When reading recipes with spices, you may come across a section in the ingredients or instructions that says to temper the spices. If you are unfamiliar with cooking with spices or are new to reading recipes, you will likely wonder what tempering spices means. So, what does it mean when a recipe refers to this process? Here is an explanation to answer the question, what does ‘tempering spices’ mean?
What Does ‘Tempering Spices’ Mean?
Tempering spices is a process used in many cuisines, and it is a process listed in cooking tips and recipes. It is a way of releasing the essence and flavour from whole spices. The most common way to do so is to cook the whole spices in hot oil or ghee for a few minutes. They are then added to the other ingredients so the flavours run through the dish.
Which Recipes Will Involve Tempering Spices?
You will most likely find sections of a recipe involving the tempering process for Asian dishes, especially Indian food. Other Asian cuisines that involve the tempering process include Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan cuisines. Not every recipe for dishes from these cuisines will use tempering.
What Are the Spices Involved in the Tempering Process?
The spices in the tempering process vary from one recipe to the next. Some common spices you may use when tempering include:
- Mustard seeds
- Fenugreek seeds
- Fennel seeds
- Fresh chillies
- Dried chillies
- Curry leaves
- Asafoetida
- Cloves
- Star anise
Are All the Spices Added at the Same Time?
Whether you add all the ingredients to the oil or ghee simultaneously depends on the recipe and the ingredients. Sometimes, you will need to add the spices at different times as some take longer to cook, while others will burn easily. If you are inexperienced at cooking spices, follow the process properly.
Is It Necessary to Always Temper Spices?
Not all dishes with spices include the tempering process, which may make you wonder if it is necessary to temper spices. If a recipe says to temper the spices, it says so for a reason. Therefore, you should stick to the process listed in the recipe. Some recipes will not suggest you temper the spices first, so you may not need to for some dishes. It is also worth noting that some recipes may not specifically mention the term tempering. However, you will see there is a stage where you cook the spices in hot oil first, so the tempering process still exists.
Will the Food Taste as Good If You Skip This Step of a Recipe?
Probably not. If you do not temper the spices, you will not release the spice’s essence to give the dish the intended flavour. Also, if you do not temper the spices, it can mean the dish has a bitter taste of raw spice.
Did you find our information about tempering spices useful? If you have any more tips or information about this process, add it to the comments section below. Feel free to also add your recipes that involve tempering.