Salsa, made from finely diced vegetables and spices, is a fresh, nourishing, and flavorful addition to any meal. But, more significantly, it is a nutritious powerhouse with numerous health advantages. Salsa is the Spanish word for “sauce”, but it is healthier than sauces like sriracha. Its primary ingredient is usually fresh-chopped tomatoes. However, other exotic […]

Blue cheese is a semi-soft cheese variant with a salty and sharp taste. It is mainly cultured from the edible penicillium genus mould. The marble texture on the cheese is caused by the spore moulds leaving a unique green-blue network design. Strains of penicillium like Penicillium expansum can be dangerous to consume, but Penicillium glaucum […]

Sriracha is a spicy sauce containing various taste-enhancing ingredients like chilli peppers, sugar, distilled vinegar, garlic, and salt. It is a bright red condiment that originated from Sri Racha in Thailand. A woman named Thanom Chakkapak invented the recipe for the famous Sriracha sauce in Thailand. Originally it was only for her friends and family, […]

Many people suffer from cholesterol problems, leading to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other metabolic disorders. People are trying to adopt different exercise routines with a healthy balanced diet to reduce cholesterol levels. Everyone is leaning toward plant sources for the consumption of healthy fats and oil because of their zero cholesterol levels in them. The […]

Popularly called Sarson ka Tel in India, mustard oil is a versatile ingredient in most kitchens. While it is known for its intense flavour and culinary purposes, mustard oil also has numerous health benefits. For example, the anti-inflammatory properties of mustard are good for diabetes. In addition, mustard oil contains an ample dose of notable […]

Tahini is a paste made from ground, toasted sesame seeds. It has a robust nutty taste since sesame seeds have a peculiar flavour. As a result, tahini is way more versatile with a better savoury flavour profile and might replace your favourite nut and seed butter. You might know tahini as the primary ingredient of […]

Erythritol is a naturally great sweetener and is extremely popular. It is a common sweetener in low-calorie foods, sweets, and bakery products. Erythritol is a carbohydrate that is a sugar alcohol and is a sugar substitute. It is a naturally occurring substance in many fruits like peaches, grapes, pears, watermelons, etc. It is also present […]

The term ‘Cumin’ is from the Latin Cuminum, from the Greek term ‘Kyminon.’ cumin is famous with a variety of names in several languages, including kū míng (Chinese), jeera (Hindi), Cumino (Italian), Comino (Spanish), Cumin (French), Kamoun (Arabic), and kreuzkümmel (German). It is the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, also related to parsley. […]

With increasing awareness of the benefits of vegetable oils as food and nutraceuticals (health-enhancing foods), the demand for vegetable oil has rapidly risen. However, this global trend leads to the insufficiency of vegetable oils, which entails exploring new sources of edible oil to meet the demands. And wheat germ oil is as valuable as gold. […]

Wasabi, also called Japanese horseradish, is a cruciferous vegetable that rises inherently along streambeds in mountain river canyons in Japan. It also grows in parts of Korea, China, New Zealand, and North America, where it is shady and moist. It is known for its robust and fragrant flavour and sharp green colour. Wasabi is an […]

The sweet and sour sauce is a generic term that encompasses many sauces, mainly including various flavours, fruits, vegetables and exciting additives that give sauces a mix of sweet and sour tastes. The Chinese made the sauce, considering how one can benefit from flavouring substances such as sauces. These sauces became famous because of their […]

French dressing has been a classic salad accompaniment since its introduction to the Americans in the 1880s. However, the name is a misnomer with a somewhat murky past and a controversial list of ingredients. Though most people use French dressing and French vinaigrette synonymously, they are quite different in taste, appearance, and origin.  ‘Vinaigrette’ refers […]

Pesto originated from Genoa, Italy, and has its roots in ancient Rome. The word “Pesto” means crush. A thick green sauce that is now widely loved by all. The most common variety is pesto Alla Genovese. The traditional sauce contains fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts (pignoli). It’s the world’s second […]

If this is the first time you hear about duck sauce, don’t worry, it is entirely vegan. Also, the chef did not harm any ducks in the process. Well, jokes apart, duck sauce is an orange liquid with a jelly-like consistency and is made out of apples, plum, and apricots along with vinegar, ginger, and […]

Behold the king of the berries, deliciously sweet and packed with an acidic punch, a berry to take away your blues. Yes! You’ve guessed it right. We’re talking about blueberries. There is a long list of blueberry benefits. After all, people consider it a wonder food. But, before we jump into the proven health benefits […]

Nutmeg is a seed cultivated from a tropical evergreen tree commonly found in Indonesia. This spice is valuable for its sweet aroma and unique flavour. Though it is a common choice in several cuisines because of its flavourful characteristics, it also has abundant health benefits. For culinary purposes, you can add it to various dishes. […]

Tarragon (Scientific name: Artemisia dracunculus) is a perennial herb that belongs to the sunflower family. The plant grows mainly in North America and Eurasia. It may grow up to 5 feet in length, is quite nutritious, and contains a mix of minerals. Not only this, but traditionally, it finds usage as a medicinal herb due […]

Cocktail Sauce, also known as Seafood Sauce, is a cold or room temperature condiment. You can serve and consume it with seafood like shrimps, prawns, oysters, etc. It is a popular and tasty sauce and is the main appetizer accompaniment in many restaurants, buffets, and dinner parties. Also, the cocktail sauce adds flavour and taste […]

Aioli is a savoury accompaniment often eaten as a dip with boiled vegetables, eggs, and sandwiches. It is salty mayonnaise with a tinge of garlic and is readily available. The word “aïoli” literally means oil and garlic (‘ail’ is garlic in French and ‘oli’ is oil in Catalan, Italian).  Traditionally, it was a mix of […]

Spices are the secret to enhancing the taste of any recipe. Be it veggies or meats; everything benefits from adding spices. Spices like cumin powder, fenugreek powder, and black pepper add different flavours to your dish. To ensure that your dishes taste good and look good, you will need spices like chilli powder, cayenne pepper, […]

Kelp (scientific name: Laminariales) is a large brown seaweed. Seaweeds claim to contain at least 10 times the amount of minerals compared to the plants grown on soil. This is because the seaweeds absorb minerals from their surrounding marine environment. Seaweeds are a typical food in the Japanese style of cooking. Various kinds are edible […]

Gelatin or gelatine (Latin: Gelatus meaning “frozen” or “stiff”) is a protein obtained from collagen. The colourless and flavourless protein is multifunctional. It’s colourless and flavourless. Gelatin originated from the tendons, ligaments, and boiling skin of the animals like cows and pigs. It can be in powdered form, tablets, and even granules. Chemically gelatin is […]

Dill (scientific name: Anethum graveolens) is a weed used popularly as a garnish. It grows in most parts of the world but is native to the Mediterranean and the southern regions of Russia. It is highly nutritious and is an excellent source of various minerals and vitamins. It was used in ancient Asian cultures as […]

Guava, also known as “amrood” in Hindi, is round/oval and is full of tiny hard seeds in the centre. It is native to Central America and has a versatile inner and outer layer. In addition, it also possesses a unique flavour and fragrance. People call it one of the best superfruits due to the numerous […]

Late-night snacking, also called nighttime snacking, refers to eating snacks after dinner. It is a habit of snacking at, or even after, bedtime. If you’re eating late at night, you could just be bored or stressed. Craving salty snacks might indicate dehydration rather than a sign of an empty stomach. And if you’re eating late, […]

Grapeseed oil comes from squishing the seeds of grapes, and the oil is a byproduct of making wine. It is excellent because of the nutritional content it contains. Grapeseed oil is the byproduct of the winemaking industry in the commercial and economic aspects only. Nutritionally, it is not a byproduct, but rather, they derive the […]

Mustard is one of the earliest recorded spices the world has ever known. It is a member of the Brassicaceae family. Scientifically it is called Sinapis. The variations included are Brassica nigra (black mustard), Brassica rapa (field mustard), and Sinapis alba L. (yellow mustard). Mustard has a wide array of usage. For example, as paste, […]

Sweet on potatoes, but worried about the calories they contain? It’s time for you to try a healthier alternative. Sweet potatoes, best known as shakarkandi in India, don’t belong to the same tuberous family as the potato. However, their starchy and creamy texture makes them an ideal substitute for regular potatoes in most dishes. Recently […]

Spinach, a popular green leafy vegetable, is loaded with many nutrients. It is full of iron and has various vitamins and minerals. This cruciferous vegetable is scientifically known as Spinacia oleracea, and it originated in Persia. However, nowadays, it is available globally. The USA and China are the leading producers of spinach.  This anti-cancerous veggie […]

The grapefruit or Citrus Paradise is a hybrid fruit. It is also known as the forbidden fruit, Chakotra, in Hindi. It is a subtropical citrus fruit as opposed to its sweeter counterparts and contains a tart taste. It belongs to the family of oranges. Grapefruits are low in calories, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free and fat-free, rich […]