Category: Herbs, spices

Herbs are the ideal ingredient for the health-conscious cook, giving you a wide variety of fabulous flavours without adding salt or fat. Herbs can turn an ordinary dish into something special. Download this guide for a quick and easy reference for cooking with common herbs.   DOWNLOAD – Commonly found herbs and their uses Author: tracy

Make these up these spice mixes and use to season meat as a marinade, potato wedges, mince dishes, meatballs, soups, sauces and dips. Tandoori mix Can be mixed with yoghurt as a marinade or used as a dry spice rub: 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon cumin 1 tablespoon coriander 1 tablespoon paprika 1 tablespoon

Looking a bit like ginger (its close relative) but with bright orange flesh, fresh turmeric is in fact the underground rhizomes of the Curcuma longa plant. The difference in taste between fresh turmeric and the dried, ground version is similar to that between fresh and ground ginger. Fresh turmeric has a subtle likeness to ginger,

A practical guide to using spices to add flavour and health to your meals. Herbs and spices – what's the difference? Defining what's a herb and what's a spice can be tricky. Generally speaking, herbs are used fresh (the word herb comes from the Latin herba, meaning grass) and spices are dried. Most of the

We all used to believe this. But now we know: no food will cause an ulcer. Ulcers are not caused by stress, either, although if you are stressed you may secrete more stomach acid, which can aggravate an ulcer. The main cause of stomach ulcers is actually a bacteria called Heliobactor pylori. Excessive use of

Why not start a herb garden in October? Here's how… Pick a sunny spot not too far from the kitchen, so you can easily access your herbs when you need them. Your herb garden could be in pots or planters on a deck if you don't have a garden. Plant seeds or seedlings in good-quality

Herbs are rich in phytochemicals – in particular antioxidants – which are thought to be good for heart health and cancer protection. Herbs are the ideal ingredient for the health-conscious cook, giving you a wide variety of fabulous flavours without adding salt or fat. Herbs can turn an ordinary dish into something special. Do you

An easy way to add zest to any dish, especially chicken or seafood, is to use lemongrass. The flavour is zingy, aromatic and lemony. Used whole, the flavour is more subtle, while finely chopping or pounding intensifies its flavour. Look for fresh lemongrass in the vegetables section of the supermarket, with the fresh herbs. Choose

Q: "Help! I've made a curry but I got a bit carried away with the chilli – it's so hot now my family won't eat it. Is there any way I can rescue it?" Kath A: I can empathise – I've done the same thing myself, and still do! But all is not lost! What

Tips for growing your own crop of this essential summer herb. I always think of basil as a Mediterranean herb. But it actually originated in India, where it was regarded as sacred and can still be found growing around temples today. There are many great pieces of folklore about basil; e.g. to grow good basil