Amchur
Amchur (or amchoor) powder is an Indian spice derived from sun-dried unripe inexperienced mangoes. The tart, tangy powder provides a contact of brightness to a dish, the identical manner you would possibly use a spritz of lemon or lime.
A staple in North Indian, Bengali, and different South Asian cuisines, amchur has a citrusy, subtly candy taste that pairs sublimely with something savory. Undoubtedly, that is why it’s a key ingredient in chaat masala, a spice combine used to season numerous Indian snacks generally known as chaat.
Consider amchur as a daub of vivid paint on a clean canvas — you should utilize it to convey a tangy contact to any variety of easy snacks, together with popcorn, nuts, and uncooked veggies. Is that hummus a bit boring? Sprinkle in some amchur. Use a pinch to brighten up fruit salads, soups, stews, and curries. Past the layer of taste it provides, amchur has a sensible use in marinades: Its enzymes and acidity are nice for softening up powerful cuts of meat.
This was excerpted from “8 Herbs and Spices to Prepare dinner With Extra” which was printed within the November 2022 subject of Expertise Life.
