Things on the side
>> Saturday, 2 June 2007
Clockwise: green mango chutney, achaar, hummus, pesto, mango sour, hot pepper sauceThis 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 pestoI'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.
Read the column here and click here to read and comment about The Craziness and Creativity of Foodies.
Mango achaar
45 comments:
Cynthia,LOVE the presentation!Really beautiful and mouthwatering literally!!Have a great weekend darling,hugs:))
what do i taste first is the question :) all of them look equally yummy!
Yes, heaping! I do, however, have
the greatest respect for the Scotch bonnet. Your minimalist photos highlight these condiments beautifully. Happy weekend!
Great presentation!!!!! The pics look wonderful!!! Are the recipes coming as well?? ;)
Beautiful presentation Cynthia. Aprpeciate your creative interest in displaying. This is really great. Must take lessons from you. Viji
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.
Oh you read my mind! I love to have the condiments, even if there aren't any side dishes. ;)
Great pics. Thanks.
-Mathy
Stunning photos! That achaar must be the recipe you told me already, correct? That's just the way I remember the kuchela looking...
Love the way you showcase food :-) Your pictures speak for themselves :-) Simply amazing !
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!
Love the photos :)
Cynthia,
Beautiful beautiful presentation. I love pesto and usually make it with basil grown at home.
beautiful, beautiful, beautiful pics cynth...
Wonderful presentation Cynthia! These all look mouth-watering to me! Which is your favorite?
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
looks yummy, mouth watering Cynthia great presentation
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!
Thanks Roopa.
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.
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... :)
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... :)
Looks like an artist's palette. Just lovely, Cynthia.
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
Spoonfulls we can't live without. The pictures are beautiful
Cynthia, great photos yet again. I would like to make my own achaar/chutneys. I'll drop you an e-mail about that.
Cynthia,you join two of tings that i love ,spoons and condiments.The photos are so cute too.Have a nice week
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.
Beautiful dear! All looks tasty..
OMG!!!!!!!! they all look sooooooooo tempting!!!!! and the pic is just out of the world.... gr8 job!!
hey great condiments! the pictures make it tempting will surely need the mango one. nice presentation.
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.
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?
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
Very beautiful presentation!!! This is very great
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.
Your photography always leaves me open-mouthed! Those little spoonfuls of side dips are gorgeous!
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.
Your truly a foodie to the core and an artist at that.:)
Simply stunning, Cynthia!
wow, I could spend the day tasting from each spoon.. looks splendid!
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)
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.
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 ....
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.
Beautiful presentation. I LOVE your photography, and I can't wait to try some of the recipe links!
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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