Bitter
Fenugreek, nigella and turmeric's edge: a bitterness that balances richness.
Bitter spices have a sharp, drying edge that balances sweetness and fat. Fenugreek, nigella, turmeric, mace and some peppers carry bitterness.
What makes them bitter
Fenugreek's bitterness comes from compounds in the seed that mellow when toasted. Turmeric and nigella have mild bitter notes, and many leafy herbs and dried citrus peels are bitter.
How cooks use them
A little bitterness gives complexity. Fenugreek is used in Indian pickles and curries, in Ethiopian berbere and in Yemeni saltah. Nigella seeds top naan and bread, and bitter notes balance rich dishes.
Tips
Toast fenugreek lightly, as scorching makes it harsh. Balance bitter spices with sweet, sour or fatty ingredients.
Bitter on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
馃嚞馃嚪 Greece and 4 moreParsley
A bright green herb from the celery family, used fresh across Europe and the Middle East.Leaf 路 Bitter 路 Herbal and green
馃嚠馃嚛 Indonesia and 2 moreIndonesian bay leafdaun salam
The aromatic leaves of a Myrtaceae tree used to flavour soups and stews across Indonesia and Suriname.Leaf 路 Bitter
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 2 moreBay leaf
The dried or fresh leaves of the laurel tree, used to infuse depth into slow-cooked dishes.Leaf 路 Herbal and green 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚡馃嚨 Japan and 4 moreMugwort鑹捐崏 (脿i c菐o)
Aromatic leaves from the Artemisia genus used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine.Leaf 路 Bitter 路 Herbal and green
馃嚞馃嚜 Georgia and 1 moreBlue fenugreek醿ａ儶醿儩 醿♂儯醿溼償醿氠儤
The blue-flowered annual herb that seasons Georgian stews and Swiss cheeseSeed 路 Earthy and deep 路 Bitter
馃嚬馃嚟 Thailand and 5 moreKaffir lime喔∴赴喔佮福喔灌笖
The bumpy-skinned citrus fruit and double-leafed shrub of Southeast AsiaFruit 路 Citrus and bright 路 Sharp and pungent
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 5 moreFenugreek丨賱亘丞 (hilba)
The cuboid seed of an annual legume, prized for its bitter warmth and maple aroma.Seed 路 Bitter 路 Warm and sweet-spiced
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Parsley: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bay leaf: 围蟻萎蟽蟿畏蟼:Andrikkos / The original uploader was Andrikkos at Greek Wikip, Public domain, source
- Blue fenugreek: Flyout, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Indonesian bay leaf: W.A. Djatmiko ( Wie146 ), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kaffir lime: David Monniaux, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Fenugreek: Yak, CC BY-SA 3.0, source