Things can be amazing when you Spice things up a bit

Have you ever considered making changes – just to make things a bit more interesting? If you spice things up a bit, people sit up and take notice. Things take on different dimensions from the regular, everyday monotony.

It’s so frustrating

Have you ever tried a recipe that simply doesn’t quite hit the mark? It doesn’t live up to expectations?

It’s so frustrating isn’t it. There’s something missing. The food’s ok, it’s edible, it may even be quite nice, but it’s just not all that you hoped it would be. You were wanting the food to be special, you were wanting your friends to be impressed, you wanted it to be memorable (for all the right reasons) and yet it fell into the category of simply ‘mediocre’.

It’s such a let down when that happens.

I know exactly what it feels like – that was me, 30 odd years ago, constantly trying to make something a bit special, only to be told by my husband that it was nice but it wasn’t the same as you get in Egypt.

Crafting spice blends is an art that makes all the difference

Well, since then things have progressed and I’ve done endless research, generally standing side by side, next to skilled Egyptian cooks to discover their ‘secrets’. Sometimes its down to a particular process or technique they carry out that makes the difference . But, more often than not, it’s down to the crafting of the spice blends, that takes that dish to to next level of excellence.

Go on, spice things up & make them smile!

Using the perfect herbs & spices for a recipe makes all the difference between a dish that’s ‘nice’ and a dish that makes your taste buds dance & makes everyone smile.

Create possibilities

Let’s face it, that’s what we all want, isn’t it ? We want to be the ones that create the possibilities for others to have a reason to smile. That’s why we cook for people. It’s not because they’re hungry, well they may be, but it’s so much more than that. Isn’t it ?

For some of us cooking is a real pleasure

For some people cooking is simply a chore. They’d much rather just grab something ready-made out of the freezer and “bung” it into the cooker to get dinner ready .

For others, cooking is a real pleasure, it’s their passion and its a major disappointment when the meal they’ve prepared doesn’t excel. And as I said this is so often down to the seasoning; the herbs and spices not being adjusted properly.

Put smiles on their faces

Here at ‘Secrets of a Cairo Kitchen’ you’ll find recipes that give you the ‘secrets’ to help you achieve your goals (well as far as cooking goes) and insha’Allah (God willing) get smiles all round on the faces of your diners.

Spices are your best friends – Get to know them intimately

The real art of spice blending is knowing which spices to add, to know them well enough to know which part of the flavour spectrum they add to the dish, and how to balance them properly.

Become familiar with these bundles of joy & become a true spice artist

Cumin & coriander are both used frequently in Egyptian cooking, as are cardamom, ginger, aniseed, fennel, cinnamon, cloves and chilli. They all bring something to the blend. Stay with us and we’ll help you become familiar with these bundles of joy and help you become a true spice artist.

Just to get it straight

Let me make it clear, when I say spice things up a bit, I’m not just talking about throwing a ton of chilli into the mix with all your dishes. I don’t know about you but I don’t really enjoy food that’s too hot. For me it wipes out the real flavour of the food. I like food with just enough chilli to make my mouth tingle with excitement. How about you?

Origins can make a difference

When buying spices consider where they came from. Where spices are grown can also affect their flavour. Spices grown in India can be quite different from the same spice grown in Spain or South America. They have to be don’t they? The climates are different, the soil’s different, drying methods are probably different and so on. So, take this into account when you’re buying your spices.

Similarly a spice bought in a budget supermarket can be very different from the same sort of spice bought from a more up-market store. That might make me sound like a snob, but I know from experience that it can make a big difference. The up-market store may be more expensive but that’s quite often because they’ve taken the trouble to ensure the absolute quality of the product.

At the end of the day the quality of the spice has a massive affect on the end result. The cost of the spice is generally a fraction of the cost of all the other ingredients. If the more expensive spice makes your food “unforgettable” then it’s money well spent in my opinion.

Age really does make a whole lot of difference too

Another major factor to be taken into account, is how old your spices are. A spice that’s been sitting in the back of your cupboard for the last 8 years will taste much less vibrant than something that was picked and dried a few short months ago. I would go as far as suggesting that, if you have spices that have been in your cupboard for anything more than a year, or even 6 months in some cases, it really needs to head for the bin. It will just be stale and need replacing.

Similarly, sometimes we’re tempted to buy great big catering packs of spices, because it’s so much more economic to do so. You can often get an enormous bag for just 50% more than a little pot. But unless you’re using vast amounts of that particular spice in your cooking it really is a false economy. It’s better to buy small quantities to ensure that your spices are used whilst they’re still fresh. This way they can inject their full vitality into your cuisine.

Liberate those essential oils to really spice things up

Pre-heating dried whole spices and then grinding them yourself either with a spice grinder or by hand with a pestle and mortar can make a massive difference and be really beneficial for your spices. It helps to liberate their natural oils and can make them so much more fragrant and flavoursome. Plus it makes your kitchen smell amazing.

It’s a matter of taste & Your Taste really counts

So, bearing all these variables in mind, I hope you can see how important your input is. It’s important for you to always taste everything.

Many cooks regrettably consider “check the seasoning” to mean “check to see if you need to add salt and pepper at the end of the cooking”. But seasoning needs to be checked regularly throughout the cooking process, so that if the flavours and aromas need adjusting, this can be done early enough to allow the additional spices to add their full potential.

Spice things up & achieve your full potential

So, I say again, spices really are your best friends. Get to know them really well. Allow them to help you achieve your full potential with the meals you prepare.

The real art of spice blending is knowing which spices need to be added and to know them well enough to know which part of the flavour spectrum they add to the dish and how to balance them.

Become familiar with these bundles of joy & become a true spice artist

All spices bring their own individual flavours to a dish. Stay with us and we’ll help you become familiar with these bundles of joy and help you become a true spice artist.

Here are a few suggestions for delicious dishes that will truly spice things up for you.

Dukkah – a delicious nut and spice blend – a snack for dunking flat breads with a little olive oil

Halabissah – chilli beef and chickpea soup – a celebration of flavours in a glass

Falafel – bean nuggets – absolutely ripped with flavour

Mish – a spicy cheese spread – a really unusual cheese that really packs a punch

Harissa Chicken – the most gorgeous zingy chicken ever

Hawowshi – bread pockets filled with the most wonderful spiced minced beef

Muhammara – My absolute favourite Red Pepper & Walnut Dip, great with warm flat breads

I hope you enjoy these recipes.

We’re always pleased to hear from you.