ChatterBank17 mins ago
Spices in cooking
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What spices can I use that do not cause the mouth to burn? This puts me right off Indian and other exotic dishes. Many thanks for all replies.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Really, only chillies and peppers and their relations cause the burning sensations so almost all other spices should be fine. A short list might include cumin, cardamom, coriander, tumeric, fenugreek, star anise, cassia bark , fennel seed. ginger, galangal, caraway, mace, nutmeg, cloves, saffron and tamarind. In almost all recipes the 'hot' content can be scaled back (and probably should be, Brits especially are suckers for 'macho' cuisine).
Go easy on the chilli powder/cayenne pepper. Only add as litle as you thinkyou would like. You can get mild chilli powder which would be OK for a start. After a while you may like it stronger. I always say I don't like hot currys but my friends think mine is hot. A slow start is the secret. All the other spices are fine with the possible exception of ginger, that can give it a zing.