Jamie Oliver - Forums / Your Spice Rack

beerforyorky · Mon 14 May 12 9:39am

sergio1972 wrote:
The first question I'd ask is, have you tried star anise? And if so, did you enjoy it?
I've learned that star anise is one of those things that one either loves or hates.
I like it, but I use it in very small portions, sometimes 1/3 or 1/2 of a star and also I dont leave it for long cause its one of those spices that tends to over supersede the others.
But that being said, its also a spice that must be present in a good spice rack!

This post from a different thread had me checking my spice cupboard (I don't have a rack - keep 'em in the dark) to see what I have.

Whole spices: Caraway seeds, cardamom pods (green and black), chilies (dried), cinnamon sticks, cloves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds (normal and black), fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, kalonji seeds, long pepper, mustard seeds, nutmeg, poppy seeds, star anise,

Ground spices: Chili powder, a small quantity of garam masala, paprika, turmeric.

Dried herbs: Bay leaves, curry leaves, fenugreek leaves (methi), oregano, parsley, sage.

I usually have a block of tamarind in the cupboard also.

Cheers

Y

JoyYamDaisy · Mon 14 May 12 10:05am

If you aren't using your tamarind quickly, think about keeping it in the freezer: it does go off! I cut mine into blocks of about 1 dessert spoon. It is easy to pull one off even when frozen!

PS I am so lucky to keep my curry leaves fresh on a plant in the garden! I keep the tree so pruned it is a shrub! cool

mummza · Mon 14 May 12 10:10am

In small LeParfait jars I have ..
Garam Masala
Green cardamom pods
Ground green cardamom ( lovely in baking )
Dried Chilli
Cumin seeds
Nutmegs
Cinnamon bark
Turmeric
Cloves
Coriander seeds
Unground garam masala
Ground cinnamon
Mixed Spice for baking.

I have little tins of smoked and unsmoked paprika.
Jar of peppercorns that I have mixed to my taste .
Pot of dry bay leaves that I collected from my friend in France's garden , they dried within little more than a day once cut .
Pot of Herbs d' Provance bought back in a large packet from Nice.
Dry mustard powder , usefull for adding to flour for dusting meats.

I buy other Asian/Indian spices as I need them and once bought I store them in the snap top small LeParfait jars , I never keep much in and tend to buy fresher spices frequently as the shop is just a few minutes walk away from where I live.

I also sometimes have some dry dill but I have not got any of that at the moment.

beerforyorky · Mon 14 May 12 11:57am

mummza wrote:
Unground garam masala

You have me confused with this one.

Do you mean this:

http://freebeerforyorky.com/spud_files/garammasala.jpg

Apparently there are as many recipes for garam masala as there are cooks/chefs in India.

Cheers

Y

mummza · Mon 14 May 12 12:31pm

I mean a spice mix of seeds , cinnamon bark etc that has not yet been ground, cant remember its correct name but its much as you have shown,
a mix of seeds etc before its been ground.

JoyYamDaisy · Tue 15 May 12 12:50am

This is a great thread, but I am going to make a long list. There are great shops for spices around here and my cooking uses a lot. I have pulled out the box they sit in to put beside me:

Smoked paprika powder
Mustard powder
Nutmegs
Chili powder (homeground)
Black salt
Pimentos
Cumin powder (homeground)
Cinnamon sugar (homeground)
Coriander seeds
Brown mustard seeds
Yellow mustard seeds
Caraway
Sweet paprika powder
Curry powder (homeground)
Saffron threads
Ginger powder
Dried chillies
Nigella seeds
Garam masala (homeground)
Coriander (homeground)
Green peppercorns
5 spice (homeground)
Hing (asafoetida)
Cumin seeds
Fenugreek seeds
Szechuan peppercorns
Black cumin
Black peppercorns
Sumac
Bayleaves
Fennel
Turmeric
Cardmom
Cloves
Cinnamon
Plus Japanese 5 spice whole mix, and Mountain pepper berries I bought from the spice shop when I had coffee with Jutta and Flame Red.... and haven't used yet!

Big breath and I will take the box back to the pantry cupboard! smile

beerforyorky · Tue 15 May 12 6:34am

JoyYamDaisy wrote:
If you aren't using your tamarind quickly, think about keeping it in the freezer: it does go off! I cut mine into blocks of about 1 dessert spoon. It is easy to pull one off even when frozen!

The block I currently have is probably now too old to freeze but I shall bear that in mind the next time we buy some (it's readily available here and cheap - 100mm x 25 mm x 12mm block - 20 pence).

My wife uses it more than I. I tend only to use it for sambal which I do not cook regularly -

http://freebeerforyorky.com/images/sambal.jpg

Cheers

Y

Last edited by beerforyorky (Tue 15 May 12 6:34am)

mummza · Mon 21 May 12 3:54pm

Today I bought some Tamarind as I was going to look up a ketchup recipe . I just cant remember know what book I saw the recipe in roll ah well .. soon I will find it soon lol lol

RedfoxEstonia · Mon 21 May 12 8:53pm

there aint a thing I dont have i think. I am a spice girl hehe

but I also use rowan berries, junipers, other berry flours and flakes I dont know in english. dried blackcurrant leaves, dried wild strawberries, dried mushroom flour. salted dill and parsley. peppermint for making syrup and soaking pound cakes and soft bisquits.

MsPablo · Tue 22 May 12 3:53am

beerforyorky wrote:
JoyYamDaisy wrote:
If you aren't using your tamarind quickly, think about keeping it in the freezer: it does go off! I cut mine into blocks of about 1 dessert spoon. It is easy to pull one off even when frozen!
The block I currently have is probably now too old to freeze but I shall bear that in mind the next time we buy some (it's readily available here and cheap - 100mm x 25 mm x 12mm block - 20 pence).

My wife uses it more than I. I tend only to use it for sambal which I do not cook regularly -

http://freebeerforyorky.com/images/sambal.jpg

Cheers

Y

I've heard that starting with fresh tamarind pods gives a much brighter flavor and the block can be bitter and quite different. I was curious about this because we can find both, but I have never cooked with either.

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#1 Mon 14 May 12 9:39am

beerforyorky

Your Spice Rack

sergio1972 wrote:

#2 Mon 14 May 12 10:05am

JoyYamDaisy

Re: Your Spice Rack

#3 Mon 14 May 12 10:10am

mummza

Re: Your Spice Rack

#4 Mon 14 May 12 11:57am

beerforyorky

Re: Your Spice Rack

mummza wrote:

#5 Mon 14 May 12 12:31pm

mummza

Re: Your Spice Rack

#6 Tue 15 May 12 12:50am

JoyYamDaisy

Re: Your Spice Rack

#7 Tue 15 May 12 6:34am

beerforyorky

Re: Your Spice Rack

JoyYamDaisy wrote:

#8 Mon 21 May 12 3:54pm

mummza

Re: Your Spice Rack

#9 Mon 21 May 12 8:53pm

RedfoxEstonia

Re: Your Spice Rack

#10 Tue 22 May 12 3:53am

MsPablo

Re: Your Spice Rack

beerforyorky wrote:

JoyYamDaisy wrote: