Spices - the dried seeds, pods, berries, roots, stems, or buds of aromatic plants - play a vital part in the culinary traditions of Asian country . In the past, spices were vital both for preserving and flavoring food, and as such were a very valuable commodity. As methods of food preservation have become more sophisticated, however, the value of spices has dropped. This, coupled with the fact that spices are more widely grown and can be more cheaply transported, has been an increase in the variety of spices which are available and their use in every cookery in Asia .
According to Asian people, it is advisable that when buying pre-ground spices not to buy too large a quantity, as they lose much of their aroma and flavor if they are stored over a long period of time. This loss of pungency can be avoided, to a degree, by ensuring that the spices are kept out of direct sunlight, either by storing them in tinted glass jars or in a cupboard. Though more time consuming, grinding spices, as an when you need them, is the best way to get the strongest, truest flavor. Grinding spices can be done either by hand with a pestle and mortar, or in a small coffee grinder, kept specifically for the purpose.
Spices are usually associate with the cuisines of countries where the climate is very hot. This is not simply because this is the climate in which the plants flourish. Spices are still used widely as a preservative, lengthening the time which foods can be kept, an important function in hot countries, where vegetables and meats go off rapidly. They also help to stimulate appetites which are flagging in the heat. Fresh or dried chilli peppers and cayenne pepper, for example, will add fire to any dish. Yet, food can be spicy without being very hot. Spices such as cumin, coriander and cinnamon can lend flavour and fragrance to a dish, without being overpoweringly hot.
The hot and spicy recipes in this site come from favorite Asian country such as Thailand , Malaysia , Chinese, Indian¡ cuisine. They show the different ways in which herbs and spices are used, and the diversity of delicious flavours that can be achieved with even the simplest mixture of spices.
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