Exotic spices are called condiments of plant origin and their varied foreign smells and flavors, which for reasons known or not, have been transported to other parts to be included in gastronomic recipes and give a touch of flavor and particular seasoning to native foods. made by nationals.
Bland foods, tasteless by nature, but nutritious, can change their flavor just by being seasoned with some of these spices and giving it a flavor completely opposite to the original, without altering its natural properties. That's why we've put together
a list of exotic spices you should try in your kitchen.
Exotic spices that enliven the flavor of your meals
1. Ras el Hanout
Ras el hanout is also known as the Moroccan blend, which translates to ''the best of the store'' and is considered a blend of sophisticated herbs and spices originating from Morocco. This mixture is mainly composed of cloves, black pepper, green cardamom, white pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, ground nutmeg, cayenne pepper, ground cinnamon, ground ginger and ground turmeric.
However,
it is a mixture that manages to reach more than 30 spices . There is no single recipe to make ras el hanout, but each region contributes its influence, adding more or eliminating some spices. In gastronomy, ras el hanout is used in game dishes, to marinate meats and fish, to flavor sauces in Tajin and in vegetables.
2. Turmeric
Turmeric is a tropical plant with light yellow flowers, with a great aroma, widely used in Southeast Asia and India. Its name derives from ''KurKum'' which in Persia means saffron. The presence of turmeric in gastronomy dates back more than 4 thousand years, taking its color as a natural dye to beautify foods such as rice. It is also used as the main ingredient in the preparation of sauces and stews in the cuisine of the East, Middle East and Southeast Asia.
In Tibet, China, India and Indonesia it is better known as saffron. And currently, it is used throughout the world in the food industry as a colorant with powerful characteristics in foods such as butter, cheese and mustard.
3. Garam Masala
In India, ''masal'' is the word used to identify any type of spices used in cooking and the word ''garam'' means heat, meaning that the union of these two words relates to hot spices.
Gram Masala is a mixture of dry spices , almost always toasted and then ground.
Great Masala is composed of: cumin, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, chili powder, cardamom among others.
This spice is used in cooking, unlike the others, once the dish is ready , that is, at the end of cooking in curry dishes, soups, recipes with vegetables, among others.
4. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is a fruit from Indonesia, from a tree called Moscata. There are records of its use since Roman times, where it was used as incense. Nutmeg is a spice with woody characteristics, it has a bitter taste with an excellent aroma,
its play of flavors can be appreciated when combined with pepper or other spices with a stronger flavor .
Its use in gastronomy is linked to the preparation of soups and white sauces, although it makes a good combination with green vegetables such as spinach, chard, and broccoli. It is also used as a seasoning for fish and beef, and at Christmas it gives a good taste to some desserts.
5. Madagascar cloves
The Madagascar clove is also known in much of the world as clove, clove or spice clove. This spice is extracted from the flower bud of the ''Caryophillus aromaticus'' tree native to the Moluccan Islands. In the culinary arts it is used in desserts such as apple cakes and fruit punches. Flours for bread can be seasoned with Madagascar cloves and panela, creating a very special seasoned sweet bread. And in salty foods it is used in stews, rabbits, meat stews and some fish dishes.
AND? You? In which dishes you use these spices, share with us your favorite recipes.
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