Many times, people ask the difference between Spices and Herbs. They both are different, but the common thing between them is both of these things are used to add taste and flavor in to the food. They are very essential in our cooking and to be precise, a perfect cooking depends on a perfect method of preparation, appropriate quantity of spices, and the use of required herbs at the right time.
Although, there are lot of Spices and Herbs, but in this blog I will be specifying the ones which I generally use in my cooking.
Spices
A Spice is a dried form of a seed, fruit, root, bark primarily used for flavoring and preserving the food.
List of spices (Which I generally use at home)
1) Coriander seeds (In Hindi, we call it Dhaniya Powder): I always prefer to prepare Coriander powder at home. Good cooking begins from a healthy modus operandi, which includes using clean and healthy ingredients. I never buy Coriander powder, and instead, I grind Coriander seeds to prepare Coriander powder. If you compare the home made spices with the ones which you buy from outside, there is a huge difference in the taste, and you will definitely understand this once you start using the above method.
2) Turmeric (In Hindi, we call it Haldi): Similarly, I prepare turmeric powder also at home. You can easily get Turmeric root or raw Turmeric, which is like a hard stone, from the market. Grind it using a grinder, and then see the difference between the home made Turmeric powder and the one which you get from outside. The difference will not only be there in the smell but also in the taste of your food.
3) Cinnamon (In Hindi, we call it Daalchini): Cinnamon is a bark of a tropical evergreen tree. This
is one of my favorite spices, but we have to be very careful while using it because this gives a very strong flavor, if you add it more than required then it can make your dish overly sweet.
4) Black Pepper (In Hindi, we call it Kaali Mirchi): This is another spice which I frequently use in my cooking. This is very good for health and it helps in the detoxification of the blood. I use all types of pepper which includes, White Pepper, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, and Black Pepper. You can use this while garnishing the Salads, Curd, Soups etc.
5) Cumin (In Hindi, we call it Jeera): This is must for my every curry. I do not prepare any curry without using Cumin. Once the Oil is heated up, the first ingredient I always use is Cumin. This is very good for digestion purpose and for the respiratory system. You can also prepare Cumin powder at home which is used for garnishing several things.
6) Ginger (In Hindi, we call it as Adrak): Just like Cumin, Ginger is another Spice which is must in my every curry. But, I always prefer using fresh Ginger, rather than using a Ginger paste, which, according to me, is an unhealthy way of cooking. In order to bring taste and make your food healthy, always use fresh Ginger, and you will notice a huge difference in the taste of your curry.
Herbs
Herbs are the fragrant leaves of various plants with no woody stems. Just like spices, they are primarily used for adding flavors in the food, but most of the times, you do not have to cook them, and they are used for garnishing a dish while serving. Also, you can use Herbs in dried form as well as in the natural form, but you can use spices only in the dried form, which is a major difference between Spices and Herbs.
List of Herbs (Which I generally use at home):
1) Coriander (In Hindi, we call it Dhaniya): Coriander leaves add wonderful taste to the dish. Just like Cumin and Ginger, Coriander is must for my every curry. It not only adds taste, but also brings a freshness, very good color and smell in to the food.
2) Basil: Basil comes from the family of Sweet Basil, which is known as Tulsi in Hindi, and it is widely used for garnishing the Salads. Basil, originally from India, is prominently used in Italian cuisine. It's taste is very much like Sweet Basil (Tulsi), but then also, it differs to some extent. Garnish Salads and curd with it, and enjoy it's taste.
3) Leaf Parsley: Parsley is another herb which sometimes I use while garnishing. Well, it is not easily available, but it is not that difficult to find it. It has a very unique and a strong taste, and you should be very careful regarding its quantity. Just like Basil, this is also prominently used in Italian cuisine, and it looks similar to Coriander leaves.
I will keep on adding more spices and herbs.
Thank you for reading.
Although, there are lot of Spices and Herbs, but in this blog I will be specifying the ones which I generally use in my cooking.
Spices
A Spice is a dried form of a seed, fruit, root, bark primarily used for flavoring and preserving the food.
List of spices (Which I generally use at home)
1) Coriander seeds (In Hindi, we call it Dhaniya Powder): I always prefer to prepare Coriander powder at home. Good cooking begins from a healthy modus operandi, which includes using clean and healthy ingredients. I never buy Coriander powder, and instead, I grind Coriander seeds to prepare Coriander powder. If you compare the home made spices with the ones which you buy from outside, there is a huge difference in the taste, and you will definitely understand this once you start using the above method.2) Turmeric (In Hindi, we call it Haldi): Similarly, I prepare turmeric powder also at home. You can easily get Turmeric root or raw Turmeric, which is like a hard stone, from the market. Grind it using a grinder, and then see the difference between the home made Turmeric powder and the one which you get from outside. The difference will not only be there in the smell but also in the taste of your food.
3) Cinnamon (In Hindi, we call it Daalchini): Cinnamon is a bark of a tropical evergreen tree. This
is one of my favorite spices, but we have to be very careful while using it because this gives a very strong flavor, if you add it more than required then it can make your dish overly sweet.
4) Black Pepper (In Hindi, we call it Kaali Mirchi): This is another spice which I frequently use in my cooking. This is very good for health and it helps in the detoxification of the blood. I use all types of pepper which includes, White Pepper, Green Pepper, Red Pepper, and Black Pepper. You can use this while garnishing the Salads, Curd, Soups etc.5) Cumin (In Hindi, we call it Jeera): This is must for my every curry. I do not prepare any curry without using Cumin. Once the Oil is heated up, the first ingredient I always use is Cumin. This is very good for digestion purpose and for the respiratory system. You can also prepare Cumin powder at home which is used for garnishing several things.
6) Ginger (In Hindi, we call it as Adrak): Just like Cumin, Ginger is another Spice which is must in my every curry. But, I always prefer using fresh Ginger, rather than using a Ginger paste, which, according to me, is an unhealthy way of cooking. In order to bring taste and make your food healthy, always use fresh Ginger, and you will notice a huge difference in the taste of your curry.
Herbs
Herbs are the fragrant leaves of various plants with no woody stems. Just like spices, they are primarily used for adding flavors in the food, but most of the times, you do not have to cook them, and they are used for garnishing a dish while serving. Also, you can use Herbs in dried form as well as in the natural form, but you can use spices only in the dried form, which is a major difference between Spices and Herbs.
List of Herbs (Which I generally use at home):
1) Coriander (In Hindi, we call it Dhaniya): Coriander leaves add wonderful taste to the dish. Just like Cumin and Ginger, Coriander is must for my every curry. It not only adds taste, but also brings a freshness, very good color and smell in to the food.
2) Basil: Basil comes from the family of Sweet Basil, which is known as Tulsi in Hindi, and it is widely used for garnishing the Salads. Basil, originally from India, is prominently used in Italian cuisine. It's taste is very much like Sweet Basil (Tulsi), but then also, it differs to some extent. Garnish Salads and curd with it, and enjoy it's taste.
3) Leaf Parsley: Parsley is another herb which sometimes I use while garnishing. Well, it is not easily available, but it is not that difficult to find it. It has a very unique and a strong taste, and you should be very careful regarding its quantity. Just like Basil, this is also prominently used in Italian cuisine, and it looks similar to Coriander leaves.
I will keep on adding more spices and herbs.
Thank you for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment