Black pepper blooms with small white flowers collected in hanging ears. The fruits of black pepper are spherical drupes with a hard shell, having a burning taste.
The birthplace of black pepper is the southwest coast of India, the current state of Kerala. Previously, these lands were called the land of pepper, and pepper itself was called the Malabar berry.
How to Choose Black Pepper?
When choosing ground black pepper, you should pay attention to the taste and color of the grinding. Fresh seasoning is always sharp and has a strong aroma, as it contains a large amount of piperine and essential oils. The color of high-quality ground pepper is heterogeneous, it consists of particles of light brown, greenish and gray shades. A uniform yellow, gray or black color indicates a large amount of impurities that manufacturers sometimes add to reduce the cost of goods. The black color of ground pepper may also indicate the use of unripe or rotten peas.
How to Store Black Pepper?
Ground pepper is recommended to be stored in a dry and dark place, away from strongly smelling products. Essential oils evaporate especially quickly from the finely ground seasoning, therefore, so that it does not lose its taste qualities, it should be kept in a hermetically sealed container. The room temperature should not exceed +25 °C.
When to Use Black Pepper?
Black pepper is one of the most effective digestive stimulants. This versatile seasoning is able to decorate any dish, starting from ordinary scrambled eggs and ending with masterpieces of haute cuisine. Food manufacturers add this spice to meat and sausage products, cheeses, canned food and marinades.
Spice is a mandatory component of most recipes of meat and fish dishes. It is added to soups and second courses of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and also used in the preparation of homemade sausage, ham and pates. Seasoning perfectly complements dishes of mushrooms and vegetables, no brine or marinade can do without it. Somewhat less often, black pepper is added to drinks and desserts.
How Much Black Pepper Should I Use?
A standard-sized teaspoon holds about 4 grams of ground black pepper.
When preparing soups and broths, ground pepper is added 10-15 minutes before the end of cooking. When cooking fried dishes, pieces of meat or fish are sprinkled with pepper and salt before roasting. Seasoning is added to the raw minced meat during the stirring process.
The amount of spice depends on the intended volume of the dish and personal preferences.
It is usually customary to use from ¼ to 1 teaspoon per 1 kg of meat. The maximum dose of ground black pepper per day per person should not exceed 5 grams.
What Spices are Combined with Black Pepper?
Despite the fact that in the mind of any person, the phrase “salt and pepper” evokes an image of perfect harmony, a truly wonderful combination is obtained by mixing ground black pepper with turmeric. Curcumin, which is part of it, is similar in its action to piperine — it is also an antiseptic, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent.
Black pepper is perfectly combined with most spices, and is part of all popular mixes. It harmonizes well with cumin, garlic, coriander, as well as with its closest “relatives” — white, green and pink pepper.
Alternatives to Black Pepper
With individual intolerance to ground black pepper, it can be replaced with spices that have a similar bitter taste — cumin, mustard, coriander seeds, nutmeg. To make the dishes spicy, in the absence of allergies, you can use chili — paprika, cayenne, jalapeno.
Tips for Using Black Pepper
In combination with cinnamon and ginger, ground black pepper is added to desserts to give them a spicy taste. It is especially appropriate for the preparation of gingerbread and cupcakes, chocolate desserts, pies with apple and citrus filling, cookies.
This spice will give a peculiar taste to well—known drinks – it is added to milk tea, compotes, mulled wine and alcoholic cocktails.
To create a light, spicy salad dressing, ground pepper is mixed in various combinations with natural yogurt, honey, mustard, vinegar or lemon juice.
The option of cooking delicious meat, without much hassle, with a minimum set of products. But this is important during the New Year holidays. The veil turns out not so greasy, often the meat may even be dry, but the addition of cream will make the dish festive, enhancing the creamy-milky taste of veal. Do not overdo it with spices, they may even be superfluous here. Only pepper and paprika, salt and cream… To heal.
I want to cook unusual dishes for the New Year’s table. Frozen black currant berries can be used for the marinade. Chicken under the influence of acid becomes tender and softened. And you can bake meat in a sleeve with the addition of potatoes and onions.
I almost never stuff fish whole, but it happens that I come across such interesting recipes that only my hands itch. And then there was something to scratch – they drew a bullet at home (it’s also a pelengas)… why not?)
Today I came to you with the idea of a roll, and not a simple one, but as a snack. And not just a snack, but an egg one. Light and airy, informative and bright, it can not only diversify, but also decorate a festive table.
This pork turns out to be very tender and juicy. Moderately salty and with a subtle aroma of Bulgarian pepper. When sliced, it is obtained with a scattering of red sparks from the pepper sauce made from Lecho.
Late last night I really wanted to eat. I looked in the refrigerator and decided to make a salad. It turned out very tasty. And today I repeated yesterday’s experiment and decided to share it with you.
When I decided to make this salad, I was sincerely glad that greens and salads can be bought at any time of the year. It helps to diversify the table, and just gives pleasure. Recommend. Simple and delicious.
It is easier to list the advantages that arugula does not have. The ancient Romans knew about its healing properties. Here are just some of them: it has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, fights pathogenic viruses and bacteria, increases the level of hemoglobin in the blood and has a restorative effect on the immune system. From all sides, the thing is useful. It goes especially well with cheeses. Let’s spend, literally, 5 minutes and prepare a light, hearty and very tasty salad.
