Bringing Some Spice in Our Lives with #SpicyChat!

Since, I consider myself a tad sweet and a lot spicy, not to mention the countless number of times I have been approached by foodies, friends, and family with their frustrating experience of their meals not being ‘spicy’ enough. I have decided to dedicate an entire series called #SpicyChat to please the palate of all spice lovers regardless of their ethnicity or age.

Spice trade has been conducted from as early as 10th millennium BC; Arabs, Phoenicians, Israelites and Indians were engaged in sea and land trade in luxury goods such as pearls, gold, precious stones, leather of rare animals, ebony, and paramount among these, spices. One thing I have seen through my culinary experience, regardless of the cuisine, is either people love spice or are completely intimidated by it, and for various valid reasons such as where will I find these exotic spices, do i have to make a trip to a specialty food store, or where am I going to find the place in my already overcrowded spice cabinet?

Today, spices are a household standard and are synonymous with delicious food. Supermarkets readily store spices from Indian, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Mexican cuisines, all conveniently located in one aisle. Here you can find just about any typical spices used to cook a meal for any of these cuisines.

When you think of ethnic cuisines such as Indian, Thai, and Mexican, invariably, your mouth lights up in anticipation. Spices yet to be tasted begin tickling the palate. The results are incredibly satisfying and rich with flavors.

It is rather frustrating for spice lovers to walk into restaurants and be served food that’s bland, greasy, and generally watered down. So many restaurants are guilty of under seasoning, or no seasonings in some cases. The distinction is just that – food doesn’t need to be so spicy that your lips burn and your palate goes numb. Just enough spice to create incredibly satisfying and rich dishes, full of flavors, yet also taste light and healthy.

Food should be light but intense, rich but refreshing, and above all, balanced. The precise balance between sweet and hot elements is key to any tasty meal.

Too often, restaurants tone down the heat without also taking down the sugar to an appropriate level. The result is food that’s sickly sweet and heavy instead of fiery and vibrant.

Americans by and large love good food and will read cookbooks, take cooking classes, and do whatever is needed to produce authentic tasting meals. And Indian food fits perfectly here with the growing national trend. You’ll be presented with food that takes demonstrable pride in the unique flavors and textures that Indian cuisine has to offer.

Charred, tender bites of chicken get a kiss of smoke from the tandoor, oven, or grill. Marinated with yogurt, freshly ground spices, ginger, and garlic that show intense but balanced spicing, rendering the chicken succulent and ultra flavorful.

Spices, if used moderately, can create endless possibilities of flavorful and delicious dishes. So whether you are a seasoned spice lover or still a novice, my recipes aims to please all palates starting my culinary journey with India and moving across the borders in search of the perfect balance of spice.

Once a love of hot food takes a hold, there is no going back. It is addictive. So please join me every Thursday for a #spicychat edition of recipes that tantalize your palate leaving you craving for more.

Join Us Every Thursday at 8 PM EDT for #SpicyChat Twitter Chat to bring some spice in your lives! We Love to share ALL recipes. Simply add the #Spicychat hashtag to your link and we will add it to our Pinterest Board.

If are unable to find ethnic spices in your neighborhood store, I highly recommend checking out Spice & Tea Exchange as your To Go store for gourmet spices and seasonings.

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