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Page 10 - Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship

fresh coriander leaves (cilantro) on the left and whole coriander seeds on the right in a small ceramic bowl, placed on a light stone surface

Coriander, what is it and does it have health benefits?

Coriander is a spice with an aromatic, citrus-like scent and a distinctive flavor. The leaves and seeds are the parts of this plant most often used as spices. Is coriander healthy? Coriander is both tasty and healthy. Let’s first talk about the seeds. Coriander seed is small, round and is often sold whole. They are green when fresh, but turn brown as they age. The seeds have a mild, sweet aroma and taste similar to citrus fruits. They are often used whole or ground to a powder for use in curries, meat dishes, rice dishes and bread. Coriander seed is used in traditional Indian, Mexican and Thai cuisine. In North America, coriander is used more in baking than in savory dishes because of its sweet flavor.

You can buy ground coriander seed or use whole seeds to grind yourself before using them in a recipe. Ground coriander has a stronger flavor than whole seeds because the oils that give off their aroma are released when you grind the seeds into smaller pieces. You can add ground coriander

Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
beautifully plated grilled salmon fillet with visible herbs (dill and lemon zest), a small bowl of crispy kibbeling with lemon wedges, and a white fish fillet with Mediterranean herbs.

Everything you need to know to put a delicious piece of fish on the table

Putting a tasty, flavorful piece of fish on the table can be quite a challenge. The question of how to properly season a piece of fish is one we get asked often. Because how can you prepare a restaurant-worthy piece of fish at home without spending hours in the kitchen? It really doesn't have to be difficult, provided you know how to approach it in a good, healthy way. 


In this article we want to guide you through the best way to do that. And of course in a healthy, responsible manner, as you expect from us. So that next time you fry a fish you can put something truly delicious and healthy on the table. Below you can read how to prepare 3 different types of fish in a delicious way, and also how to handle seasoning fish when you're short on time.   

How to season fish: from a Mediterranean twist to a truly Dutch snack

Spice mix for grilled salmon fillet

For many people salmon is their favorite piece of fish. That's why we'd like to give you some inspiration for making a delicious piece

Recipes Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
smiling woman holding a rustic wooden crate filled with fresh seasonal vegetables (carrots with greens attached, cauliflower, tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, leafy greens, crop salad, corn).

How to make vegetables the star of the show

More and more people nowadays eat vegetarian or vegan. They know that you really don't need meat to put a delicious, nutritious dish on the table. What you do need, however, to put a good, nourishing meal on the table for yourself, your family and your friends are high-quality ingredients. And of course the right spices to give these ingredients a delightful touch. With the right spices you can also make your vegetables the star of the show.


In this blog we take you through 3 different preparation methods and ways of seasoning to put a delicious vegetable-filled dish on the table. No doubt you can draw inspiration from this when you head into the kitchen tonight. And even if you don't have time, because besides eating healthy and tasty you already have enough balls in the air, we mention a number of ready-made spice mixes further on in this blog that let you put a delicious vegetable-forward dish on the table in no time. Curious? Then read on quickly!  

How to season vegetables: 3 ways

Recipes Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
salade van bloedsinaasappel en venkel

Want to make a healthy salad? Here's how to put a filling and tasty salad on the table

In summer you'll probably be craving a nice light meal more often. Not hearty stews or a well-filled pumpkin soup, but a light salad is likely the first thing that comes to mind! And a salad is of course often simply a healthy and responsible choice, because it contains far fewer carbohydrates and calories than dishes with potatoes, pasta or bread. Provided, of course, that you keep control over what you make the dressing with, because most ready-made dressings you can find in the supermarket are a true calorie bomb…


In this blog we would like to show you a number of different kinds of salads. We will also tell you which herbs and ingredients you can use for them. All to give you the tools to make delicious dressings yourself so you can control exactly what goes into them. That's healthier. Even if you prefer a ready-made mix for your dressing that is responsible, we want to help you get started with this blog. Hopefully by reading this blog you'll get the inspiration to enjoy delicious

Recipes Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
gedroogde chipotle pepers in een schaaltje

The seasoning in Mexican cuisine: the chipotle pepper

A little kick is indispensable in Mexican cuisine. Sharp salsas, hot sauces, boldly seasoned meat; all characteristic of authentic dishes from Mexico. How they add that heat to these dishes is by using all kinds of peppers during cooking. And the most well-known of these might be the chipotle pepper. That's the pepper we want to talk about today. Despite its pronounced flavor, it is still often unclear what exactly a chipotle pepper is and what you can do with it, which is what we want to change with this blog. 


So first we'll explain exactly what a chipotle pepper is. Then we'll tell you what you can do with it and afterwards we'll give a number of delicious authentic recipes made with chipotle peppers. Ready to dive into the world of the chipotle pepper? Let's begin! 

What is a chipotle pepper?

Something many people think is that the chipotle pepper is a pepper variety, but that's not the case. A chipotle pepper is the smoked variant of the jalapeño pepper. Chipotle peppers are made

Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship World herbs & dishes
a bowl of ras el hanout hummus with yalla yalla ras el hanout spice mix

Ras el hanout: what is it and how do you use it?

If you've ever made a dish from Arab cuisine, you've undoubtedly come across this spice mix: ras el hanout. “The best of the shop” is what ras el hanout means in Arabic. Traditionally it is a blend of the best herbs and spices a spice merchant has to offer, and that's why this spice mix should not be missing from Natural Spices' assortment! 


Because “the best the spice merchant has to offer” can vary from day to day, there is no single definitive list of spices that make up ras el hanout. Each spice merchant or family has their own “secret” mix, but there are certainly a few basic spices that you see in almost every ras el hanout. In this blog we go into those basic spices, why ras el hanout can contribute to good health, how you can make this Arab spice mix yourself, and how to use it! Care to read along? 

What is ras el hanout?

Ras el hanout is a spice mix that is mainly used in Arab cuisine. You often see it listed in dishes from Turkey, Algeria and Morocco. It is a versatile spice

Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship World herbs & dishes
Want to eat fewer calories? 6 Tips for low-calorie and low-salt eating

Want to eat fewer calories? 6 Tips for low-calorie and low-salt eating

Is eating low-salt your New Year's resolution? Do you want to eat fewer calories? Many diets with many restrictions have been developed for this. It can also be simpler: with our tips you can eat just as deliciously, but low in salt, low in calories and healthy. That way you can keep your resolutions very easily!

Why eat fewer calories?
Many people want to eat fewer calories to lose weight or to maintain a healthy weight. Calories give us energy to move, think clearly and perform basic bodily functions such as breathing, digesting food and pumping blood through your body.

If you want to eat fewer calories, be careful not to eat too few calories. The danger of eating too few calories is that you lose muscle mass and healthy fats, and have no energy left for the body's basic functions.

Eating too many calories, on the other hand, causes you to gain weight. The calories that are not burned remain in your body, often in the form of fat. So you must find the right middle ground where you get

Sugar-free and low-salt solutions Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
een mand gevuld met wintergroenten zoals spruitjes, boerenkool, wortels, rode kool, pompoen en knolselderij

6X Winter vegetables, Which herbs do you use?

What are winter vegetables and how do you prepare them in a unique, flavorful way? In this article we name 6 winter vegetables, how to prepare them deliciously and which dishes they suit well.

What are winter vegetables?
Winter vegetables actually have a very simple definition: they are the vegetables that are harvested and/or eaten during the winter months. Why does it matter whether you eat winter vegetables in winter or summer? By eating seasonal products, you benefit from extra tasty, more nutritious vegetables. This is because the vegetables are freshly harvested, instead of frozen until the months when they are not grown. Below we name 6 popular winter vegetables and how to make them even tastier this winter.

KALE
This typically Dutch winter vegetable of course should not be missing from the list. Kale is the quintessential winter fare in our cold little country. Want to give this classic an original twist? Add some five-spice powder or ginger for a sharp kick. Furthermore

Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
Geroosterde witte asperges met citroen, Parmezaan en krokante panko en honey mustard low calorie saus

Typical spring dishes: light recipes with seasonal vegetables and fresh herbs

Spring is the season of fresh flavors, light meals and colorful ingredients. After winter we long for dishes that feel lighter but are still full of flavor. Fortunately, spring offers plenty of fresh vegetables, aromatic herbs and beautiful seasonal products.

In this blog you will discover typical spring dishes, the best spring vegetables, and which herbs will elevate your spring recipes.

 

Spring vegetables: these are the season's flavor makers

In spring the availability of fresh vegetables is at its best. These seasonal vegetables form the perfect base for light spring dishes.

1. Asparagus

Asparagus is the classic of spring. It has a soft, refined flavor and is delicious grilled, steamed or roasted in the oven. Pair it with egg, ham, salmon or a fresh vinaigrette for a true spring meal.

Or roast them in the oven or airfryer: Roasted white asparagus with lemon, Parmesan and crispy panko

2. Artichokes

Artichokes have a slightly bitter, nutty flavor and are perfect in salads, pastas or risotto.

Recipes Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship
raw chicken pieces generously coated in homemade chicken seasoning, placed in a matte off-white ceramic bowl on a light grey marble surface. Visible texture of paprika, black pepper and dried herbs on the chicken. Small ceramic bowls with extra spices (pa

Making your own chicken seasoning: how do you go about it?

We all know the saying that chicken is the most versatile piece of meat. A nicely crafted ad line, but there is certainly some truth to it. With chicken you can go in many directions! A whole chicken from the oven, grilling a chicken breast, or chicken satay skewers from the BBQ - the possibilities with chicken are endless. 

Chicken on its own has a fairly neutral flavor. That's why you naturally want to season your piece of chicken well to make it tasty. But how do you go about that? And do you want to use the same spice mix for every cooking method? The nicest option is of course to make your own spice mix. That way you have full control over the flavor you give the chicken. Will you go for an Asian variant? Or would you rather be inspired by Italian cuisine? Additionally, by composing your own spice mix you can choose, for whatever reason, to make one without salt. Or you can omit one of the standard spices - like paprika powder - because you're not a big fan. Nice freedom and flexibility.

Recipes Herb knowledge & culinary craftsmanship