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Fenugreek

Information for Fenugreek

Coming from the Fabaceae family, fenugreek is an annual plant that is grown worldwide. Native of West Asia and South Eastern Europe this is also grown in Egypt, England, India and Morocco. This plant grows to be 12" to 24" (30 to 60 cm) tall with white flowers, robust green leaves and thin beaked pods.

Each pod contains about 10 to 20 smooth oblong seeds that are 1/8" (3 mm) in size and yellow to brown in color. These hard seeds have a groove on one corner making them look like hooks.

The aromatic seeds are often used as a spice after being roasted to reduce bitterness. These may be included in dishes either whole or ground in powdered form. Fenugreek carries a strong but pleasant smell that is similar to maple. It also has a taste that is slightly sweet mixed with nuttiness, however when overused it tends to have a bitter taste.

Fenugreek is used in the production of imitation maple syrup, candies and other sweets. It can also be used when making pickles, savory dishes and spice blends such as sambal powder and curry powder. Foods that mix well with fenugreek include pork, vegetables, potatoes, legumes, poultry and rabbit.



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