Via Language Hat:
Gernot Katzer's fabulous and exhaustive dictionary of spices and their names, origins, and uses.
I immediately had a look at the entry for asofetida, a spice I'm loving after fearing it for years. Needlessly so, since the powder is safe for even more pedestrian cooks. I doubt I'll ever graduate to using the resin itself.
I was interested to find that asofetida shares--um--medicinal properties with epazote, another spice I'm just learning to use and which is taking over my flower bed.
Oh: had to add that the origin of 'epazote' is epatl (skunk) + tzotl (sweat, dirt). Devil's Dung and Skunk's Sweat! Necessities for any kitchen.
Comments
Those "cumbersome" daals are the best kind, though.
Posted by: andrew at May 5, 2004 06:02 PM