Firm meaty and earthy, shiitake mushrooms bring a wonderful texture and flavor to a variety of dishes.  What are they? First cultivated in Southeast Asia..

Also known as zhug, mabboj, sahawiq, or bisbas, zhoug is a fresh, green hot sauce originally  from Yemen. Zhoug adds vegetal heat and complex flavor..

Once a grain sanctioned only for royalty, black rice, or forbidden rice, is now enjoyed by many.  What is Black Rice Black rice is a..

Intense and earthy, sambal adds a powerful spicy kick to any dish.   What is it? Sambal is a bright red, thick Indonesian puree comprised of..

Originally from the Mediterranean, coriander is now used widely in South Asian, Egyptian, and Latin American cuisines. This ingredient entertains a special rank in the..

Whether eaten raw or cooked into jam and spread on toast, guava is a sweet and delicious treat. Guavas are small, oblong fruits with a..

Lemongrass, also called barbed wire grass, Cymbopogon, silky heads, fever grass, and Malabar grass, is a plant that is used in the food and medicine..

Galangal, a plant in the ginger family, is used in Southeast Asian and Arab cuisine where it is used in soups, stews, and curry pastes..