ASAFETIDA is a spice that has been used by people in South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East for thousands of years. It is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking, but it is also found in European cuisine. It can be bought in Indian shops or online. I have used it for years. But I have always felt intimidated by it, because I did not understand what it was or where the different brands differed from one another.
The best way to learn about a spice is to grow it yourself, but asafetida comes from a plant that grows wild only in the desert and can take five years to reach maturity, so this isn’t an option. The next best thing would be to buy small amounts of the different brands and taste them side by side, but there was no supermarket near me where I could do this.
This article describes my trials of different brands of asafetida, and offers some general advice about buying and using this spice.
Asafetida is a spice that comes from a plant whose name comes from Persian. It is also known as “devil’s dung” or “food of the gods.” It has a unique smell, somewhere between garlic and burnt onions. This makes it an essential ingredient in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.
It is also, when fresh, one of the most abominable smelling substances in the world.
Asafetida is an ingredient where freshness matters. The smell dissipates with age, so you may want to avoid buying older samples or purchasing them online. You can also reduce the smell by roasting it for about three minutes.
If you are looking for asafetida, it may be labeled as “hing,” which is its Hindi name.
Asafetida is a herb commonly found in Indian cooking. It is also called “devil’s dung” because of its smell.
Asafetida was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who knew it as “herb of grace.” In medieval times, asafetida was used for many purposes including to repel insects.
Asafetida is an ingredient in Indian dishes such as chutneys, curries and rice dishes. It has a long history of medicinal use, as well.
Purchase:You can buy it at any Indian grocery store. The dried form is more common than fresh. You can also find it online.*
Storage:You should not keep it in damp or humid places because it will deteriorate easily. The best place to store it is in an airtight container in the freezer, especially if you have purchased the fresh variety. If you have bought the powdered variety, then you do not need to freeze it and can store it in your kitchen cupboard.*
Preparation:The dried powder form of asafetida needs to be soaked in warm water before being used, especially if you are going to use it whole.*
When exposed to air for a long period of time, asaf
Asafetida is a strong-smelling spice derived from a plant in the carrot family. It has been used for centuries to flavor dishes from Spain to India. Because of its pungent smell, it is more commonly known as “devil’s dung” and “stinkweed.”
The root of the plant is dried and ground into a powder, which looks like small pieces of brittle amber. The taste is similar to that of garlic or onions, but more bitter. It has been called the world’s most unpleasant-smelling herb, with a smell variously described as resembling rotten eggs, moldy cheese or Limburger cheese, sulfur or wet dog fur.
Taken internally, asafetida can cause gastric upset and an allergic reaction in some people. It is therefore recommended that you use only small amounts of asafetida in your cooking. In large amounts, it can be toxic.
Asafetida is wonderful ingredients for food. It is very important in flavor because it gives many dishes a special smell and also brings out the taste of other ingredients. Asafetida is also much used in medicine as an expectorant, carminative and alexipharmic and has been used to treat colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, coughs and sinus infections. This gum resin comes from a large perennial herb that grows to over 4 feet tall with numerous branches covered in long stiff hairs. The plant’s leaves are made up of long oval shaped leaflets.
It is used to add flavor to dishes from all over the world and especially popular with Indian cuisine as well as Middle Eastern cuisine. Commonly used in lentil dishes, beans, vegetables and rice dishes. In India it is often added to chicken curry or vegetable dishes along with garam masala and other spices for seasoning. It can be found in powder form in grocery stores or spice shops.
Asafetida market is growing with the rising demand for Indian spices in Europe and America. The demand for this herb is on a rise in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia as well. According to the recent statistics, India holds a significant lead over Iran in export of asafoetida. Asafoetida is produced from Ferula assafoetida plant which is grown in Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and India.
The demand for this herb is on a rise in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia as well. According to the recent statistics, India holds a significant lead over Iran in export of asafoetida. Asafoetida is produced from Ferula assafoetida plant which is grown in Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and India.
When buying asafoetida it should be checked that what you are buying is genuine and has no adulteration or other kinds of contamination. Some unscrupulous traders may use a cheap adulterant like sesame seeds or gum arabic to cut down the cost of production so that they can make more profits out of it.
Others may mix with some other ingredients like flour to make it look more like genuine product but these are not good
This herb was widely used as a spice in Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. In the Middle Ages it was commonly traded as a valuable ingredient in European apothecaries. It has been used by the people of China, India and Japan for thousands of years.
Scientists were not able to find out what Asafoetida is made of which did not stop them from trying to create a synthetic substitute. The name comes from two Persian words: “asafetida” means “fetid gum”. This substance is very popular in Persian cuisine. Its ancient use is connected with its ability to suppress flatulence and improve digestion.
The main component of this plant is sulfur. Sulfur is also found in eggs, legumes, cabbage, onions and garlic.
Asafetida has a particular smell that can be compared to the smell of onions or garlic mixed with burnt rubber or resin. The scent has a pungent, sharp and penetrating taste which quickly goes away when heated.
