Saturday, 2 June 2007

Things on the side

Clockwise: green mango chutney, achaar, hummus, pesto, mango sour, hot pepper sauce

This week's column is all about those little spoonfuls, okay for some of us it's heaping spoons full of that tart, sweet, sour, salty, or smokey can't-eat-my-food-without-it goodness. In a word, loosely described as condiments. It's the little something that makes your meal special, more tasty, more flavourful.

Some people also describe them as pickles, preserves, chutneys, dips, sauces, salsas etc depending on which part of the world you are from.
Scotch bonnet pepper sauce

Many of these things are great also on sandwiches as spreads, as accompaniments to various cooked seafood and meats or just with some plain rice and of course, roti. Experiment with the flavours and various combinations, you'll be glad you did.

Basil pesto


I've posted recipes for these condiments in other posts and many are also available online but if you'd like mine, send me an email.




Mango achaar

45 comments:

Asha said...

Cynthia,LOVE the presentation!Really beautiful and mouthwatering literally!!Have a great weekend darling,hugs:))

Richa said...

what do i taste first is the question :) all of them look equally yummy!

Susan said...

Yes, heaping! I do, however, have
the greatest respect for the Scotch bonnet. Your minimalist photos highlight these condiments beautifully. Happy weekend!

Coffee said...

Great presentation!!!!! The pics look wonderful!!! Are the recipes coming as well?? ;)

Vcuisine said...

Beautiful presentation Cynthia. Aprpeciate your creative interest in displaying. This is really great. Must take lessons from you. Viji

bee said...

a spoon? you kidding me? a cup of hummus. that's how it should be.
:-D
gorgeous chutneys and pics. we tried your green apple chutney last weekend and loved it.

Mathy Kandasamy said...

Oh you read my mind! I love to have the condiments, even if there aren't any side dishes. ;)

Great pics. Thanks.

-Mathy

Lisa said...

Stunning photos! That achaar must be the recipe you told me already, correct? That's just the way I remember the kuchela looking...

Santhi said...

Love the way you showcase food :-) Your pictures speak for themselves :-) Simply amazing !

sra said...

The pix are lovely, the Scotch bonnet sauces looks familiar but I don't instantly remember where I've seen it here or what it's called here - probably red chilli sauce or something like that!

Suganya said...

Love the photos :)

Sreelu said...

Cynthia,

Beautiful beautiful presentation. I love pesto and usually make it with basil grown at home.

Sia said...

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful pics cynth...

JennDZ - The Leftover Queen said...

Wonderful presentation Cynthia! These all look mouth-watering to me! Which is your favorite?

Little Foodie said...

Hi Cynthia, Beautifully presented. I'm definitely a condiment loving person. Can't eat anything without a bit of something on it. My favourite at the moment is Linghams ginger and chilli sauce. I could eat it with everything. Amanda

Roopa said...

looks yummy, mouth watering Cynthia great presentation

Cynthia said...

Asha - Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are a darling and a source of constant encouragement. Hugs to you too. Hope you and the family have a good weekend.

Richa - Thank you sweetie! I know, too many decisions :)

Susan - Thank you dear one. Hope you and the hubby have a good weekend too.

Coffee - Thank you! I'll send you the recipes.

Vivji - Thanks a lot hon. Your compliment is appreciated. I am still learning as I go along. Anything you think I can help you with, please let me know.

Bee - Thank you! I am so glad you tried the chutney and liked it.

Thanks Mathy - as always, it is good to see you around.

Lisa - thanks and yes! :D

Santhi - thank you and a very warm welcome. Please come back and visit soon.

Sra - thanks. You may be referring to the Chilli-garlic sauce but while it looks the same, the degree of heat is vastly different. Scotch bonnets are lethal :)

Thanks Suganya

Sreelu - I always have a bottle of homemade pesto in my fridge too.

Sia - thank you, thank you, thank you - you are always supportive and I love you for that.

Jenn thank you! Now that is a difficult question. If I had to choose by the one(s) I usually have and use all year round it would be the pepper sauce and achaar.

Thanks Amanda - ginger-chilli sauce, that sounds really good. I am going to check for that. Even if it's not here, I am going to check for it when I travel this summer and try it. Thanks!

Cynthia said...

Thanks Roopa.

priar's, said...

WOW....
wonderful presentation cynthia.I feel like tasting it from the snap.Its too good.Do post n number of chutney recipes.I love them.Thanx for sharing.

Sig said...

Cynthia, wow, what a picture! You are a whiz on food presentation... I totally agree with you, condiments can make the most boring meal taste amazing... I will be trying some of your sauces soon... the pepper sauce has invoked my interest... :)

Jyothi said...

Fantastic presentation, looks lovely Cynthia. Now a days, I am in searching for some chutney recipes for sandwich preparation. Now I got it. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipes.

And also thanks for dropping by at my blog. Keep on visiting... :)

trupti said...

Looks like an artist's palette. Just lovely, Cynthia.

Figs Olives Wine said...

I just found your site through the Foodie Blogroll, and I love it! Gorgeous photography, and you've got me yearning to head south!
Warmest Wishes,
Amanda

indosungod said...

Spoonfulls we can't live without. The pictures are beautiful

Nora B. said...

Cynthia, great photos yet again. I would like to make my own achaar/chutneys. I'll drop you an e-mail about that.

Sylvia said...

Cynthia,you join two of tings that i love ,spoons and condiments.The photos are so cute too.Have a nice week

Cynthia said...

Priar - thank you very much! I will email some recipes.

Sig - if you really like heat, you will L-O-V-E the scotch bonnet pepper sauce. But, be warned :)

Jyothi - thanks and you are welcome.

trupti - thank you very much sweetie.

Amanda - thank you and warm wishes to you too.

Indo - you've hit the nail right on the head and thank you!

Nora B - please do in the meantime, I'll get some of the recipes together for you.

Thank you dear Sylvia - I hope that you have a good week too.

KitchenFairy said...

Beautiful dear! All looks tasty..

Ramya's Mane Adige said...

OMG!!!!!!!! they all look sooooooooo tempting!!!!! and the pic is just out of the world.... gr8 job!!

Sharmi said...

hey great condiments! the pictures make it tempting will surely need the mango one. nice presentation.

Karin said...

I´m addicted to sambal oelek. It´s a condiment used in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, and now in Sweden too. Excellent for recipes calling for fresh chilies or chili paste.

It´s made from a variety of peppers, although chili peppers are the most common.

Mango achaar sounds interesting. I would like to try that. I don´t know what it is. I´m curious to know.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Cynthia, your photos are beautiful! I love the way you present the condiments.

I love hummus and can't wait to try it as a sandwich spread (I read it somewhere). I've been meaning to try pesto too - can you believe it I have never had it?

Mishmash ! said...

h,,,...a little something on the sides is always irresistible and I end up with more than a spoonful :P
Loved your photography and presentation....especially the last one! As trupti said, palette of a food artist!

Shn

pOm d'api said...

Very beautiful presentation!!! This is very great

Seema said...

Cynthia,
I am literally drooling over your blog girl. Actually not just this presentation...every presentation is just amazingly beautiful and crystal clear. Love you blog and I am in for the recipe as well. I am blog rolling you right away. I hope you don't mind.

Freya and Paul said...

Your photography always leaves me open-mouthed! Those little spoonfuls of side dips are gorgeous!

Cynthia said...

Kitchen Fairy, Ramya, Sharmi - that you all very much. Always so supportive and encouraging.

Karin - me too. I found a recipe recently that I want to try. I'll share it with you and we can both make it, taste it and discuss it :) I'll send you a recipe for achaar also.

Patricia - thanks hon. Sometimes there are so many things that we like the idea of, promise to get to it and we just forget. Soon you'll get around to it I'm sure.

Thank you dearest Shn

Freya & Paul - thank you very much my friends.

sailaja said...

Your truly a foodie to the core and an artist at that.:)

Simply stunning, Cynthia!

Mandira said...

wow, I could spend the day tasting from each spoon.. looks splendid!

Anonymous said...

Mmm, mmm... I would LOVE to have those in my fridge. I bet they can transform even the simplest meal into something spectacular! And great photo too, I love how you captured the color and texture of each sauce.


Ari (Baking and Books)

Cynthia said...

Sailu - you make me blush :) thank you.

Mandira - I think that that is a great way to enjoy them. Thank you.

Ari - if you were not that far away, I would send you some as I have a couple of bottles in my fridge :) and you are absolutely right, they truly transform dishes. I guess that's why we love them huh.

Thank you for the compliments on the photographs.

DEEPA said...

Cynthia ...This is out of the world ..What a nice and excellent pic ..I need to take classes from you on taking pics and presentation stlye ...u r rocking ....

Stellar1 said...

Cynthia, I have been meaning to tell you that I used your recipe for sour to entertain some guests one evening and then agian when my son came home for a few days and wanted phulourie. It was a huge hit both times.

Culinarily Curious said...

Beautiful presentation. I LOVE your photography, and I can't wait to try some of the recipe links!

Cynthia said...

Deepa - You are making me blush - yes, brown people can blush too (lol)

Stella - I am so glad. Will be sending you some more recipes soon.

Culinary Curious - welcome and thanks for the compliments. Please come back and visit soon.

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