Cooking with spice mixes, pastes and sauces

Alex Cramer, 2018

This cookbook is about the art of mixing herbs and spices.– You will get acquainted with the main theory of mixing the spices and herbs.– You will discover the 35 most popular spices and herbs.– You will find out a description of the 35 most popular varieties of chili peppers.– You will learn many more useful information.And finally you will plunge into the world of spicy combinations and get acquainted with the recipes of more than 300 dry spice mixes, pastes and sauces, as well as their variations.Step by step you will learn the art of fragrant spice balance and the taste's magic of spicy combinations!

BAY LEAF

This particular spice gives a unique aroma (sweet, tart, balsamic, with notes of nutmeg) to many broths, soups and sauces, especially tomato ones. Bay leaf contains a balanced flavour of bitterness that is admired by many chefs. Each dish requires individual dosage of this spice, but without doubt it should always be added moderately. Bay leaf is very similar to allspice as both of the spices require a long time to give their flavor. This is why bay leaf is better to be added in a very beginning of cooking process. Marinated vegetables, fruits and mushrooms are hard to imagine without this aromatic leaf. This spice is added to some spice blends, however, it brought the greatest fame to a bouquet of garnish. On the top photo — Turkish bay leaf, on the bottom — Californian.

Bay leaf pairing:

Fruits and vegetables: artichoke, cabbage (including cauliflower), potatoes, strawberries, corn, carrots, cucumbers, tomato, beets, pumpkin, citrus, apple.

Protein product: lamb, beef and veal, wild game (including venison, feathered game: quail, partridge), legumes (peas, beans, rice, lentils), sausages, seafood (especially crab, oysters, shrimp), poultry (chicken, duck, turkey), fish (especially salmon, tuna), pork, cheese.

Other foods: mushrooms, desserts, custard, juice (lemon), soups and broths, tomato sauces, stews, vinegar.

Seasonings and spices: basil, vanilla, cloves, onion, marjoram, oregano, paprika, allspice, black pepper, chili, parsley, rosemary, celery, thyme, fennel, savory, garlic, sage.

Cuisines and dishes: Moroccan cuisine, mole sauces, polenta, Mediterranean cuisine, Turkish cuisine, French cuisine.

BLACK PEPPER

We think we know all about this spice as it can be found in every kitchen in various corners of our planet. Unfortunately, this spice is faked up quite often. The real and quality black pepper is really expensive. Black pepper has a warm tart aroma and flavour. Without the slightest doubt, you should buy only whole peppercorns and grind it before seasoning the dish.This spice is universal and it is easier to list those spice mixes that do not contain this pepper rather that list those that this spice supplements. Freshly ground black pepper is added in the very last minutes of cooking process.

White pepper. This kind of pepper is derived by removing its outer shell. In simple phrase, white pepper is a black pepper that was removed from its shell. Its flavor is less spicy while its aroma is stronger that of black pepper. It well harmonizes with meat, fish (especially white), cloves, ginger, nutmeg, potatoes, various pastas and sauces.

Green pepper. These green peppercorns are unripe berries of black pepper. It has a piquant fresh aroma and pleasant pungency. It goes well when added in sauces, marinades, pickles and sausages. It harmonizes well with various kinds of vegetables, bay leaf, avocado, beef and veal, butter, poultry (chicken, duck, turkey), wild game (especially venison), garlic, mustard, parsley, pork, sage, various kinds of salads (as dressing seasoning ), fish (especially salmon), seafood (especially prawns).

Pink pepper. Unlike black, white and green peppers, pink pepper in fact is not even a pepper. However, it is worth mentioning. Its unique feature is the balance of spicy and sweet. The aroma is fruity, with pine notes, remotely resembling juniper berries. Having a piquant taste, pink pepper has proven itself with delicate products such as fish, seafood, poultry, pork, venison and other wild game. Crushed pink pepper goes as a powder for desserts, for example, ice cream.

Black pepper pairing:

Black pepper pairs and harmonizes with virtually all vegetables, fruits and protein products.

Seasonings and spices: basil, cloves, cumin, ginger, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, fenugreek, paprika, allspice, chili, parsley, rosemary, thyme, caraway, fennel, savory, garlic, sage.