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.
A colorful vegetable dish for summer, when vegetables are the ripest and most delicious. Rich in vitamins and minerals, this terrine will appeal even to those who do not like vegetables. Try to cook – you will like it.
A chic terrine with a rich taste. This is a great snack for any festive table, as well as an excellent substitute for meat delicacies from the store. It’s easy to prepare, the main thing is patience, because terrines will have to stand under the load. The terrine itself is quite dense, with a delicate liver-mushroom paste inside. All men will appreciate it.
Enjoy a delicious, tender and slightly unusual chicken liver terrine. All liver lovers will definitely appreciate its delicate, slightly sweet taste. And it looks very beautiful, just for the holiday.
Delicious, healthy, bright terrine. Great for those who are on a diet or just watching their health. Cooking this snack is very simple. You will enjoy yourself all day.
Terrines are very spectacular, festive dishes, and it’s not difficult to cook them at all. I offer you another option of a tender snack. It looks very appetizing on the festive table. All guests will be attracted only by this snack. A pleasant pastime.
Light, delicate, with a soft creamy consistency of the pate, besides easy to prepare. You can just spread it on bread and flavor it with white wine. Try to cook and enjoy this snack with your family.
Recently we had a wedding anniversary, and I wanted to cook a treat for my beloved husband not only delicious, but also with meaning. And it turned out to be a salmon terrine with shrimp mousse, with an infinity sign symbolizing my endless love for this man. We celebrated this event outside the city, and the terrine was perfect for a snack in nature. I invite you to my declaration of love.
And from pickled beetroot with cranberries, terrines are popular. They have played a role in history, and today they can be elegant and attractive – they are suitable for a small snack, and for the main hearty dish, both for a picnic and for a dinner party.
An original, delicious and beautiful snack. It is prepared very simply. The delicate taste of turkey with notes of pistachios. Guests will be delighted with such a delicious snack and will ask you for this recipe. Come and see. Enjoy your cooking.
