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.
Crispy crumbly “onion” and completely summer, fragrant and juicy filling. There are a lot of biscuits on the site, I have a slightly different option. There are never too many biscuits. Low-fat, fragrant, juicy and incredibly delicious. It is delicious both hot and warm, and cold. Great as a snack. Perfect as a main course for dinner. To taste it?
Why such a name? Anticipating this question, I will answer with the words of my Princess Elena Alisich from LJ. “Julien is a French word, this word is the method of cutting vegetables into strips. From the vegetables cut in this way, cook the soup. But the dish “Julienne of mushrooms” is a Russian invention. The legendary Julienne with mushrooms was ordered for yeast pancakes in the buffet of the Kremlin Palace of Congresses, and then they told all their friends about it for a long time and breathlessly. Mushroom julienne is a delicious hot snack, and with the addition of chicken it is a full and hearty dish for lunch or dinner.”I’ve been cooking this dish for a long time, but this time I decided to fantasize and put Julienne in a biscuit – a real miracle of French cuisine!!! Thin, crispy, just melting in the mouth dough and a lot of juicy and fragrant filling! mmmm… It’s too delicious!!! So long to talk! Better cook and pamper your dear and beloved ones! I highly recommend it.
And, of course… Galette is my 100% signature dish! I have a lot of options and I will definitely share them! Today I want to offer a spring option – a combination of eggs with onions! Simple, fast, juicy, satisfying and of course delicious!))) Let’s get started!?
Biscuits are my weakness, so I have a lot of options!)) Today I want to introduce you to galetta for breakfast, the option turned out unexpectedly delicious and elegant! It is better to serve galetta hot, but also cold, it turns out delicious and very fragrant! And if you cook the dough and filling in the evening, then the cooking time is halved!
A light and at the same time hearty salad will appeal to both lovers of delicious food and those who follow the figure. Light original and very tasty salad.
Cucumber salad is a frequent guest on any table. I want to offer you to diversify the usual salad with an original dressing. And if you cook it in autumn and winter, you can feel the spring freshness.
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.