Description
It is the dried berries of Piper nigrum L. It is known for strong spicy aroma and hot pungent taste. It is one of the oldest and most popular of all spices. It is known as the ‘king of spices’.
Culinary Uses
Add pepper that you have freshly ground in a mill at the end of the cooking process. Since it loses its flavor and aroma if cooked for too long, adding it near the end will help to preserve its flavor Coat steaks, skewed paneer or chicken with crushed peppercorns before cooking. Keep a pepper mill on your dining table so that you can add its intense spark to a host of different recipes that you prepare. Olive oil, lemon juice, salt and black pepper powder make a delicious salad dressing.
Health Benefits
Black pepper stimulates the taste buds in such a way that an alert is sent to the stomach to increase hydrochloric acid secretion, thereby improving digestion. Black pepper is an excellent source of manganese, a very good source of iron and vitamin K, and a good source of dietary fiber. Black pepper has long been recognized as a carminative, (a substance that helps prevent the formation of intestinal gas).
