Gourmet Spices for Asian Kitchens

by Tyler P. A Passionate Blogger - Entertainment

Spices form the basis of curries and other dishes in the Indian subcontinent. Two such spices are curry leaves and Chinese five-spice powder.

One of the most prominent flavors in various Indian and Sri Lankan dishes is that of curry leaves. They give spicy citrus flavors to various food items and are also immensely aromatic. For best results, you can use them in a manner similar to bay leaves.

Health benefits of curry leaves

Curry leaves are loaded with a number of vitamins and minerals. They contain phosphorus, iron, and calcium in generous amounts. Along with this, they also consist of vitamins A, B, C, and E. Curry leaves are believed to reduce high triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Thereby, it reduces the chances of heart diseases, but more research with respect to the same needs to be done.

This spice is highly suitable for blood sugar, which has been determined on the basis of animal research. Rodent research has shown that curry leaves can bring down induced pains of different types. It comes with antibacterial properties as well.

Here is another health tip. If you wish to fight grey hair and diabetes, consider consuming 4-5 curry leaves in raw form.

Recipes that use curry leaves

You can buy curry leaves if you want to prepare one or more of the following dishes:

Butter chicken
Malaysian Beef Rendang
Malabari curry
Sri Lankan dal curry
Sri Lankan Brinjal Pahi

They are commonly used for a variety of South Indian dishes, some of which are:

Bisi Bele Bhaat
Curd Rice
Pongal Kootu Curry
Kolu
Cabbage Poriyal
Beetroot and coconut subzi
Kai Kutan

Yet another spice commonly used in Asian cuisines is the Chinese five-spice powder. Chinese food has several tasty options for both non-vegetarian and vegetarian eaters. If you order five spice powder, you can prepare and consume much of the Chinese food in your home.

Spices in Chinese five-spice powder

Chinese spice powder is a complex mix of a number of spices. These include:

Sichuan pepper
Cloves
Chinese cinnamon
Star anise
Fennel seeds

It gets the name ‘five spice’ since five spices are being put together here. Its flavor is a mixture of licorice and star anise. Additionally, it also contains warm and sweet flavors due to fennel and cinnamon. Arabic cookery normally makes use of seven spices, but it may also use this powder.

Uses of Chinese five-spice

You can use Chinese five-spice powder for both food and drinks. Here are its top uses:

1) It can be sprinkled on cookies, bread, and muffins

2) Marinade for a duck, pork, beef, and chicken

3) Cocktails can be made warm and spicy with it

4) Various kinds of grilled and roasted meats get aromatic flavors

5) Get a new flavor in oatmeals with this mix

6) Soups get distinct flavors with this spice mix.

7) Use it as a glaze for chicken, pork, and grilled ribs

8) It counteracts the fiery chipotle powder in sweet and spicy potato wedges.

9) Add sweetness to beef and broccoli and beef with this and orange rind