ITALIAN SPICES - SEASONING

ITALIAN HERBS - ITALIAN COOKING BASICS

Oregano and chilli flakes needs no introduction these two makes our super favorites Pizza's and Pasta's delicious.

Thanks Domino's for those extra packs that we carry home and use them when we feel like being chef and make Pasta's, pizza, agilo-e-olio (recepie is on blog) at home. Hehehe..

Just like in India we use masalas Italians use herbs which is known as seasoning
So today's blog is about Italian spices/seasonings. So that you too can explore, cook and try other Italian food.

Let's begin...

1:- Oregano

It is made of dry Carrom(ajwain) leaves. Having musty green color with strong-pungent flavor and life of Italian food. You cannot skip it.

2:- Basil leaves

Also know as Ram Tulsi (green Tulsi leaves) used fresh leaves or in power form having sweet - strong falvor it cannot be skipped. Just like Indians Italians are very fond of Tulsi/Basil and every house hold has this plant. Top Tulsi leaves on your pizzas or Pasta's or Agilo-e-olio. It's "healthy bhi, tasty bhi".

3:- Chilli flakes

If you want to make chilli flakes at home. Buy lose dry red chillies from grocery (kirana) shop crush it for 5 secs and you got your home made chilli flakes.

4:- Rosemary

Can be used as dry herb or fresh. It has purple color small flowers and are tiny  thin green leaves mostly used in Italian non veg dishes and sauces like Pizza/pasta sauces. It has bitter, sour cum spicy flavor. It is a brain booster.

5:- Thyme

It has some like minty falvor and goes bets with tomatoes sauces and tomato dishes. Used in Italian soups. You too can use it in soups or sabji gravies (curries).

6:- Parsley

It looks some what like fresh big corriender ( Dhaniya leaves). It has mild bitter flavor used for garnishes and makes food tastes delicious. If you do not have Parsley substitute it with Corriender ( Dhaniya leaves). It is full of vitamin K, A and C.

7:- Pepper Powder

Everyone knows what pepper powder is. It is also known as black gold in food world. Having spicy and strong flavor. A must sprinkle on top of cheese dishes for balance. Best thing is it is India's origin and fine quality of pepper is grown in Kerala.

8:- Garlic powder

Italian food is only about using herbs in dry or fresh form. Here garlic cloves are dried powdered and used in sauces and cheeses. That bottle on table having golden red shade oil in it is chilli garlic oil. In olive oil put some sauted golden garlic and chilli flakes it's is ready. Same steps for garlic butter use soft butter instead of oil mix garlic chilli flakes and make garlic bread.

9:- Mixed Herbs

Mixed herbs is ready to use dry herbs mix of all above mention herbs you get it in ready made packs in market.

10:- Cheeses

Best part about Italian food is cheese. Do you know there are 2500 variety of cheese and out of which 300 is commercially used.

Most of use Amul cheese also called as proceeds cheese (mix of 3 diff cheese) and mozzarella.  Here I suggest other cheese which is available in our Indian markets/big bazaar Cheddar cheese, Parmezan cheese (dry cheese), Mascarporn cheese (used in sweet dish) Mozzarella (Amul has mozzarella cheese sticks) etc.

SUGGETIONS-

• You can buy these herbs from local grocery shop or Big Bazar/Dmart.

• "Dorabjee Departmental Store" Pune Camp opp to SGS Mall - You can fine 100 varieties of cheese all above mentioned herbs and much more.

• Shivaji Market Gate no. 3 and 4, Pune Camp - You can buy above mentioned herbs and cheeses for reasonable prices.

• Also try out spaghetti (Italian noodles), lasagna (la-za-nia), bruschetta (mini pizza),different Pasta's from Italian menu list.

Thank you for reading!!

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- Priya Modha (Pricooked tales)