Cooks' Corner

[Maggi Young]

"Thoughts" on cabbage from another thread - 

....... cabbage :   a jolly good vegetable raw or cooked. It's just that so many people murder it. Try gently stir-fried, with a dash of salt and pepper, butter and honey. (I'd better trot off to the Cooks' Corner. )        (LesleyC)

Or gently stir-fried with either fennel or onion seeds. Or simply steamed and splashed with Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce (accept no substitutes!).      (meanie)

 

[maggiepie]

Or sauteed in butter with some bacon and shallot bits.
This is particularly good if you are using conical shaped cabbage such as sugarloaf ( Oz) early jersey wakefield ( North America).

Where do you get edible onion seeds?
Are they sold with herbs in UK or do you just save them from the garden?
Have never heard of onion seeds being used in cooking until I saw the last couple of posts in this forum.

[meanie]

Where do you get edible onion seeds?
Are they sold with herbs in UK or do you just save them from the garden?
Have never heard of onion seeds being used in cooking until I saw the last couple of posts in this forum.

They're not actually onion seeds (Nigella I THINK), but that is what they're sold as in the Asian shops. Maybe I should have been clear, but I just assumed that everyone else shops like I do! Sorry!
For me they are a store cupboard essential along with black cummin, fennel seeds and lots of other things.

[maggiepie]

They're not actually onion seeds (Nigella I THINK), but that is what they're sold as in the Asian shops. Maybe I should have been clear, but I just assumed that everyone else shops like I do! Sorry!
For me they are a store cupboard essential along with black cummin, fennel seeds and lots of other things.

Thanks for clearing that up, Meanie.
After reading up, am wondering if the flavour is at all similar to carraway seed?
I have a well stocked spice and herb cupboard but not the nigella, I also find it difficult to find black mustard seed where I live.

[meanie]

Thanks for clearing that up, Meanie.
After reading up, am wondering if the flavour is at all similar to carraway seed?
I have a well stocked spice and herb cupboard but not the nigella, I also find it difficult to find black mustard seed where I live.

I think of it as a slightly bitter dusty flavour, in a nice kind of way (if that makes any sense at all!!).
Have you tried a] Asian supermarkets, and b] health food shops? Always good places here in the UK.

[GordonT]

Thanks for clearing that up, Meanie.
After reading up, am wondering if the flavour is at all similar to carraway seed?
I have a well stocked spice and herb cupboard but not the nigella, I also find it difficult to find black mustard seed where I live.

Hi Helen, You might want to try growing some:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigella_sativa
http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X2055&show=&prodclass=Herb_and_Vegetable_Seeds&cart_id=8510866.4930
I checked for black mustard as well, but they carry brown mustard instead.

[maggiepie]

Meanie, I have to laugh at the thought of trotting down to the local Asian market, if only.
I live in a tiny rural village in the boonies where nearest store is around 15 kilometres away.
I do most of my exotic pantry stocking online.
Will definitely find some though, if only to satisfy my curiosity.

Hi Gordon,

I might very well try a few Nigella sativa plants this year.
Think brown mustard seeds and black are the same, they're really a dark brown.
Could get them at the bulk barn a few years ago but then they disappeared, just have the yellow ones now.

Just checked the Richter catalogue and they do list black mustard seeds.

http://www.richters.com/Web_store/web_store.cgi?product=X4153&show=&prodclass=Dried_Herbs&cart_id=8510866.4930

Thanks for the link.

[Anthony Darby]

Names can be very confusing. I remember seeing huge jars labelled "saffron" in markets in Trinidad, only to realise it was cumin.

[johnw]

Names can be very confusing. I remember seeing huge jars labelled "saffron" in markets in Trinidad, only to realise it was cumin.

Some markets in Morocco sell cheap "Saffron".  I have no idea what it is but it's not saffron.

johnw

[Anthony Darby]

It'll be cumin John. I've seen it in Tunisia. A great spice, but not saffron.

[meanie]

Names can be very confusing. I remember seeing huge jars labelled "saffron" in markets in Trinidad, only to realise it was cumin.

Something of a shock to the taste buds!
I like cumin seeds although the other half doesn't. That was until I got some black cumin seeds (which are also a different species) which has a much softer flavour.

[johnw]

It'll be cumin John. I've seen it in Tunisia. A great spice, but not saffron.

Is that what I smoked?

[Maggi Young]

more  culinary  tips from another thread :

Quote from: Margaret on Today at 08:51:58 PM

    ...................... and balsamic for roasting beetroot.

Pickled beetroot recipe - use cider vinegar and blackcurrant vinegar in equal quantities with chilli flakes to taste (or not if you prefer).

[Anthony Darby]

This balsamic vinegar is what we use, either with olive oil for dipping home made bread in, or drizzled with rice bran oil over salad. http://www.divinity.co.nz/products/pomegranate.cfm

[johnw]

Anthony  - I wonder how it compares to pomegranate molasses which is a lot cheaper, £2.  We use it on salads even on and in dips, it must be a tart variety to suit me.

johnw