Archive for April, 2009

Cardamom (Buah Pelaga)

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Latin name: Elettaria Cardamomum Maton.

Family: Zingiberaceae (Ginger Family)

Common Names: Small Cardamom, Lesser, Cardamom, True Cardamom, Malabar Cardamom, Green Cardamom.

Native to India. Cardamom is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the ginger family. Its dried fruit reffered to as the queen of spices, is one of the most exotic and highly prized spices in the world. It is found commonly in south India.

The fruit are oblong, greenish brown capsule containing 15-20 seeds attached to axial placenta. Cardamom acts as a mouth-freshener, has well established ordinary values and it is an important ingredient of garam masala, a combination spice for indian dishes.

Link: http://www.a1-asianrecipes.com

Fenugreek (Biji Halba)

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Latin Names- Trigonella foenum-graecum

The brownish-yellow seeds of rhombic shape (about 3 mm) are rich in vitamin E and has a strong, quite peculiar ordour reminiscent of maple. In the past, fenugreek was used for a variety of health conditions, including menopausal symptoms and digestive problems. Today, it is used for diabetes and loss of appetite, and to stimulate milk production in breastfeeding women. The dried seeds are ground and taken by mouth or used to form a paste that is applied to the skin to treat inflammation.

Link: http://www.a1-asianrecipes.com