Dill, an herb under the celery family native to Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and North Africa. Mostly used in the culinary world where the leaves and seeds are turned into a spice and flavoring-seasoning, especially used in dill pickle recipes. Though some do use this as traditional medicine to help with digestion, gastronomic problems, and…
White Sago or “White Sago Pearls” are very small hard opaque yellowish-white to cream colored pearls that turn light brown to white translucent slightly chewy pearls once cooked. You can typically find these added in drinks like sago’t gulaman, coconut milk or cream-based desserts like the popular mango sago, ginataan, a decor over fruit puddings,…
The Dalandan fruit, or in English Sweet or Sour Orange (dalandan scientific name “Citrus x sinesis”). A variety of citrus that’s a cross between a pomelo and mandarin orange. Similar to oranges but are round to oblong in shape, having shiny green, sometimes blushed with yellow soft rind. These are tart, sour, with a mix…
Misua or “Wheat Vermicelli” are very thin and fragile white noodles commonly found in Chinese cuisine. Originating from Fujian, China, these are made from wheat flour and eggs and are often added into soups and stews namely in misua soup plus the choice of vegetable or meat like patola (ribbed loofah) or meatballs. These are…
Turmeric, a common spice, known for its ginger-like taste and bright orange color. An important ingredient in many cuisines and dishes, especially curry. But these aren’t only used to add some flavor into the dish, these are considered an ingredient of traditional medicine. Known for its medicinal uses because of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties…
White sesame seeds are small and flat pear shaped seeds with a white-creamy tan-like color. Commonly used in sweet or savory dishes or as a topping in most Asian dishes. This ingredient used as is, toasted, crushed, grounded or made into oil, all added into a number of dishes. Aside from making flavorful dishes, sesame…
Palm sugar is a traditional or rather healthier alternative type of sweetener. Derived from the sap of any type of palm tree sometimes depending on the type of palm, like coconut palms. These are less sweet and have a mild caramel flavor, often seen as the healthier alternative to refined sugars and are mostly found…
Salted Black Beans or Fermented Black Beans are small salty and savory black beans that are often associated with fermented soy bean pastes. Instead of being a paste though these are preserved as a whole bean that has been softened by salt. These black beans are often cleaned then preserved with salt or sometimes brine…
Cilantro is a delicate herb used to add color, fragrance, and a subtle citrusy flavor into many cuisines. A herb that many people either love or hate, this flat leaf spice-herb has a lot of benefits to those willing to add these into their diet. Some examples include reducing the risk of diabetes, seizures, obesity,…
Chicken Feet is a delicacy eaten in a lot of countries. While it does not look appealing to some, it does bring a lot of health benefits to the table. This popular ingredient is often cooked, braised, steamed, turned into soup or stews, and fried. The feet are cleaned of the outer layering of skin…
