Sichuan (Szechuan) pepper
Black pepper is Piper nigrum. Sichuan pepper is either red (Zanthoxylum simulans) or green (Zanthoxylum schinifolium), it is not hot, but it leaves a numbing and tingling …
Kitchen
Divided into three sub-categories — ingredients, how-tos and tools — this section includes tips on choosing a kitchen countertop (in case you're remodeling) and kitchen organizing.
Anise (aniseed) and star anise are different spices
Anise / aniseed is Pimpinella anisum. Star anise is Illicium verum. Their flavor and aroma are similar to licorice. Can they be used interchangeably in cooking?
Fermented fish sauce: how it is made and used in cooking
We call it patis in the Philippines. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, it is nam pla in Thailand, nuoc mam in Vietnam, nam pa in Laos, tuk trey in Cambodia, …
Butterfly pea flowers
Steep to make a blue herbal brew that can be drank like tea or use to make Malaysian nasi kerabu. The scientific name Clitoria ternatea.
Mung beans and sprouts for home cooking
Mung bean is a legume grown for its edible seeds and sprouts. How are the seeds cooked? Are they used in savory or sweet dishes? How do you grow sprouts from dried beans?
How to cook with kaffir limes and leaves
Called makrut in Thailand, the fruits and leaves of the kaffir lime are used in Southeast Asian cooking. The leaves and fruit rind emit an intense citrusy aroma. The …
Difference between garlic scapes and garlic chives
There are similarities in their appearance but they don’t look exactly the same. Garlic chives and garlic scapes are different vegetables.