Bloomed, Smoked, or Toasted Spices: Which One is Best? Great Advice for Greater Spice When it comes to cooking, the word “bland” or “boring” should never come within the stratosphere of favorite meals. That is why food lovers around the world are constantly finding new ways to unlock a world of flavor. Take your favorite spices, for example. Sure, sprinkling them on top of your meals is fine, but have you tried blooming, smoking, or toasting your spices for even more flavor? Blooming with Flavor You don’t have to have a green thumb to bloom your ...

The Battle of the Barbecue What do basketball and barbecue have in common? Everyone believes that their side is the best. In the case of basketball, it’s often UNC versus Duke. In the case of barbecue, it’s east versus west. No matter who you side with, however, one thing is clear: the Battle of the Barbecue is a competition so heated that it can put the hottest grill to shame. Nice to Meat You You’ve heard of the phrase “every part of the buffalo,” but have you heard “every part of the pig except the squeal?” Whole-h...

The Origin of Xinjiang Blend What do you and spices have in common? (Other than making everything better, of course.) You both have a history! While spices may not have a paper mâché family tree like us, they do have rich origins that lend to their significance. If you are curious about the origins of this month’s blend, we invite you to Xinjiang, a territory in northwest China and the name of RawSpiceBar’s February blend. A Peppercorn for Your Thoughts So, where does this month’s blend come from? While many groups claim...

History of Arrabiata: What You Arrabiata Know If you’re lucky enough to have an Italian grandma, you know the delicious aroma of Arrabiata sauce filling her kitchen. She was a human measuring spoon, and if she ever let you write down her recipe, it would say “a pinch” of this and “a bit more” of that. Thankfully, this month’s blend —RawSpiceBar’s Arrabiata Blend— is already mixed to perfection, with enough fire to make your feisty Nonna proud. When in Rome Arrabiata is a light marinara or red sauce that originated in the Lazio region o...

Love of Arrabiata: I Want Some Amore Italian food isn’t usually known for being spicy. But in the Southern regions of “the Boot” they rely on Italian red chili peppers—pepperoncino—in many dishes. They say pepperoncino is good for its heart-healthy properties and it also has aphrodisiac effects. Spicy! Gushing Over Rome If you’re looking for love in Rome, you’re likely to visit the world-famous Trevi Fountain. Bernini’s 85-foot-tall, 65-foot-wide masterpiece draws visitors from around the globe. Legend says tossing one coin ov...

I Wanna Moroccan Roll All Night (And Eat Tagine Every Day) Morocco is known for the famed Sahara Desert, exquisite architecture, and flavorful dishes, including couscous, chicken bastilla, and tagine. With contrasting flavors deep in color and rich in taste, Moroccan food is nothing short of a global icon. That is why we are fired up to introduce this month’s blend–RawSpiceBar’s Ras El Hanout Blend. Offering an earthy mix of cinnamon, cumin, coriander, allspice, black pepper, turmeric, and ginger, this month’s spice blend will have you requesting Mor...

Taking a Closer Look at Tandoori: Keep Calm and Spice On Every cook has wondered what makes a dish so delicious. By understanding the flavor palate and makeup of tandoori, you are well on your way to making delectable dishes on the daily. Spicy Livin’ | Tandoori is a reddish-brown spice that surrounds your olfactory senses with a bold, fragrant experience thanks to its mix of cinnamon, black peppercorn, and guajillo chiles. The prominent guajillo chiles offer a flavor akin to cranberry and tomato with a hint of smokiness, while the sweetness of cin...

To Sweet or to Savory? That Is the Question. How Will You Lebküchen? Lebküchen often brings images of baked goods decked out in sugar, chocolate, or decorated with almonds to mind. Lebküchen is, after all, the quintessential Christmas treat in Germany. However, the beauty of cooking is that there is always potential to unlock something new. Savory, Spice, & Everything Nice | When it comes to our tasting palate, sweet foods indulge us with the taste of sugar or honey, whereas savory foods are full-flavored and spicy. Does this mean that the two must remain ...

History of Tandoori: Take a Trip Down Tandoori Lane If you have been lucky enough to eat at an authentic Indian restaurant or cracked open a cookbook filled with Indian cuisine, then you most likely know the tantalizing taste of tandoori. Rich, aromatic, and­ spicy, tandoori has the power to elevate any dish to mouth-watering levels when blended with precision. Luckily, this month’s blend–RawSpiceBar’s Tandoori Blend–is mixed to perfection, packing enough heat and flavor to make your next meal unforgettable. But how did this spice come to be? ...

RawSpiceBar Thanksgiving Guide - More Flavor and Less Stress Here is our guide to ensuring you get the most flavor and least amount of stress this Thanksgiving. Get the Guide Monday/Tuesday Monday and Tuesday are all about preparing the brine, making any food that can be prepped ahead of time, and enlisting any help you need from family and friends. Wednesday Wednesday is focused on brining the turkey, chopping vegetables, setting the table, and buying any last-minute items. Thanksgiving Day Thursday is go time. It's time to finalize side dishe...

Step-by-Step Lebküchen Waffles Serves: 6 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons RawSpiceBar Lebküchen Blend ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ cup sugar 1 large egg ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled 1 ½ cups buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, Lebküchen Blend, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the egg, butter, buttermilk and vanilla. Stir to co...

Step-by-Step Moroccan Chicken Tagine

Best Ancho Chili Powder Substitute? Ancho chile powder is a staple in Mexican cuisine and is one of the most popular spices in the region, part of its ‘holy trinity’ -- this powder has moderate heat and is made from dried and ground poblano chiles. This spice is usually used in sauces, salsa, and most especially Mole. Ancho chile powder is easy to find almost anywhere. Many specialty Mexican groceries and some supermarkets may carry ancho pepper powder. This spice has a sweet and earthy flavor that imparts a fruitiness to dishe...

Best Allspice Substitute? Need an allspice berries replacement in a hurry? We've got the best substitutes using the spices you probably already have on your shelf. Sometimes referred to in Jamaica as “pimento” (Spanish for “pepper”), allspice got its name because its flavor shares some of the characteristics of these three spices along with that of peppercorns. Allspice berries are core flavor base of many South Asian dishes and varies regionally as well as from one cook to another. Be wary of pre-ground allspice ...

Making Ribs Is as Easy as 3-2-1 Photo by Z Grills Australia on Unsplash Nothing but time and a fresh rack of ribs on your hands? You’re in luck! Today we’re diving into the absolute best way to cook a rack of ribs, using the 3-2-1 method. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about making the best ribs you’ve ever had. What is the 3-2-1 Method for Grilled or Smoked Ribs? Named after the three sets of cooking times, this rib technique is (in our humble opinion) the only way to make ribs. Cooked low and slow, about...

Best Chili Powder Substitute? Chili powder is the dried, pulverized fruit of varieties of chili peppers. Some Chili powders have an addition of other spices, called a chili powder blend. It’s used to add pungency and flavor to dishes. It’s used in many cuisines, such as Tex-Mex, Indian, Korean, and Portuguese. If you have a love for cooking, you most likely had to deal with running out of an ingredient that your recipe calls for. Most Tex-Mex dishes like tacos or Chili con Carne calls for chili powder, but what if you for...