The Secret Ingredient Missing From Your Soups and Stews
You normally only use this spice in baked goods, but did you know it could be just the thing your savory dishes are missing?
Have you ever felt like your hearty homemade chili or veggie soups were missing something? That extra touch might not be a spice you're accustomed to using in your savory foods, but we bet you already have it in your cabinet:
Cinnamon.
It might seem strange, but trust us: you're going to want to try it! This mildly sweet, comforting flavor is normally reserved for things like baked goods and chai lattes, but you'd be surprised at what it can add to even the most hearty and meaty of stews.
In fact, many dishes in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine use cinnamon quite generously in their main dishes to add to the blend of rich and full flavors. You might have tried this already, without even knowing!
How To Use It:
Simply add a cinnamon stick to your brew, or if you don't have any sticks, just sprinkle in a bit of the ground spice along with any others the recipe calls for. This will add a depth of flavor to your dish that no other ingredient can offer!
In the mood for soup? Cook up one of these 25 soups that will warm your soul.
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Chef Tips and Tricks
These Spanish empanadas are little hot pockets of delicious!
INGREDIENTS
- 2.25 Cups of flour
- 1 Egg, beaten
- 3 Tsp. of lard
- 1/5 Cup of warm water
- 5 Tsp. of olive oil
- 1 Onion, minced
- 1/2 pound of ground beef
- Salt and pepper, to season
- 1 Tsp. of chili powder
- 1 Tsp. of cumin
- 2 Garlic cloves, diced
- 1 Can of diced tomatoes
METHOD
- In a bowl, combine the flour, beaten egg, lard, warm water, and olive oil, and mix thoroughly.
- In a hot pan, pour a little olive oil and sautée the onions, until tender. Add the ground beef, salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, garlic and diced tomatoes. Cook until beef is no longer pink, and the flavors have incorporated well.
- Roll out the empanada dough, and cut out circles with a ramekin.
- Cover a baking tray with a piece of parchment paper, and place the dough circles on top.
- Fill with meat mixture, fold in half and press with the edge of a fork. Brush with egg yolk to glaze.
- Cook at 350°F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden.
- Remove from oven... and enjoy!
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