Spicy with a little sweet!
The star of this months’ box is tamarind which is native to Africa but very popular in Trinbago-Indian cuisine. It is fruity yet tart, and used to enhance flavor in cooking. Tamarind, although high in sugar is also rich in many vitamins and minerals.
Scorpion Pepper (Hot) Sauce
What is it?: It’s a blend of aged scorpion peppers, scotch bonnet peppers & herbs, pickled in vinegar. In 2012, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion Pepper was voted the hottest pepper in the world and is now ranked at number 2.
Suggested Uses: Can be used as a condiment for any dish, much like ketchup…if you can handle the heat!
Helpful Tip: It’s extremely hot so use sparingly for the hot sauce amateur.
Tamarind Hot Sauce
What is it?: The tamarind tree, indigenous to Africa and also cultivated in Asia for centuries, produces a pod-like fruit, which contain an edible, fleshy, juicy, acidulous pulp and is best described as sweet and sour in taste.
Suggested Uses: It makes a winning combination when paired with tamarind chutney on doubles.
Helpful Tip: The tamarind flavor also pairs well with fish dishes.
Saffron Powder (Tumeric)
What is it?: Turmeric has been used in Asia for thousands of years and is one of the key ingredients in many Asian dishes, imparting a mustard-like, earthy aroma and pungent, slightly bitter flavor to foods.
Suggested Uses: Used in bara for doubles and other curry recipes.
(Doubles is a common street food in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a sandwich made with two baras (flat fried bread) filled with curry channa (curried chickpeas)).
Helpful Tip: Spice up your recipes with tumeric! Add to eggs, vegetables, soups, rice, smoothies or even tea!
Tamarind Chutney
What is it?: Made with tamarind, hot pepper, spices and garlic.
Suggested Uses: Add to food for an enhanced sweet & spicy flavour. Popular condiment used on Trinidad’s famous bake and shark sandwich.
Helpful Tip: Also pairs well with fish dishes.
Preserved Fruit
What is it?: Fruit preserved with salt, sugar, spices, pepper and salt. Commonly made with plums, mangoes, cherries and pommecytherre. Can be either sweet or spicy. Part of our Chinese heritage.
Suggested Uses: Makes an excellent sweet & spicy snack.
Helpful Tip: Look for these in our Snack Box coming soon!
Green Seasoning
What is it?: It’s a marinade made of a blend of various herbs including chives (green onions), thyme, shadon beni (culantro) and garlic. It is typically used for poultry, meat and seafood.
Suggested Uses: All poultry, meat or seafood.
Helpful Tip: Marinate 24 hrs prior to cooking for enhanced flavor.
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