Winter Warmers

Cooking with spices often makes people think of hot chili, yet there are so many other wonderful spices to explore that bring exciting flavours to savoury and sweet food.  Some are warming and stimulating, while others have medicinal uses.  Here is a selection of some favourites from our large spice range:

CUMIN - A great savoury spice used in Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican food.  This spice will be found in most Indian curry and Mexican chili recipes.  It is often sprinkled liberally over rice dishes.  The seeds of this small flowering herb from the parsley family are also rich in iron and have many medicinal uses.  Cumin can help the liver to detox the body and help with digestive disorders such as flatulence, indigestion, diarrhoea and nausea.  It is also said to increase body heat.

CARDAMOM - A spice from central Asia used widely in savoury and sweet dishes.  Cardamon is a relative of ginger however it is the seed pods of this plant that are used.  There are several different varieties of cardamom and it is green cardamom that is mostly available here in New Zealand.  It is used in the spice mix garam masala in many curry recipes and is an ingredient in traditional Turkish Coffee.  As a medicine it is helpful with teeth and gum infections, freshens the breath and may be useful for lung congestion and digestive disorders.

STAR ANISE - This star-shaped spice is the seed pod from an evergreen tree of the Magnolia family native parts of China and Japan.  Star Anise goes very well with red meat, especially in the slow cooker, in Indian and Chinese recipes.  It is also an ingredient in Chinese five spice.  It has a similar flavour to aniseed and liquorice yet it is not related.  The seeds can be chewed to aid digestion and can also be make into a tea to help with rheumatism.

TUMERIC - A fragrant and colourful spice which gives curry powder its yellow colour.  It is a relative of ginger and the root of the plant is used.  Tumeric is used as a food colouring and can be used to replace saffron in recipes such as paella.  Tumeric is useful as a medicine and is known for its anti-inflammatory properties in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.  It is also a powerful antioxidant with antiseptic and antibacterial properties.  If you intend to use this spice medicinally please consult a health care provider before doing so.

So make some room in your spice rack and have fun using these spices with confidence in your kitchen.

Giles Young, Huckleberry Farms, Greenlane