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The history of herbs

A mustard plant

Herbs have played an important part in man's life for countless years. In his politics, romance, love, religion, health, and superstition. Celery was used by the Abyssinians for stuffing pillows. Ancient Greeks and Romans crowned their heroes with dill and laurel. Dill also was used by the Romans to purify the air in their banquet halls.

Some herbs were given magical properties, probably because of their medicinal uses. The early Chinese considered artemisia to have special charms.

In France during the Middle Ages, babies were rubbed with artemisia juices to protect them from the cold. Ancient Greeks used sweet marjoram as a valuable tonic, and parsley as a cure for stomach ailments. Rosemary was eaten in the Middle Ages for its tranquilising effects and as a cure-all for headaches.

Chives, a common herb often found growing wild, had economic importance throughout Asia and many Mediterranean countries. Odd as it seems now, the early Dutch settlers in this country intentionally planted chives in the meadows so cows would give chive-flavored milk.

Mustard was lauded by Hippocrates, the ancient Greek physician, and Shakespeare called it a desirable condiment in several of his plays.

Other herbs with importance dating back to early times include basil, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, and thyme.

Right mushrooms

How does one choose mushrooms.

Nidhi

East Marredpally

Mushroom is not actually classified as a vegetable. It is a fungus. When buying mushroom choose plump, clean ones that are white in colour. Mushroom should not have strong, mushy, or unpleasant odour. Avoid shrivelled, bruised, dried out and smelly ones. Mushroom caps should be

closed around the stem, i.e it should have closed veils.

`Khadi' variety

What are the ingredients used to make Marwari/Gujrati `kadhi'.

D. Manoj Kumar

Prashant Colony

Marwari cuisine is spicy, rich, uses lot of ghee in all the recipes. Ample use of curd, chickpeas, use of dried beans. As the weather is hot, chillies are used. Whereas Gujarati food is on sweeter side.

Recipe for a Marwari kadhi:

Ingredients: Fresh curd 150 gms, bengal gram flour 30 gms, turmeric powder 10 gms, salt to taste.

Tempering: Ingredients: Cinnamon - 2, cloves - 2, whole red chillies - 2, fennel seeds - 5 gms, coriander seeds - 5 gms, cumin seeds - 5 gms, fenugreek seeds - 2 gms, curry leaves - 5 to 7, grated ginger -10 gms.

Method: Mix curd, gram flour, turmeric, salt with two cups of water, bring to boil. Cook for 20 - 25 minutes. Add the tempering over the mixture. Marwaris eat `kadhi' hot along with rice.

Gujrati Kadhi is also similar only difference is sour curd is not used and there is addition of sugar in the `kadhi', whole red chilli is not used in the tempering. It is milder in taste.

Bitter mix

Why does the readymade/instant idli mix taste bitter?

Shristi

Mehdipatnam

Ideally it should not taste bitter, but it may be because of the raising agents and additives used in the brand. Always check the manufacturing date before buying and follow the recipe mentioned step by step.

Cream replacement

What is the Indian replacement for Cream of Tartar?

Renuka

Somajiguda

Cream of tartar is potassium bitartrate. It is a fine white powder left behind after grape juice has fermented to wine. It is used to stabilize beaten egg whites. The most common substitute for Cream of Tartar is lemon juice and vinegar. The quantity of lemon juice or vinegar will be three times to the amount of Cream of Tartar used in the recipe.

Write in to Metroplus Foodline column to clarify all your doubts on food. The queries can be mailed to hydphoto@thehindu.co.in

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