Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
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Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
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(Text)ExOTIC SPICES- 241 –
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Moist, well drained; adaptable to various
well-draining soils. Add mulch to the site to prevent the
growth of weeds.
Plant: Cuttings or young plants; seeds require strati-
fication, and sometimes scarification to germinate, as
well as several years to mature into fruit-bearing trees
Water: Regularly, to keep the soil consistently moist
Harvest: Berries are ready for harvest in the fall, usually in October, when they’re
reddish-brown. Snip off bunches from the stems.Keep It Fresh
Dry fresh berries in the sun or in any dry
location for a couple days. They should
split open while drying. If the berries are
still closed, open them by lightly crushing
the husks using a mortar and pestle, and
remove the seeds. A rolling pin gently
worked over the closed berries will also
do the trick. Store the split husks in an
airtight container.In the Kitchen
Dishes: Stir-fries, braises, marinades,
sauces, rubs, noodles, rice
Prep: Inspect dried berries for stray
seeds, stems, and thorns, and discard
any you find. They should be dry-roasted
before cooking to release their flavor
(see page 150). Grind using a mortar
and pestle or an electric spice grinder,
and sift out any remaining stems and husks. Berries begin losing flavor after they’re
ground, so grind only small batches at a time.
Serve: In Chinese cooking, Sichuan pepper is most frequently partnered with chili
peppers, star anise, and ginger. The Sichuan pepper–chili pepper combo is beloved for
its own distinct flavor, called ma la, or “numbing spicy.” Ma is the numbing Sichuan
pepper and la is the spicy chili. Ground Sichuan pepper is also often combined with
salt and black pepper to make a dry rub for beef or chicken. It’s a natural complement
to fatty meats like pork and duck.SUBSTITUTIONS
- Lemon pepper
- Black pepper
PAIRINGS
Vegetables: eggplant, green
beans, mushrooms, onions
Proteins: beans, beef, chicken,
duck, eggs, pork
Seasonings: allspice, bay leaf,
chili peppers, cloves, coriander
seeds, fennel seeds, garlic, ginger,
juniper berries, lemon juice,
paprika, parsley, pepper, poppy
seeds, rosemary, sage, scallions,
sesame seeds, sesame oil, soy
sauce, star anise, thymeJob:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
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Job:07-61264 Title:RacePoint - Herb and Spice Companion
Dtp:VIVIAN Page:24161264 - Herb and Spice Companion_146-256.indd 241 3/7/15 5:24 pm