You know that strange - and mouthwatering - maple syrup aroma that wafts through Manhattan every so often? That's fenugreek being processed at a food-manufacturing plant in New Jersey! If you're not familiar with this spice, it's well worth your effort to seek some out and give it a try. Do you cook with fenugreek?
Both the seeds and the leaves (fresh or dried) of the fenugreek plant are edible. The seeds are small, hard, and have a shrunken rectangular shape similar to dried beans or corn kernels. The leaves are flat and spear-shaped, and radiate out from a central stem. While both smell like caramel or maple syrup when heated, their taste is rather bitter, like burnt sugar.
Fenugreek is most widely used in Indian cuisine, though it's also found in North African and Middle Eastern dishes. It's used in many curry mixes, dry rubs for meat, and some bread recipes. A pinch can also be sprinkled over yogurt, cooked greens, or sauce. Apart from the unique flavor and aroma, fenugreek seeds can also contribute a thick slippery texture to dishes, just like okra.
The fenugreek being processed by that New Jersey plant was probably destined for artificial maple syrup or butterscotch syrup. Even if you've never heard of fenugreek, it's likely you've experienced at some point in this form!
Look for fenugreek at Middle Eastern groceries. It sometimes goes by the name "menthi". You can also find it online at places like Penzeys Spices.
If you'd like to give fenugreek a try, check out these recipes:
• Marinated Lamb Chops with Fenugreek Cream Curry from the Food Network
• Steamed Rice and Bean Dumplings in Spicy Lentil and Radish Sauce from Epicurious
• Salmon Curry from the Boston Globe
How do you use fenugreek in your cooking?
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i just made an indian chicken recipe from sunset this past weekend and it called for fenugreek! i had NEVER heard of it and actually had to leave it out because our local grocer obviously has never heard of it either ;) next time, i'll look harder and add it as i've now researched there is no good substitute...but the recipe turned out splendid anyways! ;) cheers - http://www.casacullen.com
I use it in a lot of my Indian cooking, especially chana masala, but I've never tried it in anything else. Might have to, now.
And wow, I had no idea that it was an ingredient in fake maple syrup products, although thinking of its scent, I can see why it is.
While I was nursing my first son, I was told to drink fenugreek tea to increase my milk production. Who knows if it worked, but the kid is certainly healthy!
I LOVE fenugreek and use it in my homemade curry powder, although I often forget to use it on its own. Here is a delicious recipe that leverages the unique flavor of fenugreek that I enjoyed recently: http://meghantelpnerblog.com/2010/01/14/dat-be-me-roti-me-sistren/
The leaves used as an herb in Persian are called Shanbalîleh.
They are available in middle eastern markets. The seeds are readily available in Indian markets. The seeds can be sprouted like alfalfa sprouts.
Qormeh [sometimes, Ghormeh] sabzi is a green herb stew that is a wonderful Persian dish that employs the leaves. It is one of the legendary dishes of Iran and well worth the effort. Find an Iranian mom to teach you how to make it.
The seeds are called methi at the Indian markets. They are used in a number of dishes and spice blends.
Here in Holland you can buy fenugreek cheese. It's just a normal gouda cheese mixed with fenugreek seeds. In combination with the cheese the fenugreek tastes a bit nutty, delish!!
Fenugreek leaves are lovely in a lot of dishes, particularly in an Indian flatbread (makki di roti) which is made with fine cornmeal, spices and fresh/dried methi leaves.
I toast fenugreek with a bunch of other spices and grind it for dal. It smells so great! -Like ultra sweet maple syrup.
It is good for nursing mothers but can leave you smelling like maple syrup if you ingest too much.
Weird, I just watched Season 3, Episode 1 of Six Feet Under, and one of the characters mentions fenugreek in the episode. I thought that maybe it was a made-up thing for the show, since I had never heard of it. How bizarre, it's real!
I just fenugreek in indian curries, but I try not to use too much of it because it has a strong flavor. My sister in law also used fenugreek to help with increasing milk for her feeding.
I usually buy it at the indian store and just made a post of Indian stores in the US - I'm encouraging people to add stores in their area for all to see: http://abcdsofcooking.blogspot.com/2010/03/where-to-get-indian-spices.html
I only purchased fenugreek recently because I wanted to make vadouvan. It later came in handy when I made dosas. Great smell.
I'm using fenugreek to increase my milk supply while nursing. It works, but makes me smell like maple syrup.
I bought fenugreek seeds once, but couldn't for the life of me grind them! My coffee grinder just chipped the seeds. So, I've never been able to use it.
I love to SPROUT fenugreek seeds. It's easy and you get amazing health benefits with them. You can grow them year round and add to salads for added flavour and nutrition.
Check out my tips for an inexpensive way to grow your own fenugreek and for some yummy salad recipes.
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Fenugreek leaves are so tasty, sautee with garlic and potatoes. That's it.
Delicious in Ethiopian dishes -- you need it to make berbere.
Wait, so that scene in 30 Rock where Liz/Jack/Tracy smell maple syrup is based on a real NYC experience?
I've used it in cooking (at the end of butter chicken) and for supply issues when nursing. I prefered it in the indian dish versus smelling like maple syrup and having everything have a slight sweet taste.
Wow, for years I have wondered what that smell was. I just assumed the worst - that it was something horrifically chemically. It's a really sickly sweet maple syrup smell. Thanks Kitchn!
I really like the taste of it but have only used it in Indian cooking. It is one of the spices in a spice blend called panchphoran (with cumin, black mustard, fennel, kalongi), which is wonderful in vegetable curries. There's an eggplant with panchphoran recipe in Madhur Jaffrey's Eastern Vegetarian Cooking that's to die for.
Due to its estrogen-like properties, Fenugreek seeds has been found to help increase libido and lessen the effect of hot flashes and mood fluctuations that are common symptoms of menopause and PMS. In India and China it has also been used to treat arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improve digestion, maintain a healthy metabolism, increase libido and male potency, cure skin problems (wounds, rashes and boils), treat sore throat, and cure acid reflux.
It is used a lot in Jewish Yemenite cooking. They call it hilbe (the "h" pronounced kind of like the "ch" in Challah). The dish that it is used for is also called hilbe.