Fenugreek

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a member of the pea family of plants grown in India, the Mediterranean and North Africa. The plant (aslo referred to as methi, trigonelle or fieno greco) develops a pod that contains stony, tiny rectangular seeds that may be ground and used in cooking to provide a powerful, aromatic and bittersweet flavour to savoury dishes and to baked goods such as bread.

Ground fenugreek is commonly used in cooking foods from Asia and India and is one of the major ingredients in many curry powders and ready-prepared curry pastes. The hard seeds need to be gently dry-fried before they are ground to obtain their maximum flavour and to make them easier to grind. However, it is important not to allow the seeds to roast for too long, as their flavour will become bitter. If they are allowed to soak overnight, they will swell and soften, allowing them to be easily mixed with the other ingredients to form curry paste.