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Sumac: Lemony Spice and its Use

Sumac is a spice that enhances many dishes in the eastern Mediterranean. We explain how the spice tastes and how you can use it.

Sumac is a spice made from the red fruits of the sumac plant: These are dried and then crushed or ground. The sumac plant grows wild in the Mediterranean region and parts of western and central Asia, where sumac has long been a popular spice.

In this country you can buy sumac mainly in Arabic and Asian grocery stores and delicatessens. You can recognize high-quality sumac spice by the fact that it contains no added salt. It also makes sense to pay attention to organic quality, since conventionally produced spices are often contaminated with harmful substances. It is best to store sumac in a dry, dark and airtight container.

Sumac: This is how you can use the spice

Sumac is considered by some to be a substitute for vinegar or lemon juice – because the spice tastes sour. However, the acidity is not as intense and is accompanied by fruity and slightly tart aromas.

You can use sumac to refine many dishes, for example salads such as the Fattoush bread salad, dips, sauces and stews. Basically, the spice fits into Arabic and Middle Eastern dishes with a sour note. In Turkey, sumac mixed with salt is found on many dining tables. In addition, sumac is part of the spice mixture zatar

Tip: The best way to enjoy zatar is to dip a piece of flatbread in olive oil and then in the spice.

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Food

Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice Latte

Pumpkin Spice Latte is a popular hot drink, especially in the fall. We’ll show you how easy it is to prepare your own Pumpkin Spice Latte.

In order to drink Pumpkin Spice Latte, you don’t have to go to a joint of controversial multinationals like Starbucks. In this article we will show you how you can make the popular hot drink yourself.

Making Pumpkin Spice Latte yourself has many advantages:

You decide for yourself which ingredients you use.
There is less waste from disposable cups.
You can use less sugar.
you save money
Tip: You can prepare the Pumpkin Spice Latte particularly quickly if you have Pumpkin Spice and pumpkin puree in stock.

Pumpkin Spice

Mix all of the spices together according to the instructions in the Pumpkin Spice: Spice Blend Recipe article. Store the autumnal spice in tightly closed jars in a dark, cool and dry place.

pumpkin puree

You can also easily make the pumpkin puree for your Pumpkin Spice Latte yourself. In the article Fine pumpkin puree: How to make it yourself, you will find out how it works. Keep the fresh pumpkin puree tightly closed in the refrigerator. Stored cold, it stays fresh for up to five days. Alternatively, you can freeze it in small portions. Tip: Use ice cube trays to freeze, as you only need a tablespoon of pumpkin puree to make one serving of Pumpkin Spice Latte.

Pumpkin Spice Latte: The Recipe

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon nectar
1 tbsp Pumpkin Spice
1hot espresso
150 ml milk or foamable plant drink
1 tablespoon pumpkin puree

Directions:

Place 1 teaspoon of agave nectar in a small bowl. Note: If you like your Pumpkin Spice Latte unsweetened, you can omit the agave syrup.
Mix the Pumpkin Spice well with the agave syrup until you get a smooth spice syrup.
Prepare the espresso.
Warm the milk and froth it.
Mix the frothed milk with the espresso, the spice syrup and the pumpkin puree.
Pour your Pumpkin Spice Latte into a coffee mug and decorate with a dollop of frothed milk.
Sprinkle the milk foam with a touch of Pumpkin Spice and enjoy the autumnal hot drink.

Ingredients for Pumpkin Spice Latte: You should know that

Whenever possible, purchase high-quality, organic spices when preparing Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can find useful tips for this in the article: Buy organic spices: the most important brands and online shops. Since all four spices are exotic ingredients from Asia, Africa or South America, you should also look out for a fair trade seal. You are committed to fair wages, good working conditions and environmental protection in the growing countries.

Coffee, too, has a long journey behind it before it reaches the supermarket shelves in Germany. Therefore, buy fair trade coffee whenever possible. Or would you like to try one of the regional coffee alternatives instead? Regional food has shorter transport routes and therefore leaves a smaller CO2 footprint.

Tip: If you don’t have an espresso machine or pot, you can also brew a strong filter coffee.

You can also prepare your Pumpkin Spice Latte vegan by using a foamable plant-based milk as a milk substitute. As a local alternative to agave syrup, you can use a teaspoon of honey.

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Cooking Tips

Speculaas Spice: Do-it-yourself instructions

You don’t have to buy speculaas spice in the store: you can easily mix it yourself at home. Here you can find out what ingredients you need and how to do it.

Speculaas Spice: You need these ingredients

Christmas time is speculation time! What makes the crispy brown biscuits so popular is their unmistakably spicy note. A special spice mixture is responsible for this taste, which you can not only use for speculoos: speculoos spice is just as good for refining Christmas dessert creams, cakes, tarts or hot chocolate.

You can find ready-made speculaas in most supermarkets. But you can also mix it yourself: You probably have most of the spices you need at home. Tip: To save yourself more effort, it is best to use spice powder when mixing. Of course, you can also grind or grate ingredients such as pepper or nutmeg yourself.

For homemade speculoos spice you need the following ingredients:

7 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground cloves
0.5 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp white pepper
Buy the spices for the recipe in organic quality and it is best to pay attention to a fair trade seal. This way you can be sure that your spices are free of chemical pesticides and have been fairly traded. If you’re not sure where to find what you’re looking for – this way: Buy organic spices: the most important brands and online shops.

Tip: You can easily modify the speculoos spice to suit your taste. For example, if you don’t like ginger, you can just leave it out. You can add some anise instead.

Making speculoos spice: Here’s how

Making speculaas spice is easy: once you have all the powdered spices you need, it will only take you a minute.

Put the spices in a small bowl and mix them together thoroughly.
Then pour the speculoos spice into a container with a lid – for example a screw-top jar. Close the lid and then shake the jar vigorously again. So the ingredients are definitely well mixed.
If necessary, you can add a sticker to the glass. This way you will know immediately which spice is in it in the future.
If you don’t have some ingredients in powder form at hand, but for example a whole nutmeg or coarse peppercorns, the preparation will take a little longer: You then have to pulverize these spices before you mix them with the speculoos spice. If you have a good food processor, you can let it do this step. Otherwise, you can easily grate the nutmeg with a kitchen grater. You can grind the peppercorns in a pepper mill or in a mortar.

Tip: You can also easily powder ginger yourself. To do this, leave a piece of ginger in a warm place until all the moisture has evaporated. Then you can crush the ginger in a food processor or in a mortar and use it in the speculoos spice.

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Cooking Tips

Pumpkin Spice Latte: This is How The Recipe Works

Cozy afternoons can be perfectly enjoyed with a Pumpkin Spice Latte. We explain why pumpkin coffee is so popular, where it comes from and how you can easily make it yourself.

What is a Pumpkin Spice Latte?

A Pumpkin Spice Latte is a coffee variation that is essentially made with espresso or strong coffee, pumpkin puree, spices and milk froth. Depending on the season, mainly autumnal spices such as cinnamon or cloves are used.

The drink was made famous by the American coffee chain Starbucks, which offers the drink in its branches every year around Halloween. The first Pumpkin Spice Latte went over the counter in January 2003. At that time, the company tried to extend the Christmas season with the drink by launching a hot drink with Christmas spices.

Since the drink was very well received by customers, but the pumpkin season generally begins in autumn, the decision was subsequently made to sell the pumpkin coffee in the branches as early as September. Since then, the Pumpkin Spice Latte has developed into a real cult drink that is so popular that Starbucks was already offering the drink in selected branches in mid-August.

This is how the Pumpkin Spice Latte works

If you are looking for a pumpkin and coffee recipe to take home, you’ve come to the right place. The recipe is quite simple, but requires some preparation if you want to make all the ingredients yourself.

List of ingredients for about 0.4 l Pumpkin Spice Latte:

1-2 tbsp fine pumpkin puree
1 tsp Pumpkin Spice spice mix
2 tbsp agave syrup
Milk/milk alternative for milk froth
espresso
Options:
Coffee syrup for refining or sweetening, such as vanilla or caramel

Step 1: Prepare the pumpkin puree

In the USA you can get the ready-made pumpkin puree in almost every supermarket. In Germany you can occasionally find the puree at the weekly market or in some delicatessens. You can also easily prepare pumpkin puree yourself in just three steps:
cut pumpkin
Cut a Hokkaido pumpkin into four equal parts and remove the seeds.
Cook Pumpkin
Put the pieces, including the peel, in boiling water and leave them there for around 15 to 20 minutes.
puree
Using a hand blender, mash the soft pumpkin pieces into a puree.
Storage Tip: You’ll probably need a lot less puree than you get from a whole squash. But that doesn’t matter. If you pack the puree airtight, it will keep in the fridge for about a week for further processing. Of course, you can also plan ahead and store the finished puree in the freezer.

Step 2: Preparation of the spice mixture

The listed ingredients for our pumpkin recipe can be found in almost every supermarket or easily ordered online. You can also make the spice mixture yourself and create your own individual taste. Depending on your preference, you can change the proportion accordingly. To make it, simply mix the following ground ingredients together:
3 tbsp cinnamon
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp nutmeg
1.5 tsp allspice
1 tsp cloves

Step 3: Prepare Pumpkin Spice Latte

Now the ingredients for the pumpkin coffee can finally be mixed together:
Pour pumpkin puree into a glass
Prepare a large glass and fill it with 1-2 tablespoons of fine pumpkin puree. To get it particularly fine, you can scrape it through a sieve into the glass again.
mix ingredients
Take a small bowl and mix 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture with the 2 tablespoons of agave syrup. Then spread the mixture over the pumpkin puree.
Add milk froth
In the next step you need milk foam. You can open it yourself or get it quickly and easily from a fully automatic coffee machine. Then add the milk froth to the glass.
Add espresso
Now it is important to make a particularly strong espresso. This is only possible with the help of a fully automatic machine or portafilter. A strong coffee can be made with an espresso maker, for example. Now pour the espresso into the glass very slowly so that the individual layers do not mix with each other. This creates a great visual effect when serving.
Stir
The Pumpkin Spice Latte is ready and ready to be enjoyed. Just before drinking, you should stir the drink well with a long-handled spoon so that all the ingredients mix together and the typical pumpkin taste can unfold.
Optional: Add syrup and cream
If you would like to refine your pumpkin coffee, you can optionally add cream to the PSL as a topping or add coffee syrup instead of agave syrup.

Vegan Pumpkin Coffee

For the vegan variant of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, you can also easily become a milk alternative. Soy milk or oat milk are best suited for frothing. Rice, coconut, almond or spelled milk are less suitable. After all, the milk froth is an essential part of the pumpkin latte. But in the end it’s a matter of taste.

Pumpkin Spice Latte without coffee – the version for children

For people who don’t want to drink coffee, malt coffee is an alternative preparation option. It’s actually not real coffee, since it’s made from grain, but the taste is similar and the pumpkin malt coffee is also very tasty. So that it doesn’t get too sweet, you can also do without the agave syrup and use honey instead.

How many calories does a Pumpkin Spice Latte have?

You may have guessed it: Starbucks finished PSL is anything but a diet drink. A 12 ounce Tall cup contains approximately 300 calories. The calories of the Pumpkin Spice Latte are divided into about 10 g of fat and 40 g of sugar, which corresponds to about 10 sugar cubes. This increases the daily energy requirement. If you prepare the coffee with pumpkin puree at home, you can of course control the addition of sugar and fat. This delicious and homemade alternative is not quite as impressive. A glass (250 ml) with fine puree and 1.5% milk has approx. 135 Kcal.

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Cooking Tips

Basil: The Spice Plant is So Healthy

Basil is healthy and adds a tangy flavor to various dishes. Here you can find out more about the properties and possible uses of the herb.

Basil is an essential herb in Mediterranean cuisine. With its aromatic, spicy aroma, it refines pasta, pizza, vegetable pans or salads. Already in ancient Greece and Rome, basil was used to refine dishes and as a remedy for various diseases. The herb plays an important role not only in Europe, but also in other cultures: for example, it is an important part of Ayurvedic cuisine.

Basil is originally native to the tropics of South America, Asia and Africa. Today it is also cultivated in European countries. Basil is also grown in Germany. The type of basil most used in this country is the so-called shrub basil. In addition to this, there are over 60 other types of basil, such as lemon or Thai basil.

Basil is so healthy

Basil owes its intense smell and taste to the essential oils it contains. But the herb not only tastes good: basil is also healthy. It is particularly rich in magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium. Basil also contains significant amounts of vitamin A and some B vitamins. In order for these micronutrients to actually help cover your daily requirement, you have to eat a larger portion of basil (at least 20 grams). With the help of a pesto or processed in a salad, this is not a problem.

Incidentally, per 100 grams, basil provides you with around 46 kilocalories, 2.4 grams of protein and 7.5 grams of carbohydrates. There is hardly any fat. After all, the herb also consists of 3.1 percent fiber.

Basil: Healthy Remedy

Basil is not only healthy, but is also used as a remedy. In the form of tea, basil oil or ready-made capsules, it can provide relief for various ailments. This is due to the essential oils it contains. So far, they have not been scientifically confirmed as far as possible, but are based on traditions and experiences of naturopathy. Together with other medicinal herbs, basil helps in particular with:

bloating and flatulence
loss of appetite
digestive problems
In Indian medicine, for example, it is also used for skin diseases, menstrual cramps, earaches or fever. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) uses basil for stomach cramps or kidney and gum problems.

Basil: buying tips

You can buy fresh basil in most supermarkets, either loose leaves or in a pot. For ecological and economic reasons, we recommend the latter option: if you buy basil in a pot, you save on unnecessary plastic packaging and can cultivate the plant directly in the garden or on the balcony. In this way, new leaves keep growing and you can benefit from the plant for longer.

Alternatively, you can also use dried basil. In all cases, you should pay attention to organic goods if possible. In this way you support ecological agriculture that works without chemical-synthetic pesticides. This not only makes the basil healthy, but also protects biodiversity. Also try to buy basil locally if possible. It’s best to buy it between June and September – that’s when the herb is in season in Germany.

Another option is to grow a basil plant from seed yourself. You can find more information here: Planting basil: when, where and how to care for it

Here’s how you can use basil

Basil gives various dishes a spicy aroma. If you process it into basil pesto, you can not only serve it well with pasta, but also make it last longer thanks to the oil. You can also use basil in a fresh tomato salad or zucchini salad.

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Food

Saffron: This is What You Need to Know About the Luxury Spice

Saffron is a luxury spice – but why? Find out more about it here – and also how saffron is produced and used in the kitchen.

Saffron: cultivation and extraction

Saffron is obtained from the crocus species “Krokus sativus”. The crocuses are grown in huge fields, mainly in Iran, but also in Spain.

The flowers only bloom two days a year. The crocus blossoms are picked by hand within two weeks in October or November.
To avoid strong sunlight, the flowers are harvested in the morning on the first day of their flowering period.
Workers pluck the three orange-red pistils from the flower by hand. It is important that only the pistil threads are plucked out.
The more of the light yellow pen gets to the threads, the worse the quality. There are no machines for this work either.
The saffron threads are then dried so that they have a lower water content. The “Spanish saffron” is not dried, but toasted. This is how it gets its aroma.
To store the saffron threads, pack them in airtight cans.

That is why saffron is the most expensive spice in the world

It takes up to 200,000 crocus blossoms to produce one kilo of saffron. These grow on approx. 1000 square meters of cultivation area. In addition, the harvest is carried out entirely by hand without the use of machines. This makes the spice the most expensive in the world. The more intermediaries who want to earn money from selling the saffron, the more expensive it becomes.

We recommend that you buy fair trade saffron. Because you try to do without middlemen so that the farmers receive a fair wage. The “Conflictfood” initiative offers directly traded saffron from Afghanistan. The long transport routes also cause prices to rise. In principle, the longer the transport routes for food, the more harmful greenhouse gases are emitted by ships and airplanes.

Buying saffron: quality criteria and fakes

What is expensive is also worth counterfeiting. Therefore, caution is advised when purchasing. Sometimes chilli threads, dried safflower leaves, safflower blossoms (bastard saffron), marigold petals and sandalwood fibers are mixed in or sold as saffron. Ground saffron is the easiest to counterfeit. Scammers add turmeric, a yellowing agent, paprika powder, or powder from the plants mentioned above. Even stretching with nitrate has already occurred.

The quality criteria are defined internationally with the ISO/TS 3632-1 standard. The chemical and physical properties are regulated by the ISO/TS 3632-2 standard. These standards prescribe a certain level of crocin (the red dye) and safranal (essential oil of saffron) to be present in the threads. With the standard and the values, you can check the quality of the saffron on the packaging:

The crocin value is over 190 in the highest quality. The Spanish saffron is then titled “Coupe” or Category I.
In the worst category IV, the Spanish saffron “Sierra” contains a crocin value between 80-110.
Avoid buying saffron in opaque packaging. The packaging does not tell you whether the threads are deep red and whether there are a few yellow pieces of styli.

Saffron in food

Saffron is very intense, which is why even the smallest amounts ensure an intense taste. With too much saffron, dishes quickly taste bitter. Basically, saffron should not be boiled for long and should only be added to the almost finished meal. Saffron is used for example:

for coloring rice,
for refining cakes and other pastries,
in spanish paella,
for pumpkin soup,
in fish dishes,
in sauces, for example tomato sauce.

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Food

What Exactly is Miso Paste? All About the Fermented Spice Paste

Miso paste not only gives miso soups an intense aroma. Here you can learn more about the characteristics and possible uses of the fermented ingredient.

Miso paste (or simply miso) originally comes from Japanese cuisine. It consists mainly of soybeans and (depending on the variety) possibly of other components. These ingredients are steamed and then fermented with the help of molds. This ensures the salty and intensely spicy taste, which is also described as umami.

Miso paste: Different types

Depending on how long miso paste is fermented and the basic ingredients it consists of, the taste and colors change. So there are a multitude of different varieties. The best known are the following:

The white miso paste (shiro miso) consists of soy and rice. The fermentation process is comparatively short. Therefore, the paste tastes mild and sweet and less salty than other varieties.
You can classify yellow miso paste (Shinsu-Miso) between the red and white paste in terms of taste. It doesn’t taste overly strong, but it doesn’t taste as mild as shiro miso either.
Red miso paste (Aka-Miso), on the other hand, tastes very spicy and intense. Fermentation takes longer here.
Black miso paste (kuro miso) has the longest fermentation process. Accordingly, it tastes even stronger than the red paste.
There is also miso made from soy, barley or other ingredients such as millet, hemp, corn or beans. With some miso pastes, the packaging also states whether they taste hot or sweet.

Which paste you want to use depends primarily on your individual taste preferences and your tolerance for spiciness. In general, mild varieties (such as white and yellow) are particularly suitable for soups and stir-fried vegetables. More aromatic variants (red and black) go well with marinades, dips and sauces. If you’ve never tried miso before, it’s generally a good idea to start with a mild variety and then increase as needed.

How healthy is miso paste?

Due to its intense taste, miso is only used to a limited extent in recipes. For example, for a miso soup for four people, you only need about three tablespoons of the spice paste. Even though miso may contain small amounts of vitamins (e.g. vitamin K and B12), these do little to meet your daily requirements.

However, one tablespoon of miso already provides you with two grams of plant-based protein and is low in calories: one tablespoon corresponds to around 30 kilocalories.

The main thing that miso is supposed to make miso healthy is the bacteria it contains. These are formed during fermentation and are intended to promote a healthy intestinal flora. Researchers have not yet been able to prove beyond doubt whether this is actually the case. However, it is not unlikely. In order to be able to unfold their positive effect, however, the bacteria in miso must “live”. That’s why you should never boil miso, just warm it up carefully.

When buying, we recommend using organic products. In this way you ensure that the paste is free of chemical-synthetic pesticides and genetically modified soy. Incidentally, miso paste can be kept in a tightly closed container in the refrigerator for up to a year even after opening.

How to use the spice paste

In addition to the well-known miso soup, you can also use miso paste in many other dishes. This includes:

ramen
vegetable soups
fried rice or fried noodles
Vegetable pans and wok dishes
Miso also gives dips and sauces an interesting aroma. You can marinate tofu in a marinade of miso, oil and spices or herbs and then fry or bake it. If you particularly like the salty, spicy taste, you can also enjoy miso on its own as a spread.

The spicy taste of the red and black seasoning paste also goes well with vegetarian goulash, chili sin carne or a veggie bolognese. Here, miso provides a hearty taste that is reminiscent of the aroma of meat. Mixed with soy cream, you can use miso as a vegan substitute for a creamy sauce.

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Food

Gochujang: This is How You Use the Hot Spice Paste

Gochujang is an important ingredient in Korean cuisine. We present you a simple and quick pasta recipe that you can prepare with the spice paste.

Gochujang is a fermented spice paste that originated in Korean cuisine. It is made from red chilli powder, ground glutinous rice, ground fermented soybeans and salt. In the next section, we will introduce you to an easy and quick recipe for udon noodles with a gochujang sauce.

It is best to use organic ingredients for the recipe. In this way you support sustainable agriculture that does not use chemical-synthetic pesticides and thus protects the environment and your health. With mushrooms and onions, you can also make sure to use products from your region. In this way you avoid long transport routes and improve the climate balance of the dish.

Udon noodles with gochujang

Ingredients:

200 gUdon noodles
200g tofu
200 gmushrooms 1 onion 2 spring onions
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tspGochujang
2 tsp soy sauce
2 teaspoons sesame

Directions:

Boil water with a little salt and cook the udon noodles according to the instructions on the packet. Drain the noodles, reserving some water.
Dice the tofu and slice the mushrooms. Cut the onion into fine cubes.
Thinly slice the spring onions and set aside. They are intended for the set.
Heat the sesame oil in a pan and fry the tofu in it.
Add the onion and mushrooms to the pan and sauté them as well.
Add the noodles and let them sauté briefly.
Add the soy sauce and gochujang to the noodles and mix thoroughly. If the dish seems too dry for you, you can add some pasta water.
Roast the sesame seeds in a small pan without fat.
Arrange the noodles on plates and sprinkle with the spring onions and sesame seeds.

You can also use Chinese cabbage or pak choi instead of mushrooms. And if you like a particularly creamy sauce, you can add a teaspoon of (homemade) peanut butter.

How you can use gochujang as well

In addition to using it in a sauce, you can use gochujang for many other dishes:

Use gochujang to flavor soups and stews.
A classic Korean dish that requires gochujang is bibimbap. It consists of vegetables, rice, eggs, and optionally meat. You can replace all or part of the soy sauce and chilli paste in the bibimbap recipe with gochujang.
Another well-known dish made with gochujang is teokbokki. These are rice cakes in a spicy sauce. Gochujang is also a good seasoning for homemade kimchi.

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Food

Foodwaste – A Spice Against Food Waste

Imagine you go shopping and throw a third of the goods in the garbage can. Absurd? Should you think! But a third is actually exactly the amount of food that ends up in the garbage worldwide every year. This enormous food waste is a major problem of our time. And a large part of this goes back to private households. Find out here what you can do to reduce food waste.

Far too large a proportion of the world’s population has no access to food and is starving. While a third of our food is literally produced “for the bin”. Around 12 tons of food are wasted along the food supply chain in Germany alone. 173 kilograms are thrown away by every person in the EU every year. That’s shocking. We live in an abundance that has reached dangerous levels – for people, but also for the environment.

Food waste – a gigantic problem for people and the planet

Mindful handling of food offers numerous advantages for us humans and the planet. If we didn’t waste food on a massive scale, we could improve global food security, combat climate change, strengthen biodiversity and relieve waste management systems, to name just a few positive aspects. Unfortunately, far too little attention has been paid to this topic so far.

It is not that difficult to avoid food waste in your own household – there is often simply a lack of awareness of it. It would be really important in private. At around 52 percent, an enormous proportion of food waste along the food supply chain can be traced back to private households. And with that on us, because we are at the end of the supply chain. But that also means: We consumers have the greatest power to change something about this problem.

There are many tips on how to avoid food waste. This starts with a well-planned purchase, through the correct storage of fruit and vegetables, for example, to the fact that the best-before date is not an indicator for simply throwing away a product unopened. Awareness of food rations and the courage to simply reuse leftovers are also decisive for less food waste.

Foodprep instead of foodwaste: creativity and intuition in the kitchen

A well thought-out collection of recipes can help you to perfectly match dishes and ingredients so that as little as possible is left over or can be reused. Key word: food prep.

For example, if you plan your week culinary with a menu, you can pre-cook the basis of rice, potatoes or pasta in reasonable quantities and refine them with vegetables or other side dishes, toppings and fresh herbs. If something is left over, it’s time to get creative: You can often combine leftovers from the previous day wonderfully or spice them up with little tricks.

For example, have you ever tried to process leftover vegetables into a delicious spread? Fine soups can still be conjured up from the tired carrot and the no longer quite so crunchy beetroot. Greens that would otherwise end up in the compost are suitable as the basis for a delicious pesto. Leftover potatoes or pasta are great as a casserole or fried can make you full and happy. Rice, quinoa, millet & Co. are the best basis for colorful bowls. The imagination knows no limits.

Dare and let your intuition guide you. You’ll see how much fun it is to fight food waste in your own kitchen.

The best for leftovers – A universal seasoning for the leftover kitchen

Are you still missing a bit of pep with your leftover dishes? If salt and pepper are too boring for you, the herb specialist SONNENTOR has just the thing for you!

“The best for leftovers” is a spice mixture that was specially developed for the leftover kitchen. The mixture has two special features: First, it goes with every dish. Secondly, it comes from experts – namely from the social media community of the Austrian company. She created and designed the seasoning all-rounder especially for leftovers. The name also goes back to the herbal community. Edith and Johannes Gutmann, the owners of SONNENTOR, chose the final name “Das Beste für Reste” from hundreds of fan submissions.

The fans of Sonnentor agreed: For a perfect mixture of spices for leftovers, you need tomato flakes, sea salt, parsley, onion pieces, oregano, garlic and black pepper. According to fans, this combination of the finest organic spices gets the best out of the leftovers.

ZeroWaste in the kitchen – attract attention and raise awareness

With this project, SONNENTOR not only wants to revolutionize the taste of leftovers, but above all wants to raise awareness of food waste. The aim is to shape a sustainable future together – and with “The best for leftovers” everyone will succeed in avoiding food waste in their own kitchen.

Under the hashtag #missionleftoverkitchen, the organic pioneer launched a call to use up all the supplies at home and to ban the topic of food waste from the kitchen. SONNENTOR fans also regularly receive tips and inspiration for leftover dishes.

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Bangladesh

What are some traditional Bangladeshi spice blends used in cooking?

Introduction: Bangladeshi Cuisine

Bangladesh, a country located in South Asia, has a rich and diverse cuisine with influences from its neighbors India and Myanmar as well as colonial Portuguese and British cuisine. Bangladeshi food is known for its bold flavors, intricate spice blends, and the use of aromatic herbs.

Bangladeshi cuisine offers a range of dishes, from meat-based curries to vegetarian dishes, and from savory snacks to sweet desserts. Spices, herbs, and seasonings are an essential part of Bangladeshi cooking, and the use of these ingredients is what makes Bangladeshi food truly unique and flavorful.

Must-Have Spices in Bangladeshi Cooking

Before we discuss the traditional Bangladeshi spice blends used in cooking, it is important to understand the must-have spices in Bangladeshi cooking. These include cumin, coriander, turmeric, ginger, garlic, black pepper, red chili powder, and cinnamon.

These spices are commonly used in various dishes, from curries to biryanis, and add depth and complexity to the flavors. In addition to these spices, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, and nigella seeds are also commonly used in Bangladeshi cooking.

Panch Phoron: The Classic Spice Blend

Panch Phoron, also known as Bengali Five-Spice, is a classic spice blend used in Bangladeshi cooking. It is made up of equal parts of five whole spices: cumin seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, nigella seeds, and fenugreek seeds.

This spice blend is typically used in vegetable dishes, lentils, and fish curries. Panch Phoron is known for its distinctive flavor and aroma and adds a unique dimension to the dishes it is used in.

Garam Masala: Aromatic and Warm Mix

Garam Masala is a popular spice blend used in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine. It is made up of a combination of whole spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander, and black pepper.

This aromatic and warm spice blend is typically used in meat-based dishes, such as curries, and adds depth and complexity to the flavors. Garam Masala is known for its rich aroma and warm, spicy flavor.

Biriyani Masala: Rich and Flavorful Blend

Biriyani Masala is a rich and flavorful spice blend commonly used in Bangladeshi biryanis. It is made up of a combination of whole spices, such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, coriander, and bay leaves.

This spice blend is known for its strong and aromatic flavor and is used to enhance the taste of biryani dishes. Biriyani Masala adds a depth of flavor and complexity to the dish and makes it a truly delicious experience.

Chaat Masala: Tangy and Sour Mixture

Chaat Masala is a tangy and sour spice mixture commonly used in Bangladeshi street foods and snacks. It is made up of a combination of dry mango powder, cumin, coriander, black salt, and red chili powder.

This tangy and sour spice blend is used to add a burst of flavor to dishes such as chaats, aloo tikkis, and chutneys. Chaat Masala is known for its unique flavor and is a must-try for anyone interested in Bangladeshi cuisine.

Jhal Muri Masala: Spicy and Crunchy Blend

Jhal Muri Masala is a spicy and crunchy spice blend commonly used in Bangladeshi street foods. It is made up of a combination of spices such as cumin, coriander, black salt, and red chili powder.

This spicy and crunchy blend is used to enhance the flavor and texture of street food snacks such as jhal muri, a mixture of puffed rice, vegetables, and spices. Jhal Muri Masala adds a spicy twist to the dish and makes it a popular snack among locals and visitors alike.

Achar Masala: Pickling Spice Mixture

Achar Masala is a pickling spice mixture commonly used in Bangladeshi cuisine. It is made up of a combination of whole spices, such as fennel seeds, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, and nigella seeds.

This spice blend is used to add flavor and preserve the vegetables used in pickling. Achar Masala adds a unique flavor and aroma to pickled vegetables and makes them a popular accompaniment to many dishes in Bangladeshi cuisine.

In conclusion, Bangladeshi cuisine is known for its bold flavors and intricate spice blends. The use of spices, herbs, and seasonings is an essential part of Bangladeshi cooking, and the traditional spice blends discussed in this article are just a few examples of the unique flavors that make Bangladeshi food truly delicious.

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