Saturday, January 25, 2014

Preparing Meals With The California Bay Leaf

By Grace Rivas


People who use the California Bay leaf admire its flavor. This spice has been known for its usefulness in preparing food for a number of years. It can be applied to many different dishes, both savory and sweet. Children and adults alike love the taste and look forward to it in a wide range of cold and hot desserts as well as main dishes. It is one of the most versatile natural spices available in the United States.

This spice is referred to using a wide range of names. People generally call it by the label that is used wherever they grew up or first encountered it. For example, in some communities chefs speak of it as pepper wood, perhaps as a reference to its spiciness. In other areas, many individuals know it as the Oregon Myrtle or CA Laurel.

These leaves are often compared to those from the Mediterranean. People who are used to the type that originates outside of North America may find the latter overwhelming at first. It has a much stronger flavor and you actually need less. Consumers get more value for money when they obtain it because it does not take as much to season a dish.

Some recipes include a specific amount of the Mediterranean variety in the ingredients. However these are less concentrated so when making these dishes using tasty CA laurel in its place, cut the quantity by half. This allows you to have a rich taste and still be able to save some leaves. Crush and bend them a bit to release more of the flavor.

In general, foreign leaves are sold dried and their North American relatives are typically delivered fresh to homes and supermarkets. This difference might be due to a difference in the distance that foreign exports must travel before arriving in the states. However in many homes, nothing beats the delicious flavor of freshly picked CA laurel in stews and soups.

People who cook with this spice regularly usually purchase it by the pound. It is cheaper and they save money. They get quite a lot when they buy that. In fact, each pound contains between seven and eight hundred fresh leaves. These can be stored in your refrigerator. Once they are securely packaged in an airtight bag, they will last for months.

When you dry the California Bay leaf, as with most herbs and spices, it loses some of its flavor. However some chefs choose to do that because they want the seasoning to last longer. You can dehydrate them by using an oven or even hang them to air dry. The method you use depends on your space and what will be more convenient for you.

People who are seasoning poultry, pork or beef sometimes use the California Bay leaf as a spice in their dish. Make sure that whenever you make use of it, all the leaves are removed before you start serving. Always use them without cutting them up since the small pieces can be difficult to find. The flavor is good with tomatoes and other fruits or vegetables, such as beetroot.




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