Soy sauce is a salty liquid made from fermented soy beans, roasted wheat, water and salt. Packed with umami, soy sauce is used as a condiment and seasoning in Asian cuisines.
Soy sauce comes in many subtle variations, but is generally broken down into dark and light varieties. Light soy sauce is generally saltier and thinner than dark soy and does not stain food while cooking. Chinese black soy has added molasses that colors dishes as it cooks. The whole soy beans used to make quality soy sauce lend it a dark color, but cheaper brands using soy protein may cheat by adding caramel coloring.
The Japanese use soy sauce as a dipping sauce for sashimi or to season tofu, grilled meat and vegetable dishes. The Chinese use soy sauce mainly for marinades. In Indonesia, it is used mostly as a table condiment (called kecap, which comes in sweet and salty variations).
Be warned: though Japanese tamari (a slightly thicker and complex soy sauce made from more soybeans than most) is generally wheat-free, other commercial brands of soy sauce do contain gluten, so if you are trying to cook gluten-free, check the labels carefully.
What does it mean to blanch something?
What does it mean to blanch something?
To blanch means to plunge food into boiling water for a very short amount of time. Most blanched foods are immediately rinsed in icy bath to stop the cooking process (this is known as "refreshing" or "shocking"). Blanching raw vegetables will brighten the color while maintaining a crisp, barely-cooked texture and flavor. Blanching also helps loosen the skin of tomatoes or stone fruit for peeling.
Recipe: Blanched And Buttered Brussels Sprouts (Cookthink)
Recipe: Blanched Asparagus With Vinaigrette (Cookthink)
Storing fresh herbs is a battle against the inevitable, but here are a few tips for keeping them alive in time for you to eat them up:
1 Set a bushy herb like parsley, cilantro, chervil, or mint in a shallow glass of water and keep it on the counter or in the refrigerator for several days, just like a bouquet.
2 Or, rinse it, wrap it loosely in a paper or dish towel while still damp, and place it (with or without a plastic bag covering) in the crisper or at the bottom of the fridge.
3 Sturdy herbs such as rosemary or thyme can be stored in paper or loose plastic (either keep it loose or puncture some air holes to let out moisture). Or you can simply hang them upside down in the kitchen, where they will dry slowly.
4 Do not manhandle delicate herbs like chives, tarragon or basil. Rinse lightly, wrap loosely in paper and place in a plastic bag in the crisper.
5 Fresh herbs should last about a week if stored properly. If you're at the end of your garden's season and you have a tons of herbs left unused, you can most herbs to have later in the year. Kalyn's Kitchen breaks down the best way to freeze basil, rosemary and thyme.
Reference: Marjoram vs. oregano (Cookthink)
Reference: How to make pesto (Cookthink)
Sesame oil is extracted from sesame seeds and comes in two varieties.
Light-colored nutty sesame oil is popular in Southern India and works in salad dressings or as a frying oil with a high smoke point. Dark toasted sesame oil is pungent in flavor and frequently used in Asian dishes. A few drops add dramatic flavor to marinades, soups, noodle dishes, dressings and other preparations.
Sesame oil can also be used to lubricate the skin, as it penetrates quickly. Sesame seeds are one of the most ancient crops cultivated for oil.
What's the difference between a green onion and a scallion?
What's the difference between a green onion and a scallion?
The words green onion and scallion are generally interchangeable; they both most often refer to immature members of the sweet onion family.
In general, green onions or scallions are vegetables with a white base and long straight green leaves that can be eaten raw or cooked (both parts). In Europe, the term spring onion refers to green onions that have a fatter but mild white bulb and long green leaves.
recipe: Boiled Eggs With Green Onions, Bell Pepper And Ginger (cookthink)
recipe: Green Onion Beer Bread (Coconut & Lime)
Flat-leaf parsley vs. curly-leaf parsley
Flat-leaf parsley vs. curly-leaf parsley
Italian, or flat leaf, parsley has flat leaves as its name suggests, and many cooks prefer it for its more pronounced flavor, as it contains more essential oils than the curly leaf variety.
Curly leaf parsley is most often used as a garnish to add color to plates of monochromatic food or to dress up seafood displays.
While parsley is generally used for its leaves, parsley stems actually contain more flavor. Finely dice them and add to stocks, sauces, sautés and other preparations for added taste and vitamins.
Recipe: Barbara Kafka's Parsley Soup (Cookthink)
Recipe: Tortellini With Tarragon, Chives And Parsley (Cookthink)
Parsley used to be a gross-looking garnish on the side of your plate. Now, we think of it as one of the best go-to herbs to work into your cooking. It adds a bright but relatively neutral herbal flavor to almost any dish.To prep it, first rinse and shake dry the leaves. Hold the bouquet at an angle with the leaves against the cutting board. Run your knife down the side of the bouquet to slice away the leaves. It's fine to remove some of the tender stems along with the leaves.Now just run your knife back and forth across the pile of leaves, chopping them as coarsely or as finely as you need to. The closer to the end of the cooking you plan to add the parsley, the finer you'll want to chop it. But since parsley's so tender it's usually okay to keep the the chop coarse.
Tahini is a thick paste made from ground sesame seeds. Common in Middle Eastern cuisine, tahini is what brings that nutty richness to hummus, baba ghanoush and halvah. You can find tahini in a jar or can at most grocery stores. A fresh can usually needs stirring to mix the oil and paste.
Most falafel sandwiches are drizzled with a garlicky tahini sauce that is easy to make at home. Mix 1/4 cup of tahini with two minced garlic cloves, 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper. (Add a little water if the sauce is too thick.)
Tahini is different than the sesame pastes popular in eastern Asia, which are made with unhulled seeds that create a more bitter flavor.
Got no tahini and craving hummus? Brys had success with toasted pine nuts.
Recipe: Soft Boiled Eggs With Miso, Lemon And Cilantro (Cookthink)
Recipe: Sweet And Sour Udon Noodles With Basil (Cookthink)
Reference: Tahini vs. sesame paste (Cookthink)
Side by side, they might fool you: cucumbers and zucchinis share the same dark green skin, pale seedy flesh, and long cylindrical shape. To the touch, however, these near-twins are not the same: cucumbers are cold and waxy, while zucchinis are rough and dry.
The two vegetables also perform very differently when cooked. Cucumbers wilt but maintain a slight crunch when heated. Zucchinis soften, sweeten and brown on the stove top or in the oven. Eaten raw, cucumbers are juicy, cool and crisp. Raw zucchini is heartier, a little sweet and a little bitter. As a general rule, we prefer cucumbers raw and zucchini cooked. (There are many exceptions to this rule.)
While you can’t replace one with the other, zucchinis and cucumbers do complement one another. Slice two cucumbers, two zucchinis and one sweet onion, and soak them all in rice vinegar for at least an hour in the refrigerator. Serve as a cooling side dish alongside something spicy or layer a few slices on top of a burger or sandwich.
Recipe: Cucumber, Carrot And Radish Salad With Creamy Avocado Dressing (Cookthink)
Recipe: Couscous With Raisins, Zucchini and Feta (Cookthink)
Reference: How to seed a cucumber (Cookthink)
Reference: What is raita? (Cookthink)
