What spice do I have? Poll for the day...

[dawnnys]

Being as organized as I am (right!), I was looking for my caraway seeds to add to the Irish soda bread I made, and I ran across something I used, but am not sure what it was...

It was a dirty greenish-brown color (not old, that's the color that it was when I bought it), very powdery/light, and smelled kind of sweet, not savory like sage (that's what I thought it was at first). All the container said on it was "ground". Got any ideas? It turned out good, and I know it was edible - just not sure exactly what it was (

 

[jenjencali]

What spice......................

Garam Masala?

 

[dawnnys]

No, never bought that... I am pretty sure it was a "baking" spice (like nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.)...

not a conventional "cooking" spice.

 

[judy-mass]

I'm guessing cardamom.....

 

[hallie-in-fla]

Could it be file, which is ground sassafrass leaves I think... like you would use for File Gumbo?

 

[steve2-in-la]

I say "cardamom" too. Mix it with sugar for a great toast topping.

 

[Marg CDN]

Gotta be cardamom

 

[rvb]

taste it. cardamom comes on with a sweet rush then...

a bitterish aftertaste.

 

[tracybaz]

I agree cardamom.

 

[dawnnys]

Okey dokey... that's what it was then. I also have "labeled" cardamom in my cabinet...

and when I compared the two, they were almost identical.

Note!: if you need ground caraway seeds, ground cardamom will work as a substitute. 'Gave it a nice flavor (my first - make that my second - thought was ground anise seed, but it wasn't as aromatic/sharp as that would have been). Thanks all!

 

[judy-tx]

Do you suppose it was anise? Did it smell a little like licorice? (NT)

 

[ruthab]

Welcome Judy!

 

[dawnnys]

Yes welcome, Judy. Anise was my first thought - maybe it was anise that had gone a little "dull"...

with time and lost its ooomph. I don't ever remember buying either, so that's no help ;o)

 

[judy-tx]

Thanks for the welcome, Ruth and Dawn.

I am so glad I found all of you. I used to lurk a lot and occasionally post at Gails. I was absolutely appalled at what they have done to the site and wondered where all the wonderful regulars had gone. I finally found this site by googling "recipe swap forum" -- believe me, it took awhile. This site was about the 100th one down the line. (I'm persistent) Mimi, thank you so much for providing this forum for us all. I love it!