The Kir Royale is a classic French special occasion party cocktail. The purple shades and fruity berry taste make this sparkling wine apéritif a hit every time! What is a Kir Royale? A Kir royal is a French apéritif cocktail made with crème de cassis liqueur and a French sparkling wine. This elegant cocktail is also known as Kir pétillant in French. The Kir Royal is an … [Read more...]
Search Results for: recipe
How to Make a Salami Rose
This is a quick tutorial to help you make salami roses at home from scratch. These look great on a charcuterie board and serve as an edible decoration. What's a Salami Rose? A salami rose consists of layers of thinly sliced salami, which are placed, overlapping, and formed in such a way that the salami slices look like a rose. I saw them first at my sister's gathering. … [Read more...]
Halloween Dessert Pudding: Worms and Maggots
Worms and Maggots is the name of this realistic-looking Halloween dessert. Vermicelli and rice are turned into a sweet, pudding-like treat. The recipe is great for kids but also very much adult-friendly. TL;DR We love creepy edible Halloween food and drink ideas that are realistic and also mind-boggling. So, after I came up with my marzipan-based ultra-realistic … [Read more...]
11 Halloween Mocktails for Adults
11 fun and spooky Halloween mocktails made truly for adults. Go all alcohol-free this Halloween with a selection of healthier fruit-based and club soda mocktails. TL;DR We do love a good spiked cocktail, such as a large punch bowl and other alcoholic drink ideas, but every so often it's nice to have an option to pick a non-alcoholic Halloween drink at a … [Read more...]
+30 Authentic Oktoberfest Food Ideas to Turbocharge your Party
Are you looking for some delicious, original Oktoberfest food ideas for your party? I compiled a collection of the best authentic Oktoberfest recipes, savory and sweet. Grab some ideas for your Oktoberfest food party further below. This is an updated version, inspired by our recent trip to the Oktoberfest in Munich in 2023. We live in Tyrol, Austria, right next to … [Read more...]
How to cut Jackfruit
This guide on how to cut jackfruit will help you in the process of cutting a jackfruit. Learn our simple technique, and you will succeed cutting up your first jackfruit all alone, the right way, of course. I filmed the cutting of our jackfruit with my jackfruit expert, Gauri. She hails from the forests in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, in India. She was so kind to … [Read more...]
Smoked Salmon Dill Crêpes with Cream Cheese Filling
Savory filled Crêpes with cream cheese, salmon, dill, and cucumber filling. This is a delicious breakfast, brunch, or even lunch idea if you are looking for a next-level flavor experience. What are savory crêpes? Crêpes are French, paper-thin, skillet-sized pancakes. They can be filled by folding or rolling them in. In France, they are a popular street food, and they … [Read more...]
Dehydrated Strawberries in the Dehydrator
Home dehydrated strawberries are easy to prepare and also taste great as a snack. I share how you can dry your strawberries at home with tips, flavor ideas and much more. Dehydrated strawberries are prepared by cutting or slicing fresh strawberries and allowing them to dry slowly until they lose all their moisture, which enables them to be stored for several months … [Read more...]
Simple Kohlrabi Salad with Vinaigrette
A simple kohlrabi salad recipe prepared with grated or shredded raw kohlrabi and dressed with an easy to prepare vinaigrette dressing. This refreshing salad can be prepared in advance. Here is how it's made from scratch at home. 📕 What is Kohlrabi? Kohlrabi is a roundish bulb root vegetable. It's juicy on the inside, and it has a hard thick skin, which will … [Read more...]
Breadfruit VS Jackfruit: What's the difference?
I talk about the differences between Breadfruit VS Jackfruit and how these two delicious tropical fruits compare. You will be able to easily spot these two related fruits in the future! In this post, we will compare the two, breadfruit and jackfruit, in looks, taste, uses, growing habits, possible health perks and cultural importance. We have a massive … [Read more...]
Substitute For Paneer: Options with Pros and Cons
So, you are looking for a substitute for paneer in a recipe or meal? I have got you covered with a list of the best and worst options compared, with pros and cons. What is Indian Paneer Cheese, and how is it used? Paneer is an Indian cottage cheese. It's firm and white, a bit squeaky, and it doesn't melt. Paneer is prepared by adding vinegar or lemon juice to … [Read more...]
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil has many fantastic uses in Asian cuisine, but it can be a confusing ingredient! Here you will learn about the different types, how to use them, the smoking point, substitutions and the best way to store your sesame oil. 📕 What is Sesame Oil? Sesame oil is extracted from Sesame seeds, which come in white or black varieties. The plant grows vastly … [Read more...]
Oatmeal Spice Mix
A homemade oatmeal spice mix to take your breakfast to the next level. Easy to prepare and a game changer, this sweet spice blend should be on your bucket list if you want to eat better food! TL;DR Your favorite breakfast is oatmeal, but you'd like to add more flavors to it? Then this oatmeal spice blend is right up your alley! Enrich your workday or surprise … [Read more...]
+5 Inside out Sushi Roll Ideas (Uramaki Sushi)
More than 5 fantastic inside out sushi roll ideas to help you get inspired! These can all be easily made from scratch at home. 📕 What are inside out sushi rolls? Inside-out sushi rolls are inspired by traditional Japanese maki zushi. Regular maki sushi comes with ingredients and rice on the inside and the nori seaweed on the outside. There are two main … [Read more...]
Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry Hand Pies
Golden baked, flaky soft puff pastry hand pies, stuffed with ham and cheese. TL;DR I love combining ham and cheese in my recipes. Naturally, I had to come up with hand pies stuffed with ham and cheese. You will need a puff pastry roll to make these. They turn out extra flaky and the buttery layers complement the ham and cheese beautifully. Ingredient Notes Here … [Read more...]
Guava Fruit: Types + Uses
The guava fruit is a beautiful tropical fruit. It has many delicious and useful uses. Here you will find everything you need to know to start enjoying guavas all the more. 📕 What is a Guava? Guava is a tropical fruit in every sense of the word. It grows in the tropics around the equator, smells like the tropics, and is the fruitiest of all the fruits out there! … [Read more...]
Prickly Pear Juice (Cactus Fruit)
Prickly pear juice is made from cactus fruits. It's refreshing and so easily made, you don't need a blender or juicer! What is a Prickly Pear? Prickly pears are the colorful fruits of the nopales “paddle” cactus. They are native to the American continent where they grow in an arid, dry desert climate. The fruits are also known as tuna fruit or simply cactus fruit, … [Read more...]
Chicory Root Tea
Chicory Root Tea is a nifty way to ditch your bad dietary habits. In this post, we explore how to use it and the differences between raw and roasted chicory root. What is Chicory Root? Chicory is a hardy bushy plant that grows beautiful blue flowers. It's a wild plant in Europe and you can see it there on the roadside. The plant has been known for its healing … [Read more...]
How to Make Powdered Sugar
You can make powdered sugar at home in a jiffy! Here you will learn everything you need to know about powdered sugar and how to make it from scratch anytime! TL;DR Powdered sugar is a super fine version of sugar, and it is mostly used in baking. It is the perfect way to sweeten your cakes, cookies, and fudges because it mixes well in the batter and dissolves … [Read more...]
Baked Ricotta Cheese Dip with Jam
Entertain your guests with this baked ricotta cheese dip. The dip is enriched with herbs and spices, topped with jam, and baked hot. I have been trying my hand at different hot cheese dips prepped with a jam topping. This baked ricotta dip was inspired by the baked brie with fig jam appetizer. What is Ricotta? Ricotta is a grainy, soft by-product of cheese … [Read more...]
Mushroom Gravy for Chicken or Steak
A simple mushroom gravy recipe to serve with your chicken or steak dinner. Ingredient Notes This is an overview of the ingredients that you need to help you get organized. All the adjustable US and metric measurements are located further below in the recipe card. Process Overview Step 1 Prep and slice mushrooms. Melt the butter in a pan and stir in sliced … [Read more...]
French Green Lentils with Sausage (Puy Lentils)
A French recipe for green lentils cooked with sausages. This is a family one-pot recipe. It's one of my favorite wintertime dinner meals. My mom would prepare it every once in a while for us. What are French Green Puy Lentils? The French green lentils are an important ingredient in the French homemade local cuisine. They are better known as Lentille vert du Puy, … [Read more...]
How to prepare Absinthe
Preparing absinthe the right way is part of the ritual and it makes for a great way to entertain your party guests. 📕 What is Absinthe? Absinthe is a distilled, highly alcoholic beverage. It's also known as The Green Fairy or La Fee Verte. It can be described as anise-flavored, licorice-flavored, or minty. This is because true absinthe is prepared by … [Read more...]
What are Tropical Fruits
![Tropical Fruits you didn't know existed! [List and pictures]](https://www.masalaherb.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Tropical-Fruits-you-didnt-know-existed-gog-150x150.jpg)
Tropical fruits are fruits that grow in a tropical area. The climate for these fruits to thrive and grow is humid hot and it never freezes. 🗺️ Tropical Places Tropical or so-called exotic fruits come from places close to the equator, the tropical climate belt. The weather there is mostly warm or hot the whole year round with a humidity level higher … [Read more...]
Vegan Caviar Appetizer Bites
The vegan caviar bites are a great plant-based option at a party or for a holiday gathering. 📕 What are these Appetizer Bites? I came up with these little vegan bites because I wanted to use seaweed pearls the way I would use caviar for a party. I thought of my smoked salmon bites and decided to add mango too, for flavor and aesthetic value. You can make … [Read more...]
Skull Mushroom Pizza Bites (Halloween Special)
Skull mushroom pizza bites are a great Halloween party food for children and adults alike! TL;DR These were inspired by a post from Castellon's Kitchen, a true Halloween-themed food blog. (Their main page is ghoulatheart.com now) Somebody had posted the skull mushrooms in a mushroom foraging group on Facebook, and I thought they would be cute and delicious on a … [Read more...]
Pan-Fried Lemon Thyme King Oyster Mushroom
Pan-fried king oyster mushroom cooked in one pan with thyme and lemon flavors. Similar recipes to try, include our sautéed oyster mushrooms and these pan fried lions mane mushrooms. 📕 What are King Oyster Mushrooms? King oyster mushrooms are also known as king trumpet mushrooms, royal trumpet, and some other regional names. They are part of the oyster … [Read more...]
Seaweed Pearls aka Vegan Seaweed Caviar
Everything you need to know about seaweed pearls aka vegan seaweed caviar. 📕 What is it? Vegan caviar is a type of vegan gourmet food that mimics the look and feel of fish roe. It's a sustainable plant-based alternative to black caviar, that's why this food ingredient is also known as seaweed caviar, kelp caviar or vegan caviar. It is usually made from … [Read more...]
Skillet Hamburger Steak with Bell Pepper Sauce
Homemade juicy hamburger steak prepared in a skillet and served with a creamy colorful bell pepper sauce. This is a one-pan low-carb friendly dish. What is this dish? This dish was inspired and resembles a Salisbury steak. The beef patty is the same but the sauce consists of sweet bell pepper and cream. It's a great dinner meal idea, which I specifically created … [Read more...]
How to Make Black Food Coloring
Your guide on how to make black food coloring at home within minutes! Types of Food Colorings In a nutshell, food-grade colors can be made from natural or processed ingredients. These dyes are safe for consumption, hence why they are food grade. Natural Food Shades Common natural food-grade colorings are black charcoal and squid ink. Black charcoal is great for … [Read more...]
Salmon Furikake Seasoning
Flavor-packed Salmon Furikake Seasoning to use as a topping over rice meals. This is a Japanese recipe. 📕 What is it? Furikake are multi-purpose Japanese seasoning blends, used to season mainly rice and noodle dishes among others. They are categorized as dry or wet furikake. They are sold as a condiment in small packets in Japan and many variations exist. … [Read more...]
Homemade Lobster Shell Stock
Lobster stock can be prepared at home from scratch, and it's, in fact, a good zero waste practice if you are boiling a lobster anyway. This is a basic, plainly flavored seafood stock. What is lobster stock? Lobster stock is prepared from lobster shells. The shells are infused in the boiling water over a slow simmering flame. Once you have boiled a lobster, you get … [Read more...]
How to dehydrate Mushrooms
Dehydrating mushrooms can be useful and it's super easy! I share tips and instructions on how to dry mushrooms at home. I'm using shiitake mushrooms as an example. The flavors of a shiitake mushroom turn out more intense after the mushroom has been dried. It developed more umami. Also drying mushrooms is more commonly done in the East, hence why I picked … [Read more...]
Papaya Fruit: Varieties and Uses
Papaya is such a misunderstood fruit! Yet, it has so many delicious and useful uses. Here you will find everything you need to know to start enjoying papayas all the more. What is Papaya? Papaya or Pawpaw is a sweet, pulpy, and nutritious fruit that widely grows in tropical climates. The first thing you’ll notice about a Papaya is its vibrant color, like … [Read more...]
Home Canned Plums
Canned plums are a great way to preserve your fruits for the coming months. Turns out, it's easy to do this at home! 📕 What are canned plums? Canned plums are made to last and are preserved in light sugar syrup. Commercially canned fruits are the norm these days but preparing home-canned plums is still the norm in some places. During harvest season you … [Read more...]
Dehydrated Peach
Dehydrated peach is a great healthy and nourishing snack. You can make them at home too. The task is almost effortless! 📕 What are dehydrated peaches? Dehydrated peaches are slices or strips of peaches that were left to dry over a period of time. The idea is to preserve the fruits by taking out the water content. The juices in the fruits accelerate the … [Read more...]
Watermelon Infused Water
Watermelon infused water is a summer hit in my home! It's refreshing and replenished my tired body in the heat. You will feel better with every sip! TL;DR Watermelon water is regular tap water infused with fresh watermelon chunks. If you are looking for a blender watermelon beverage, that's a watermelon juice. The watermelon flavors mix into the water and enrich … [Read more...]
Homemade Japanese Pickled Ginger for Sushi
Quick Japanese sliced pickled ginger to serve with your favorite homemade sushi! Making a jar of homemade ginger pickle (aka gari) has never been easier than that. This recipe is part of our Japanese food series. Momoko, our Japanese food expert, is sharing your recipe for homemade pickled ginger sushi. TL;DR Japanese pickled ginger are preserved ginger slices. … [Read more...]
Dehydrated Apricots in the Dehydrator
This is a DIY guide on how to dehydrate apricots at home from scratch. TL;DR Dehydrated apricots are fresh-cut apricots that are left to dry slowly until they lose all their water. That way, the dried apricots can be stored for months without them turning bad! This is an age-old technique that was used to trade with dried fruits and nuts coming over the Silk Road … [Read more...]
How to Make Mayonnaise in 5 Minutes
Homemade easy classic mayonnaise prepared within 5 minutes from scratch with pantry ingredients! TL;DR This is a homemade mayo recipe that you can prepare from scratch within 5 minutes at home. You will need an immersion blender and a tall jar to do that. It's a quick and easy basic mayonnaise recipe that you can use instead of the store-bought condiment. So, it's a … [Read more...]