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This is the description page for Senegal Pepper (Xylopia aethiopica) and includes a description as well as an image, if available and a selection of recipes from this site that relates to the spice: Senegal Pepper. ![]() Sénégal Pepper (also known as Negro Pepper, Grains of Selim, African Grains of Selim, Moor Pepper, Kili, Congo Pepper, Kani Pepper, Country Pepper, Selim Kili Pepper and Poivre de Sénégal) represents the fruit of Xylopia aethiopica or Xylopia striata, members of the Annonacea (custard apple) family. The genus name, Xylopia itself derives from the Greek: ξύλον πικρόν (xylom pikron) ‘bitter wood’. Generally, the commonest form is X aethiopica (image, above, left) where the fruit look rather like small, twisted, bean pods which, typically, are dark brown to green in hue and some 3–5 cm long and grow in clusters at the centre of the plant. X striata (above, centre) is more commonly found in Sénégal and tends to be a broader and longer pod (1cm broad and up to 6cm long when dried) invariably dark brown in colour. Though the form sold in the markets (image, above, righ) is often black in colour and possessed of a sticky consistency due to its having been smoked when raw and undried before being sold. As a spice Sénégal Pepper should always be used whole and ground, as the hull of the fruit lends the spice its aromatic notes whilst the seeds within lend pungency and bitterness to the flavour. Before use you should always, therefore, grind the spice in a coffee grinder or pestle and mortar. The taste is often described as a mixture of cubeb pepper and nutmeg, with a note of resin. It has a very sharp, aromatic, pungent taste with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Both X aethiopica and X striata fruit have a similar sensory quality in that they are quite pungent with aromatic overtones supplied by the hull and a slight bitter finish to their flavour. Sénégal pepper (most commonly X striata is often smoked during preparation and this lends it a smoky-spicy flavour that makes it an excellent rubbing spice for barbecued meats. Both species are natives of tropical Africa (with ranges extending from Ghana to Ethiopia), though X aethiopica is most commonly grown in Ghana. A related species, X aromatica (burro pepper) is used in Brazil. During medieval times Sénégal pepper was commonly used in Europe as an alternative to black pepper, though with the advent of the spice trade and the availability of regular shipments of black pepper arriving in Europe from the 16th century onwards it’s use declined precipitously. Indeed, the only time this spice has subsequently been used in Europe to any extent was from the mid 1930s to the start of the 1960s due to black pepper shortages during and immediately after the Second World War. Although Sénégal Pepper has the 'heat' of black pepper it is not truly suited as an alternative because of its bitter overtones and it is this bitterness that explains why this spice is seldom seen outside it’s native region today. Which is not to say that Sénégal Pepper does not have its uses in West African ‘soups’ (stews) and as a rubbing spice for grilled or barbecued meats. Because of its bitterness the unsmoked pods tend to be lightly crushed before being added to soups and stews. The pod is then removed before serving. It is often sold by specialized spice merchants as 'Selim Kili Pepper'. Recipes Utilizing Senegal Pepper Rack of Lamb with Sénégal Pepper Emulsion |
Welcome to the Celtnet Spice Guide. As this site has grown and many more recipes have been added it's become evident that a guide to the various herbs available to the cook is necessary. With spices becoming more commonly available and more exotic spices becoming available from all over the world it has become evident that some kind of guide or introduction to spices is necessary. These pages are an attempt at bringing all the various culinary spices together into one place so that you can see what's available and perhaps find something new to use in your own cooking. To use this Spice Guide simply click on the first letter of the herb name above or below. Alternativey why not just browse through the guide. All the spices given here, whether common or rare, can be obtained via your local supermarket (or more often via your local Asian supermarket) or via a specialist spice distributor.
This is the description page for Senegal Pepper and includes a description of the plant and the parts used as spice, as well as an image, if available, or what the spice looks like and a selection of recipes from this site that reletes to the spice: Senegal Pepper.
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Below you will find links to other pages dealing with the various Spices described on this site
The Spice Trade
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Pork and Aubergine in Hot Sauce is a classic Chinese dish, heavily influenced by the cuisine of Sichuan, China, with its use of hot chilli sauce and mouth-tingling Sichuan pepper (actually a citrus fruit rather than a true pepper!). Learn the secrets of this simple but delicious dish today.
Fusion cooking is the blending of ingredients and cooking techniques from different areas of the globe. Though most people thing of Asian-influenced dishes as being typically 'Fusion' modern Fusion cuisines can represent dishes influenced by the foods of any region of the world. Though South-east Asian, African, Middle Eastern and Indian influences tend to predominate. Here you will learn a little more about fusion cookery and will be presented with a classic Australian fusion dish.
Rather than being a British or English invention, Chutneys originated in India and were re-worked during the 18th century as a means of preserving autumn fruit and vegetables. Here you get a recipe for a classic Indian chatni and a British chutney so you can see how one evolved into the other.
Ghana is one of the most fertile and productive of West African countries. It is also the inheritor nation of the Ga and Ashanti poeples, ancient rulers of West Africa. The cuisines of Ghana are diverse and characterized by he use of chillies, native spices and boiled eggs in the cooking. Here you will find two typical Ghanaian recipes.
A crockpot (also known as a slow cooker) can be an excellent means of cooking proper meals slowly for a long time. It allows you to make the most of poor cuts of meat and lets you cook your food over night or slowly throughout the day whilst you are at work. There are lots of recipes for crockpot meals on the internet, but you can adjuist pretty much any recipe for a stew or braising dish to the crockpot. This article shows you how to do this using a classic Turkish lamb and onion stew as an example.
With Autumn approaching, the mind naturally turns to how best to preserve the season's glut of fruit for the coming winter. One of the best preservation methods is to turn the fruit into jams and jellies, which will last you through the winter and well into the following spring. Here you will learn the secrets of making perfect jams and jellies with grape jam being used as an example.
The traditional recipes of Wales are what might be thought of as 'peasant food' the kind of recipes made by the poor who want to make the most out of what little food they had. This, in some respects, has left Wales with a blank culinary slate where some very exciting modern foods, bringing together influences from all over the world have been created. Here I give an example of a traditional Welsh dish and an example of a recipe from the new breed of Welsh cookery...
Mushrooms are an amazing foodstuff, neither plant nor animal but a whole kingdom of life all their own. Though many mushrooms are cultivated the vast majority can only be found in the wild. Here you find recipes for both wild and cultured mushrooms so that you can know how to get the best out of them...
An ice cream is a cold dessert made, at the most basic level, with cream and flavourings and which is whipped to incorporate air into the mix both before and during the freezing process. However, Italian ice creams (gelati) have more flavour and are whipped less so they contain less air and are creamier. French ice creams (glaces) are based on an egg custard and taste rich and creamy. Find out more about these frozen desserts and how to prepare them.
Beans are a classic storage food and have been a staple of the human diet for millennia. In recent decades, however, we have forgotten just how useful and versatile beans are. Here is a brief description of the importance of beans, with two classic bean recipes for you to try.