Contrary to what you might believe, allspice is not a collection of spices blended in a jar. Real allspice, also called "pimento" or "pimienta" in some countries, is from a Jamaican plant, and has a variety of uses in cooking.
Instructions
1. Get real allspice. The spice comes either crushed or in small pea-sized balls. The whole allspice seeds keep longer and provide a fuller flavor in soups and other recipes.
2. Grind allspice for recipes where you want a consistent taste and not an explosion of flavor. The taste of allspice has been described as a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, with a bit of pepper thrown in. Grinding allspice makes its contribution to a dish more subtle.
3. Consider using Jamaican jerk seasoning for a different allspice flavor. These packaged seasonings rely heavily on allspice. Some are already in liquid form for an easy marinade or an addition to a sandwich.
4. Mix allspice with peppercorns to enhance its peppery taste. Whole and whole peppercorns can be ground together, accentuating the complementary tastes of both.
5. Use allspice in authentic Jamaican recipes. A rice-and-peas dish is just one example of how Jamaican cooks use allspice to give food a big flavor. Another popular use of allspice is to complement the beef or other filling of the stuffed pastries popular in many Jamaican stores.
Tags: allspice seeds