Indian Spice- Fenugreek seeds/Vendhayam/Methi dana - (Glossary)- what is fenugreek seeds?, culinary uses of fenugreek seeds in Indian cooking, how to purchase and store fenugreek seeds?

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What is Fenugreek Seed?/Vendhayam Uses/fenugreek Seeds Uses/Methi Seeds Uses/Uluva Seeds/Menthulu Uses/Menthe seeds

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• ABOUT - "FENUGREEK SEEDS/VENDHAYAM/METHI DANA"
• APPEARANCE OF FENUGREEK SEEDS
• FEW INDIAN REGIONAL OR VERNACULAR NAMES FOR FENUGREEK SEEDS
• FLAVOUR OF FENUGREEK SEEDS
• INDIAN CULINARY USES OF FENUGREEK SEEDS/METHI DANA/VENDHAYAM
• SOUTH INDIAN CUISINES
• NORTH INDIAN CUISINES
• TIPS TO BUY AND STORE FENUGREEK SEEDS

ABOUT - "FENUGREEK SEEDS/VENDHAYAM/METHI SEEDS"

Trigonella foenum graecum is commonly known as fenugreek. It is an annual plant in the Fabaceae family. It is grown for edible leaves and seeds. It’s an incredibly versatile plant, often used as a herb, spice, and vegetable. The edible leaves are called fenugreek leaves or methi leaves (Hindi) or vendhaya keerai (Tamil) and edible seeds are called fenugreek seeds or methi dana (Hindi) or vendhayam(Tamil). Fenugreek seeds are used as a spice for flavouring food as well as medicine.

APPEARANCE OF FENUGREEK SEEDS

Fenugreek seeds are hard, yellowish-brown cuboids that resemble tiny pebbles. You can recognize them by the deep furrow across one side.

FEW INDIAN REGIONAL OR VERNACULAR NAMES FOR FENUGREEK SEEDS

Tamil name – Vendhayam.

Malayalam name – Uluva.

Hindi name – Methi dana.

Telugu name – Menthulu.

Bengali name – Methi.

Punjabi name – Meth/Methi.

Urdu name – Methe.

Kashmiri name – Meeth.

Marathi name – Methi dane.

Kannada name – Menthe/Menthya.

Konkani and Gujarati name – Methi.

Do check out the similar post

🔗Fenugreek Microgreens/Methi Leaves

FLAVOUR OF FENUGREEK SEEDS

Fenugreek seeds are known for their bitter taste and strong aroma. Cooking turns its pungent, slightly bitter taste into a nutty, maple syrup-like flavour. Be careful while using fenugreek seeds too much will overpower the entire dish and also not burn the seeds, which makes the flavour so bitter, that it’s unpalatable.

INDIAN CULINARY USES OF FENUGREEK SEEDS/METHI SEEDS/VENDHAYAM

Fenugreek seeds are a common ingredient or everyday ingredient in Indian cooking. It is used as a spice. Fenugreek seeds can be used to make both sweet and savoury dishes.

Fenugreek seeds are one of the key ingredients in many spice blends especially in South Indian SAMBHAR PODI, THALIPPU VADAGAM, PULIYODHARAI PODI and many more.

It is a very common ingredient in Indian pickles to improve self-life and taste.

Fenugreek seeds can be made into powder and sprouts.

SOUTH INDIAN CUISINES

Fenugreek seeds are an essential ingredient in South Indian cooking. It is also an important ingredient in ANJARAI PETTI (spice box or masala dabba). Anjarai Petti is a spice rack that contains essential south Indian spices.

It is most commonly used in tempering dal-based curries, various Idli/Dosai batters, chutneys, seafood curries, and a variety of rice like vendhaya sadam (fenugreek rice), etc.

In the picture - Fish Curry Recipe/Meen Kuzhambu Recipe

It is also an essential ingredient in South Indian IDLI/DOSAI/PANIYARAM BATTERS.

In the picture - Idli served with Coconut chutney and Sambar

It can be used to make various sweet dishes like ULUVA KANJI, VENDHAYA KALI, LEGIYAMS, etc.

In the picture - Vendhaya Rasam/Fenugreek Seed Rasam/Menthe Kalu Saaru

For the detailed Vendhaya Rasam/Fenugreek Seed Rasam. Kindly, click the below link to check out -
🔗Vendhaya Rasam/Fenugreek Seed Rasam/Menthe Kalu Saaru

NORTH INDIAN CUISINES

Fenugreek seeds are commonly used in PICKLES, DAL-BASED DISHES, and VEGETABLE SABIZS. It can be made into fenugreek seed sprouts and used in various sabji and salads.

In the picture - Dosa served with Coconut Chutney, Kollu Chutney and Masala Sundal

Fenugreek seeds are also a part of Bengali famous spice blends called PANCH PHORON. Panch phoron is the most used spice mixture in all Bengali dishes.

TIPS TO BUY AND STORE FENUGREEK SEEDS/VENDHAYAM/METHI DANA

It is easily available in any Indian or Asian grocery store and also in the online market.

When buying fenugreek seeds, look for freshness and moisture-free, and always buy recently dated products.

HOW TO STORE FENUGREEK SEEDS/VENDHAYAM/METHI SEEDS?

Whole fenugreek seeds stay fresh for three years, as long as they’re kept in an air-tight container and out of sunlight. Fenugreek’s flavour dissipates once the seeds are ground, and ground seeds keep for only a few months.

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