Unveiling 10 Fascinating Facts About Common Ingredients! Delve into the hidden stories behind your kitchen staples. Read on for surprising insights!
Ever wondered about the secret life of your favourite
kitchen staples? Beyond their delicious flavour and culinary uses, common ingredients harbor fascinating stories and surprising properties.
Get ready to have your mind blown as we uncover 10 fun facts about popular ingredients that you probably didn't know!
Turmeric's Golden Secret
We all know turmeric, that bright yellow spice that adds a vibrant colour and earthy flavour to our curries and dals. But did you know that the active compound in turmeric, curcumin, is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent?
For centuries, it has been used in Ayurveda for its medicinal properties, and modern research is constantly uncovering new health benefits. It can be used not only in curries like sambhar,kootu but in drinks such as turmeric latte.
Coriander's Divisive Flavour
Coriander, also known as cilantro, is a leafy green herb that's a staple in many Indian dishes. However, did you know that some people genetically perceive coriander as having a soapy taste? This is due to a gene that detects certain aldehydes, volatile organic compounds found in coriander.
It's not a matter of personal preference, but a genuine difference in how people experience flavour! Many will add it to chutneys, add it to salads or decorate food items. This herb that seems so popular is actually perceived differently by different people.
Ginger's Spicy Roots
Ginger, with its pungent aroma and zingy taste, is a common ingredient in Indian cooking and traditional remedies. But did you know that ginger is actually a rhizome, not a root? A rhizome is an underground stem that sends out roots and shoots. Not just in tea, ginger is used in many dishes.
From ginger garlic paste to just stir fries, many dishes use ginger as the main item. It is also an immunity booster drink.
Cardamom's Royal History
Cardamom, the "queen of spices," is a fragrant spice used in both sweet and savoury dishes. But did you know that cardamom was once used as a form of currency? In ancient civilizations, cardamom pods were highly valued and traded as a precious commodity.
It is a digestive aid and also has an aromatic flavour. It can be added to sweets like kheer or even to biryani to get a more aromatic taste.
Saffron's Precious Threads
Saffron, the world's most expensive spice, is derived from the stigma of the Crocus sativus flower. But did you know that it takes approximately 170,000 flowers to produce just one kilogram of saffron? All these flowers need to be handpicked. It's no wonder that saffron is so highly prized!
To add colour and flavour to many dishes, saffron is used. It is an flavour enhancer.
Cumin's Ancient Origins
Cumin, with its warm and earthy flavour, is a staple spice in many Indian dishes. But did you know that cumin dates back to ancient Egypt, where it was used as a preservative and in mummification rituals? This adds to the flavour of butter milk. It is also a basic addition to sambhar.
Cumin is also believed to be useful to aid digestion.
Mint’s many varieties
Mint, is a common ingredient that we use for various dishes. But many people are not aware that mint has up to 600 varieties. From peppermint to spearmint there are many variants. However the benefits of mint are endless. It can be added to salads as well as it can be used for many types of drinks.
The flavour of each variety is distinct in their own way.
Curry leaves prevent hair greying, add aroma to dishes
Curry leaves unique aroma - Curry leaves are also a common ingredients in Indian dishes that we regularly use. It has lots of benefits and gives a good aroma when cooking. But did you know that if you directly consume curry leaves, it prevents hair greying?
Directly consuming curry leaves comes wiith its own benefit. Ofcourse, the smell of curry leaves when you fry it in hot oil is also considered good and makes your dishes delicious.
Fennel seeds aid weight loss and freshen breath in India
Fennel seeds, a mouth freshener - Most of the restaurants in India give fennel seeds with sugar syrup towards the end of your food. But did you know, fennel seeds help to reduce your weight? Yes, it helps in the weight loss as well as can be used to reduce your bad breath.
Also, some add only fennel seeds with sugar, some add fennel seeds with dhall and sugar. Each restaurant offers different combinations.
Mustard seeds come in various types and flavors
The mustard seeds varieties - There are many types of mustard seeds. Some are big, some are small. Some are black, some are brown and some are yellow. Many add mustard seeds when preparing sambar or rasam. But did you know that it adds distinct flavors to each of the dishes.
Also, when you directly add mustard seeds to your dishes it tastes different than when you allow it to sputter in oil and then add it to the dishes.
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