What is a pimento seed?
What’s a pimento seed? The pimento comes from the unripe, dried berry of a small tree called Pimento Officinalis or Pimento diocia. It is also known as allspice, Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, newspice, pimenta, and clove pepper.
What is the difference between pimento and allspice?
“Pimento” derives from the Spanish word “pimienta” meaning pepper or peppercorn thus giving a basis for the confusion and allspice comes from the idea that the taste of the berry mimics the combination of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and pepper all together. In savory cooking in Jamaica, pimento is what I’d consider one of our foundation spices.
What part of the Olive is the Pimento?
The pimento isn't just "the red part at the center of an olive," but a pepper in its own right. It's among the mildest members of the pepper kingdom, with a rating on the Scoville scale between 100 and 500 heat units.
Why is it called a pimento pepper?
In fact, the relative lack of heat and subtle sweetness of this small, red pepper is why the pimento is often also known as a cherry pepper. How did the pimento get its name? The etymology of what English speakers consider a "pimento" or "pimiento" is an interesting case.
What is pimento also known as?
allspice, (Pimenta dioica), also called Jamaican pepper or pimento, tropical evergreen tree of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) and its berries, the source of a highly aromatic spice.
Is all spice and pimento the same?
Allspice, also commonly known as pimento, is prized for its complex and versatile flavor. Tasting like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, the humble brown berry is essential in Caribbean and Middle Eastern cooking, and popular in many European style dishes as well.
Is cloves same as allspice?
Allspice. This warm spice mimics the peppery notes of cloves perfectly. Ground allspice is a 1 for 1 substitute for ground cloves. For every ½ teaspoon cloves, use ½ teaspoon allspice.
What are cloves in Jamaica?
Cloves, the dried flower buds of the clove tree, have been used as a spice in traditional Jamaican foods and drink. They can add flavour to hot beverages, bring spicy warmth to cookies and cakes and season pot roasts. Though known as a sweet and aromatic spice, cloves have also been used in traditional medicine.
What can I use instead of pimento?
Substitute for PimientosFresh pimento may be hard to find so you can easily use jarred or canned pimento.For 2 tablespoons pimentos needed, substitute 2-3 tablespoons fresh chopped red bell pepper.OR - Substitute 2 tablespoons chopped, Holland sweet peppers.OR - Use equal amounts of Peppadew peppers.
Why is allspice called pimento?
The name Pimento originated from the Spanish word "pimienta" (pepper or peppercorn). To most English speaking people the tree is called "pimento" and the berries "allspice".
What spice can replace cloves?
Clove Substitute: Nutmeg. This warm spice is both nutty and sweet. ... Clove Substitute: Allspice. You can find allspice ground or in whole form (like allspice berries). ... Clove Substitute: Cardamom. ... Clove Substitute: Cinnamon. ... Clove Substitute: Pumpkin Pie Spice.
Can cloves be used for hair growth?
Promotes hair growth The compound eugenol found in clove oil helps promote hair growth when applied to the roots. It can also repair, strengthen and add a healthy shine to the hair shaft when applied regularly.
Which is stronger cloves or allspice?
If in case, you intend to use cloves in place of allspice, you should remember that the flavor of cloves is far stronger and more into a bitter note.
Do cloves grow in the Caribbean?
In 1770, the French Pierre Poivre managed to steal clove plants to acclimatize on the island of France (now called Mauritius), of which he was governor. This is the end of the monopoly on this spice, which then spreads around the world: French Guiana, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Caribbean, Brazil.
Does clove grow in Jamaica?
Clove trees are native to the Spice Islands and the Moluccas, and their name is believed to be derived from either the Latin word "clavus" or French word "cloud." Today, the clove tree is typically grown in India, Jamaica, the West Indies, Brazil, Sumatra, and other tropical climates.
What can I use to replace allspice?
While allspice is a spice on its own, not a blend, it's very easy to create a similar-tasting mixture with spices you already have in your kitchen. Whisk 3½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1¼ teaspoons ground nutmeg and a pinch of ground cloves, then use as a 1:1 replacement for ground allspice in a recipe.
What spice is all spice?
Allspice is the dried, unripened berry of the myrtle pepper tree, or pimento, which is native to Jamaica and much of Central America. The berries are briefly fermented, then sun-dried until brown. Often mistaken for a blend of spices, allspice is a single-ingredient seasoning with loads of unique flavor.
Is pimento in olives the same as allspice?
Allspice is the berry of the pimento tree. The plant's fruit is also called Jamaican pepper and is the same pimento that is popularly stuffed into olives. The allspice berry is harvested and dried, making an appearance as a spice in Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Latin American cuisines.
What do you use allspice for?
WHAT IS ALLSPICE USED FOR? You can use allspice in a variety of recipes that are sweet or savory such as cookies, pumpkin pie, spice cake, spicing for sausage and glazes for ham. It's a key flavor in Jamaican jerk seasoning, the fiery blend of herbs and spices that turns chicken or pork into an instant party.
So what is a pimento?
The pimento isn't just "the red part at the center of an olive," but a pepper in its own right. It's among the mildest members of the pepper kingdom, with a rating on the Scoville scale between 100 and 500 heat units.
How did the pimento get its name?
The etymology of what English speakers consider a "pimento" or "pimiento" is an interesting case. The object referred to by the word "pimento" has shifted over time, and its meaning across English and Spanish (as well as Portuguese) remains different today.
Does this have anything to do with Spanish paprika?
Well, yes and no. Spanish paprika, differentiated from its Hungarian counterpart because it's smoked over an oak fire, is known as pimentón, and is available in a few different varieties.
So how did pimento-stuffed olives become a thing?
Though it's hard to mark the beginning of many culinary traditions with an exact date, there's reason to believe that olives have been stuffed with pimento since the 18th century, with the Provence area of France taking credit.
The Pimento's Unlikely Journey into Southern American Cuisine
Beyond olives, pimento plays a key, almost indispensable role in Southern cuisine as the core ingredient driving pimento cheese. Though it's sometimes referred to as "Carolina Caviar" or the "paté of the South," this delightful combination of cheese, mayonnaise, wasn't initially known as a Southern staple.
Buying, Cooking, and Recipes
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
What Are Pimentos?
Pimentos, also referred to as pimientos, are a type of pepper with a sweet flavor and very little heat. This nightshade is also known as a cherry pepper because of its red color and round, heart-shaped fruit. They usually measure about 3 to 4 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide, with a short, thick green stem.
How to Use Pimentos
As with other peppers, you discard the stems when prepping them. It's commonly diced and stuffed into Spanish or Manzanilla olives in Mediterranean cuisine. Stateside, pimento-stuffed olives make a traditional garnish for martinis and are found in the pimento loaves our grandmas used to slice and serve for sandwiches.
What Do They Taste Like?
Pimentos are sweet and mild, and unlikely to cause trouble if you cannot tolerate spicy peppers. They register between 100 and 500 heat units on the Scoville scale, making them one of the mildest of all the chile peppers. Think of them as a sweeter and more aromatic red bell pepper.
Pimento Recipes
Olives with pimentos are great additions to appetizer plates and can be tossed with pasta. They make their way into so many dips and spreads because they add so much flavor and color. Mixed with mayo, hot sauce, cheddar, and cream cheeses, they bring a sweet tang as a condiment on all kinds of sandwiches and burgers.
Where to Buy Pimentos
In the grocery store, pimentos are typically found jarred, stocked with the olives and pickles. However, if your grocery store has a self-serve olive bar, it's possible they're available there—which is always nice because you can buy only what you need or try them without having to buy a whole jar.
Storage
The jarred variety will keep in the fridge, once opened, for up to nine months.
What is Pimento?
If you’re thinking pimento as in peppers I understand that you may have thought I’ve completely lost my mind putting seasoning peppers in flan . But fret not, no need to call anyone, I’m referring to Jamaican Allspice which we simply call pimento in Jamaica.
Pimento & Jamaican Cooking
In savory cooking in Jamaica, pimento is what I’d consider one of our foundation spices. From stews to soups to rice and peas; we often add few berries either whole or crushed. It is one of the essential ingredients in jerk seasoning, giving it it’s distinctive flavour. Pimento also features in Jamaican mixed spice for baking.
Recipe Notes
Tip: at this point, I usually gently run a knife around the edges of the flan to loosen it from the sides of the pan. I do this for cheesecakes or any custard that I’ll be de-molding.
Difference Between Pimento And Allspice
Pimento peppers are a type of red pepper. They are sweet and have very mild heat.
Allspice vs. pimento
Allspice are dried brown berries with a rough surface while pimento peppers are red heart-shaped peppers with a smooth surface
What is allspice?
The allspice is the dried unripe fruit of a tropical tree known as piementa dioica (piementa)
In conclusion
Both pimento pepper and allspice are berries that could be used to make spices for a lot of foods.
Uses, Benefits, and Recipes
Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.
What Are Cloves?
Cloves are a spice made from the flower buds of an evergreen tree called, appropriately enough, the clove tree (S yzygium aromaticum). Clove flower buds are harvested in their immature state and then dried. Whole cloves are shaped like a small, reddish-brown spike, usually around 1 centimeter in length, with a bulbous top.
Origins
Cloves are grown in India and Madagascar, but Indonesia is most closely associated with the production of cloves.
What Does It Taste Like?
Cloves are a pungent warm spice with an intense flavor and aroma. The flavor comes from the compound eugenol. On the tongue, you'll detect sweetness, bitterness, and astringency (drying the mouth), with a noticeable amount of heat. Similar warm spices include nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. These are often combined in a pumpkin pie blend.
Cooking With Cloves
Whole or ground cloves are used to flavor sauces, soups and rice dishes, notably a number of traditional Indian dishes, and it's one of the components of garam masala. Whole cloves are either removed before serving or picked out of the dish. Even when cooked, whole cloves have a very hard, woody texture that would be unpleasant to bite into.
Recipes With Cloves
Cloves are often found studding a holiday ham, in Indian biryani dishes, or in pumpkin pie spiced drinks and desserts. It is also one of the key spices used in making the classic béchamel sauce.
Substitutions
Buying whole cloves, you can easily produce ground cloves when needed. This is desirable because ground cloves, like any ground spice, will quickly lose potency and depth of flavor. You can use a spice grinder, mortar, and pestle, or a clean coffee grinder you designate for this purpose.
