Herb & Spice Companion

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Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

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Exotic Spices

• 209 –

Size: Up to 3 feet tall

Container: 6 to 10 inches deep

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Soil: Light to heavy, but rich and well drained

Plant: Seeds or cuttings

Water: Regularly, when the soil feels dry, about once

a week

Harvest: Once the flowers and seeds turn brown, they are ready for harvest. Snip off

flowers into a paper bag and hang to dry. When completely dry, remove the seeds

from their husks.

Care: Weed regularly. The plants can withstand cooler temperatures, but protect

from hard winter frosts.

In the Kitchen

Dishes: Curries, stews, sauces, breads,

pickling spices, chutneys

Prep: In Indian cooking, ajwain seeds

are often “tempered” before adding to

a dish. This method involves frying the

spice in hot oil or ghee, and then incor-

porating with other ingredients either at

the start of cooking or at the very end.

Frying in fat tones down ajwain’s pun-

gency and brings out its complex flavors.

The seeds are also often dry-roasted,

though very rarely (if ever) served raw.

Seeds can be ground to a powder using

a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, but

they’re just as flavorful whole.

Serve: Use sparingly so the strong

ajwain flavor doesn’t overpower your

dish. Long cook times will mellow out

its intensity, while adding at the end of

cooking results in sharper flavor. Ajwain is commonly paired with root vegetables

and beans, added to veggie and fish curries, and baked into savory breads. It’s also

a regular seasoning for fried Indian staples like samosas (stuffed pastries) and

pakoras (fritters).

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Dried thyme


• Dried oregano


• Cumin

PAIRINGS

Vegetables: cabbage, carrots,

cauliflower, eggplant, green

beans, onions, peas, potatoes,

pumpkin, spinach, squash

Proteins: beans, cheeses, fish,

lentils

Seasonings: amchoor,

asafetida, cardamom, chili

peppers, cinnamon, cloves, cumin,

curry leaf, fennel seeds, garlic,

ginger, pepper, turmeric

Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
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Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion

Dtp:VIVIAN Page:209

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