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Exotic Spice: What Does Fenugreek Taste Like?

The question “What does fenugreek taste like?” is quite familiar in the cooking community.

Fenugreek is incredibly popular in Indian cuisine. 

You can also find it in Ethiopian, Turkish, Eritrean, Persian, and Egyptian dishes.

Fenugreek is getting noticeably prominent in almost every corner of the world, especially because it carries health-boosting properties, according to Huffington Post.

It lowers blood pressure, encourages lactation, controls blood sugar, and boosts testosterone.

Plus, fenugreek seeds are usable for hiding the bad taste of certain medications and flavoring agents.

It doesn’t just add taste to your curries but comes with a plethora of health benefits.

What Is Fenugreek?

what-is-fenugreek

Fenugreek is an edible plant from the Fabaceae family that is native to the Mediterranean and Asia.

The leaves and seeds of the plant are consumable. It possesses small leafy greens that are usable in its fresh or dried form.

It also has pods that consist of small golden square-shaped seeds. They are usable for medicinal purposes or as a spice.

The majority of the cultivation and consumption of the fenugreek takes place in India, according to Masterclass.

Fenugreek is also consumable as a supplement. The plant measures up to 2-3 feet, which is 60-90 cm tall.

Fenugreek is an excellent alternative, and Chinese medicine treats skin diseases and other sicknesses.

This common household spice is also present on your daily products such as shampoo and soaps.

It is present widely in other cosmetics too. The ingredient is quite similar to the clover.

What Does Fenugreek Taste Like? Does Fenugreek Taste Good?

what-does-fenugreek-taste-like

The fenugreek has a taste that is very similar to maple syrup. It is slightly sweet and has a nutty taste to it.

Fenugreek will taste bitter if you try it in its original form. However, it loses its bitterness once you add it in for cooking.

According to WebMD, when combined with spices and aromatics, fenugreek offers a depth of flavor and sweetness that is incredibly delicious.

It perfectly complements saucy dishes. Some people even compare its taste to burnt sugar.

The fenugreek has a scientific name called “Trigonella Foenum-Graecum” and is popularly known in India as “Methi.”

The plant also goes by other interesting names such as Greek Clover, Bird’s Foot, Greek Hay Seed, Methika, Greek Hay, etc.

Fenugreek is like a cross between maple syrup and celery. It has a nutritional value per 100 grams (3.5 Ounces).

Energy amounts up to 1352 KJ (323 Kcal), 58g of carbohydrates, 25g of dietary fiber, 6.4g of fat, and 23g of protein.

How to Use Fenugreek in Recipes?

how-to-cook-fenugreek

According to the Seattle Times, you can use fenugreek in tons of recipes. They are best in Indian curries, but their use goes beyond that.

Some of the ways to use it in recipes include:

  • They taste excellent in stews. You can put a handful of the fresh fenugreek chopped leaves into your garbanzo beans and potato stew. Stir it until it blends in with the stew, and you’ll be ready to go.
  • Try simmering a homemade tomato sauce pot with a dribble of clarified butter. Add the fenugreek dried leaves by crushing it.
  • You can also use fenugreek as a great side dish. Add a hint of cream and salt to your steamed green peas. Proceed to add the fresh or dried leaves of fenugreek to flavor your dish.

You can also roast chicken with fenugreek. This dish will cover 4-6 servings easily. Follow the given instructions:

  1. Prepare a whole chicken measuring up to 3-4 pounds.
  2. 1 Tsp of salt. Add more for seasoning the chicken.
  3. 1 Tsp of black pepper (fresh ground). Again, add more for seasoning the chicken.
  4. 4 Tsp of unsalted butter (room temperature). For basting, add melted butter.
  5. 1 Tsp of red pepper flakes (crushed).
  6. 2 Tsp of fenugreek leaves (dried & crushed).
  7. 1 Tsp of garlic powder.
  8. 1 Tsp of chili powder.
  9. 2-4 bay leaves (optional).

Step 1 – Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Insert a rack into the roasting pan. Trim excess skin and fat of chicken and remove its giblet package. Properly rinse the chicken and dry it to avoid steaming.

Start seasoning the inside of the chicken with pepper and salt.

Step 2 – Set it up for roasting on the pan. Combine the butter, salt, pepper, fenugreek leaves, and red pepper flakes in a bowl. Start mixing it and apply it on to your chicken.

Step 3 – Place your chicken on the rack with the breast side down. Roast it for 20-30 minutes until the skin turns brown.

Proceed to turn the breast side up and baste it with melted butter. Roast it again for five minutes.

Step 4 – Continue basting the chicken with the melted butter and reduce the temperature of your oven to 325 degrees.

Bake the chicken for 45-55 minutes until the juice of the chicken runs clear. Broil it for a few more minutes.

Step 5 – Transfer your chicken to a platter. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes before you dive in.

Caution – The fenugreek seeds should be lightly toasted. You should toast only the ones for immediate use.

Make sure that you toast them lightly, or you will end up with a terrible acrid taste.

You can even soak them underwater for an hour or so.

It is important to do so before you use it. Plus, you need to be stingy with the seeds as it carries a bitter taste.

If you consume too much of the seed, you might end up with a bad diarrhea case.

Conclusion

Fenugreek doesn’t just add immense flavors to your dishes, but it also carries multiple health advantages.

Both its seeds and leaves are equally important. You can start incorporating it into your diet to enjoy the benefits.

what-is-fenugreek

What Does Fenugreek Taste Like? Does Fenugreek Taste Good?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Food Taste
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Fenugreek
  • Ingredients from your favorite recipes

Instructions
 

  • Depending on the recipes you choose, the taste can vastly differ.
  • For authentic results, it is important to choose a recipe that will highlight the original flavor.
  • Have fun experimenting with different recipes and taste tests!
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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