the “unknown spice” game
Monday, January 12th, 2009to keep things “spiced-up” (hehe) i’ll go to the ethiopian or indian market and buy a spice with which i am unfamiliar. with this nifty “interweb” thing you can find out anything! translations are NOT a problem. i did this with methi (it’s fenugreek!) and now it’s part of my repertoire. recently, at the ethiopian mkt (grand ave/perkins) i bought sumac. the name was vaguely familiar but not as anything i’d known in a recipe. now i own it! also – if you are not buying your spices at ethnic markets, you are paying TOO much.
now i’ve found a recipe for a spice-mix to sprinkle on veggies. perfect for a healthier new year AND…it sounds spicy…all the better. i will let you know how it goes, but here is the recipe. if you have sumac-ideas let me know!
Spicy Za’atar – All Purpose Moroccan Seasoning
This is a spicy version of za’atar from Northern Africa. It is great for sprinkling over tagines, vegetables, and pita sandwiches. It looks a bit different from the za’atar that I usually use (Middle Eastern and Mediterranean types), which is heavier with thyme. From the Flavors of Africa Cookbook, by Dave DeWitt (Chile pepper aficionado extraordinaire).
Ingredients
* 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
* 2 tablespoons ground sumac
* 1 tablespoon dried thyme
* 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Blend and store in an airtight container
lastly, i’m so proud of myself for sticking to my random-writing pledge. it’s like when you don’t call a friend for too long – and then you put it off more and more, rather than just doing it and enjoying it.
Peggy Rehm