There are so many opportunities to take what you already have in your pantry and play. Spice Blog 2014 today is just about that: What to mix, rub and blend together to get the flavor you can savor.
Yesterday’s blog was vegan, so let’s start with our beef eaters today. How about taking some grass fed beef and making a rub to spread on it that will knock your socks off: Ginger, Cumin, Cayenne, Parsley, Cilantro, Red Onion and Salt & Pepper.
How’s that for flavoring?
And how about a Cuban Sauce you can use with Pita Bread? (That’s Cumin, Cayenne, Paprika, Lemon, Parsley and Cilantro). You have to be fearless and just go for it! Experiment! You will find that too much Cumin, just like too much Nutmeg is just…. too much. But you’ll never know until you try!
Do you know the spices for a good gumbo? Paprika, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Granulated Onion & Garlic, Salt & Pepper. Less is more. Simple is better. Of course, it’s going to be better flavor if you leave the heads on the shrimp, and add good Andouille Sausage, Crabs and Grouper, starting with a roux (flour & butter or flour and oil used to thicken the sauce). And if you will start with that base of onions, peppers and carrots, adding a splash of white wine to scrape the bits off the bottom…. and later add tomato paste and puree, you will be amazed as the flavors develop. And these spices? This sauce? It doesn’t have to be for animal protein. You can make the roux with oil, add veg broth and to that sautéed soy and do your own kind of gumbo. Now I know that ‘gumbo’ means fish. But how about recreating green beans, using all those ingredients to create a Green Bean Gumbo for Christmas? That’s going to be a way different flavor than you’re used to eating, when making just plain vegetables. Right?
RIGHT CHEF!
And why can’t you blend Celery, Oranges, Fuji Apples, Beer, Jalepeno’s, Sage, Sea Salt, and cloves of Garlic to make a yummy base to steam veggies in?
I think you can. I think you can step out of your box and experiment. And that’s what I want from you today. Put your brains and everything you know aside, and just get out different spices and experiment.
You will be amazed at how good tarragon is, for example. How often do you use Marjoram?
And why can’t you make your own falafel? I’ll bet you could if you knew what ingredients, what spices to combine. Yes?
YES CHEF!
So take your Chick Peas, your Garlic, Allspice, Cinnamon, Cumin, Coriander, Cayenne, Chili Flakes and Salt & Pepper and mix. Let it sit overnight. Then after 24 hours, add Baking Soda, roll into balls and pan sear them. I tell you! It’s nothing but YUM!
Will you join me in the experiment?
YES CHEF!
Thank you. Thank you very much….
Happy Eating,
Chef Marian