We used our Radhuni to make shukto and have paired it with our earthy Mohansal, a slender, siddha (parboiled) rice variety. Known in Bengal as radhuni, it plays an often understated role in complex flavour combinations.
about the spice
Celery seeds are not from the same plant as the regular cultivated, cooking celery stalks; rather they come from wild celery having more in common with parsley. Traditionally used as celery salt in Bloody Mary cocktail or as tempering in Bengali vegetarian cuisine, celery seeds can add quite a punch with their strong herbaceous, earthy flavor.
flavour
woody, herbaceous
aroma
citrusy, bitter
appearance
the seeds are ridged and brown in colour, up to 5mm in length
storage
store them in a cool, dark and moist-free place
what you can cook with it
As noted before, celery seeds go well with a range of recipes. You can spice up your beverages or fish soups or add it your egg salad. However, use it prudently and as seasoning, since celery seeds can be overpowering. We like to mix and match to have a spice blend that plays with the earthy, herby and woody flavor of celery seeds.
botanical name
Apium graveolens
origin
India
processing
washed and dried
medicinal value
believed to aid in digestion, helps in flu, diuretic
