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.
It is unlikely that I will surprise anyone with sandwiches, but maybe they will seem new to someone, and for someone there will be a reason to remember the old days. To heal.
Everyone’s favorite combination of potatoes and mushrooms in a slightly different version. Tender chicken marinated in lemon juice with herbs, served with fragrant potatoes and mushrooms. Neither decrease nor add is a win-win option to please your loved ones.
If there are only a few coins ringing in your wallet, then this recipe will definitely suit you. However, this recipe helps even if there is no desire to cook something complicated. P.S. the cooking time is indicated without breaking the rice.
Who doesn’t like vegetables and mushrooms? I think that’s not enough. I can’t do without potatoes. So look for or invent dishes from it that would diversify our table… And now the post.. which many are watching..I offer you a recipe for this lean dish.
Well, very tasty, very tender pieces of crab meat. The recipe is very simple and laid-back. The same chops can be given to children for breakfast / lunch / dinner. It can be served with any side dish. I advise you to try it!
The most wonderful and expected New Year holidays are ahead. Each hostess will prepare a delicious Christmas table for her loved ones. The dish that I offer to your attention, in my opinion, will appeal to lovers of hot fish snacks.
I think the name speaks for itself. For fish lovers. A very pleasant combination of potatoes and fish… The recipe from the magazine, which I slightly corrected. It is prepared simply and naturally. Come in and taste it.
The chops are delicious, fragrant (thanks to the greens and garlic). No one noticed the presence of cabbage, which means that my efforts were not in vain, cabbage gave softness and some flavor. This recipe will become your favorite recipe. Try to cook, and you will be satisfied.
I dedicate it to millet lovers and not only. It can be used as an independent dish for breakfast, dinner, as a side dish for lunch. Don’t pass it by! Try to cook and call your friends.
Another simple version of chops, a very favorite in our family. And also cook infrequently, because we rarely eat fried. Chicken meat can be replaced with any meat component, boiled, fried, baked, smoked meat-any chicken sausage (smoked meat is welcome, it is even tastier). It is delicious both hot and cold. I love these cold pieces that fly apart like pies the next day.
