Achiote Paste © Denzil Green Achiote (aka Annatto paste) is made from ground annatto seeds, which give it its colouring, and from other items which give it its flavour, such as cinnamon, salt, oregano, garlic, cloves, coriander, cumin, and bay leaves. The items used will depend on what brand you buy. Acetic acid is often…
Pastes
Bloater Paste
Bloater Paste is a fish spread made from salted, smoked herrings called “bloaters”, which are smoked whole with the insides still in them. A bloater has a more gamey flavour than cleaned herrings. It is sold in small jars. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3 days. Bloater Paste is usually spread on toast, though…
Cenovis
Cenovis is a dark brown commercial seasoning mix with a strong smell and a salty taste. Like Marmite or Vegemite, it is a yeast extract, made from brewer’s yeast, “plant extracts”, and sea salt. It has a slightly clearer, and slightly smoother taste than Marmite, but as for Marmite or Vegemite, people either love it…
Fig Paste
Fig Paste is a sweet paste made by boiling figs with water so that they break down, and then thicken.It can be used in desserts such as Fig Newton cookies, or spread on toast, or as a stuffing in some meats. Cooking Tips 1 pound (450 g) dried figs 1 1/2 cup (6 oz) sugar…
Hummos
The version of hummos that we are most familiar with is made from cooked, ground chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, and tahini (sesame seeds ground into a paste.) The ingredients are made into a thick, pasty purée that can be used as a dip for pita bread and fresh vegetables or as a spread for sandwiches….
Pastes
A paste is cooking is a very finely pulverized or ground moist food preparation. It can be made from a single item, such as fruit, some meat pastes and some nut purées are. Or, it can be a mixture of ingredients, such as a curry paste. Marzipan and tahini are pastes. Meat pastes are also…
Sweet Red Bean Paste
This is a bean paste made from red adzuki beans that are boiled, drained, then puréed. It’s called “sweet”, not because sugar has been stirred in, but unlike some other bean pastes such as Miso, it’s not fermented to make it sour. The “sweet” here means not tangy. That being said, some versions actually do…
Tauco
Tauco are salted soy beans, either yellow or black, fermented and made into a paste. In the first stage of fermentation, the bean skins get covered with a mould. In Indonesia, the beans are sold tinned whole, not made into a paste yet. In Indonesia, the paste is mostly made from yellow soy beans, and…
Umeboshi Paste
Umeboshi Paste is a Japanese red paste made from puréed Umeboshi (pickled apricots.) It can be bought in tubes or bottles. To make your own, just mash Umeboshi. Cooking Tips When using Umeboshi Paste, bear in mind that it is very salty so hold back on other salt. Language Notes Often called in English “Umeboshi…
Wasabi
Wasabi is a small perennial green plant that grows in the wild along streams. It is a member of the watercress family. It will grow about 18 inches (45 cm) tall. It is harvested for its root, which is green inside, after at least two years of growth. It is also cultivated, usually in water….
Wasabi Powder
Wasabi Powder is, in theory, a hot-tasting powder made from the dried, ground roots of Wasabi plants. In practice, however, the pure powders made from actual Wasabi roots are quite expensive, so almost all brands are “fake” Wasabi Powder, actually containing powdered horseradish rather than real wasabi roots, with pale green colouring to imitate the…