Bitter-sweet always needs some chilli kick. Dark chocolate and chilli has been both a traditional as well as a bold flavour pairing. Next time you work with dark chocolate add a pinch of coarse or finely ground chilli.
about the spice
The story of introduction of chilli in India by the Portuguese traders is well-known and so is the love affair. From simple roasted gota shukno lonka in alu-bhaat’e to the fiery red laal mnaas, red chilli and mainstream Indian cuisine has been quite a match. Depending on varieties, the heat, pungency and fruity notes vary.
flavour
earthy, pungent
aroma
fruity
appearance
whole red chillies for spice appear crinkled and dried with colour varying from crimson to deep-red to reddish-black
storage
store them in air-tight, preferably, glass jars away from direct sunlight and moisture
what you can cook with it
Ground red chili loses its fruity aromatic compounds and used mainly for heat in most savoury recipes. Sprinkle some on fruit salads or anything with dark chocolate for a zingy kick. Use whole red chili after broiling and roughly chopped in regular mashed potato.
botanical name
Capsicum annuum; different varieties
origin
West Bengal
processing
fully ripe, red fruits (berries) are plucked and dried
