Asafoetida Powder

Asafoetida powder is a crucial ingredient in Indian vegetarian cooking.

Also known in India as Hing. Derived from a species of giant fennel, asafoetida has a unique smell and flavor. It is called for often in Indian cooking, primarily with legumes and dishes featuring vegetables such as cauliflower. While on its own, the smell may strike you as overpowering and somewhat unpleasant, in cooking it mellows out and produces a result similar to onion and garlic. In India this ingredient is crucial for the Jains, who do not eat root crops. Asafeotida sap is mixed with gum arabic, wheat, rice flower and turmeric to make the powder we use in cooking.

Cuisines and Categories

• Indian

Recipes with this Spice