are, Hardy Herbs and Tender Herbs. Uses of both the types vary according to their characteristics.
- Hardy Herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano and bay have tough leaves and they generally come from areas with dry climate. Best use of Hardy herbs is adding them early while cooking to give them time to release their essence, aroma and flavor. Depending on taste, for milder flavor, hardy herbs can be used whole, while for a more intense flavor they can be chopped while cooking.
- For Tender Herbs, like mint, parsley, basil, cilantro, chives, dill and tarragon, are best to use at the end of cooking or for garnish, as their tenderness does not allow their use prior. The freshness and aroma of tender herbs is best preserved once used as close to serving as possible.
Tips for Using and Storing Herbs:
Let’s talk a little about storage of both these types of herbs;
- Hardy Herbs can be used both as fresh and dried. They must be stored in airtight container once used as fresh and they can be kept for 2-3 weeks depending on their freshness as well as quality. Once dried, they can be stored for longer durations.
- Tender Herbs last lesser and are best served fresh. To keep tender herbs fresh, they can be placed in water container like flowers. Often, we have problem of brownness in tender herbs. This can be prevented by giving a mild steam for 10-15 seconds at 90 degrees Celsius or sprinkling a little lemon juice.
Health Benefits of Herbs:
Before we move on to spices, let’s talk a little bit about Health Benefits of different herbs.
- Rosemary is extremely helpful in preventing Allergies and Nasal congestion.
- Sage improves neural functions and helps improve memory.
- Holy Basil is excellent immunity booster. Oregano is excellent antioxidant and helps fight bacteria. Thyme is a mineral rich herb. Parsley has anti-inflammatory properties.
You can find more details about the world’s healthiest herbs and their benefits.
Spices:
Spices are extracted from plant products that are a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food. The have been used historically for not only adding flavor to the food but also providing health benefits. They also being hardy in nature are best added in the start of cooking process so as to give them time to release their flavors fully.
Spices often come in ground form but a spice more than 6 months old might have lost its aroma and flavor. Hence, best spices are the ones prepared at home. Another important thing is to buy spices in small quantity as old unused spices will seldom add adequate flavor and aroma.
Tips for Using and Storing Spices:
- Right amount of spice is the key to bringing about the best taste for a specific food recipe. Too much or too less spice will destroy the food rather than improving taste. Still, it is safer to add lesser amount at first while trying with any specific spice.
- With regards to storage, never store spices over cabinets over cooking range or stoves as heat will degrade the spices quicker than normal.
Health Benefits and Uses of Different Spices:
Now, little discussion on different types of spices and their Health Benefits.
- Both types of Cardamom (black and green). Cardamoms are used in all types of foods. They have extremely strong flavor.
- Cinnamon is another aromatic spice and is used in variety of dishes. It blends with sweet as well as savory dishes alike. It is also used in baking a lot.
- Turmeric is one spice which not only adds taste to curries is stuffed with rich medicinal benefits.
- Black pepper also known as the ‘king of spices’ can be used in any dish and is the most used spice of all.
- Cloves are an excellent blend with meat dishes and broths complementing their taste and flavor.
- Cumin seeds and its powder in curries, soups, stews, with beans, in spice rubs and rice exemplify their taste and aroma.
Please find more information about the health benefits of different spices here.
Conclusion:
As a conclusion, Herbs and Spices are vital for more than only making food taste better; they also provide several health benefits that can boost our entire health. Incorporating a variety of these tasty items into our meals allows us to enhance commonplace dishes while benefiting from their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities.
The possible benefits are numerous and diverse, ranging from improving digestion with ginger to bolstering heart health with garlic. As we venture into uncharted culinary territory, let us welcome the lively realm of spices and herbs to elevate our meals and our lives.
By incorporating these essential pantry ingredients; Herbs and Spices into your cooking routine, you open the door to exciting culinary explorations right in your kitchen. Honor their potential by experimenting with new combinations that you haven’t yet discovered.
To sum it up, Herbs and Spices increase the taste and aroma of foods remarkably. Herbs and Spices add brilliance and uniqueness to the foods. However, their correct use, keeping in view their characteristics, is vital. Start experimenting in your kitchen today and unlock the power of herbs and spices to enhance both your meals and your health!
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