Thai and Chinese herbs are often used either in soups, stir-fries and main dishes. The main reason for the popularity of these herbs is that they add a distinct flavoring to the food. The herbs are available at most grocery stores, especially Asian markets.
Straw mushroom: This herb is used in stir fries and soups. It has a mild flavor and can be used in most of your main dishes to add a nice flavor. Coriander: This herb tastes like cilantro but louder. It is popularly used with seafood dishes or beef. It also goes well with Chinese noodles. Lemon grass: This herb has a unique citrus taste and it is mainly used in soups and stir-fries, although it can also be used in some main dishes. Lemon grass is also known as “citronella” because of its strong lemony aroma. Galangal: This herb has a distinct peppery taste which makes it ideal for soups or stir fries. It is slightly sweet so this herb mixes well with savory dishes like Thai curry or stewed chicken. Turmeric: The turmeric root can be eaten raw or cooked, rehydrated or fresh, sliced or grated into many foods such as curries and stews
I love the Thai and Chinese herbs that grace the dishes of my favorite restaurants. I can recognize lemongrass and galangal, and I know what to do with them when I get home. But there is also an entire roster of other herbs whose names end in -phoo or -kra or -aung, and whose uses are a mystery to me.
Thing is, these herbs are not actually so mysterious. Most of them are relatively easy to find, and most of them have fairly obvious applications in cooking. The trick is knowing how to use them. For example, if you were making Pad Thai at home, you might be tempted to throw a handful of holy basil leaves directly into your Pad Thai sauce at the last minute. But this would be a mistake!
You would be better off first infusing the holy basil leaves in oil for several hours, then straining out the leaves and adding only the flavored oil to your Pad Thai sauce right before serving.
Thai cuisine uses a lot of herbs, and there are many variations in the recipes. Traditional Thai cuisine is based on fresh herbs and vegetables. Many of the sauces and curries are prepared with dried herbs, which have a more concentrated flavor.
Nam Phrik is a popular chili paste in Thailand. It is used as a dipping sauce for meat or fish, added to soups and noodle dishes, or used as a condiment at the table. There are many other types of chili pastes that can be found in the market in Thailand.
Tamarind is used to make sweet-sour dipping sauces and soups. Tamarind pulp is sold in plastic packages or in blocks that have been soaked in water then dried. It is also available as a ready-to-use concentrate that has already been mixed with sugar and water and strained to remove seeds and fibers.
Yum means “mixture” or “spice mixture.” Nam Yum often refers to curry pastes that contain mixed spices, such as coriander seed, cumin seed, garlic, shallots, lemongrass and galanga root. They are usually made fresh for each meal but can be stored for several days if refrigerated.
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Celery Salt
What it is: celery salt is a seasoning that is made of ground celery seeds and coarse sea salt. The ratio of the two ingredients can vary.
Uses: celery salt is used in many dishes especially those that are fried or baked. It is often sprinkled on top of traditional egg salad, tuna fish salad and potato salad as well as deviled eggs. It is also sprinkled on top of chicken or seafood to add flavor. Celery salt is also used to flavor soups and stews. It is also used to season green beans and fried okra as well as other vegetables for a change of taste.
Television chef Alton Brown recommends using it in homemade mayonnaise instead of regular table salt, citing the added flavor from the celery seed and parsley flakes, among others. He recommends one teaspoon of mayonnaise for every one teaspoon celery salt mixture, along with mustard powder, paprika, garlic powder and white pepper if desired.
It can be found in your spice rack at most grocery stores and marketplaces.
How To Use: to make your own homemade mayonnaise combine 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon vinegar (white wine or rice), pinch of salt
Celery Salt is a spice mix of celery seeds and salt. Celery salt is most commonly used for celery and potato salads, or with ham.
Celery salt can also be used to add seasoning to soups, sauces, and gravies.
Celery salt originated in the United States and was produced in New York City by the John T. Scudder Company as early as 1872. Celery salt can be purchased at most grocery stores however it can also be easily made at home. The mix of salt and celery seeds is easy to make and will last up to 8 months in an air tight container.
List of Ingredients-
1/2 cup of celery seeds
1 1/2 cups of kosher or sea salt
Directions-
Grind the celery seeds until they are fine in a coffee grinder. Combine the ground up seeds with the salt in a bowl. Mix together well and store in an airtight container for best results.
Celery Salt is used in a variety of different recipes and is a great substitute for regular salt. It can be found in nearly any grocery store and is relatively cheap to buy.
Celery Salt is a mixture of celery seeds, white pepper, and coarse sea salt. It is prepared by either grinding together the celery seeds and sea salt or chopping together the coarse sea salt and seeds. The mixture can contain small amounts of other ingredients such as fennel, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, mustard seed, etc.
Celery Salt’s flavor is very similar to that of celery seeds but with a bit of a kick from the white pepper and other ingredients. Its texture is fine and it crunches just like regular salt when you bite into it.
It is mainly used as a topping for meats like chicken, pork chops, fish and hamburgers as well as on some salads or soups. It can also be used in many other dishes such as Bloody Mary cocktails, sauces for hot dogs or bratwurst as well as an ingredient in potato salad or cole slaw.
Celery Salt can be used instead of regular salt in almost any recipe. It’s also an excellent addition to homemade salsa
Celery salt is a seasoning used for adding flavor to various dishes. It is a combination of celery powder and salt. This can be used by anyone who loves the taste of celery, but has difficulty chewing it. It is also commonly added to soups, dips, and stews.
Celery salt was developed by an American named John Pemberton in the late 19th century in Atlanta, Georgia. He developed this when he created his famous drink Coca-Cola. He did not like the taste of celery, but he wanted to mix it with something else so that it would not be as strong. It was made popular when bartenders started putting it in Bloody Marys.
Truffle salt is another type of salt that has become popular in recent years. It comes from truffles and has a pungent smell that people find very appealing. It is often used on pasta, eggs, and salads.
