Fished extensively in the rivers and estuaries of India and Bangladesh, the bata, a bottom-feeding relation of carp, may grow to 60 cm (2 ft).
Fished extensively in the rivers and estuaries of India and Bangladesh, the bata, a bottom-feeding relation of carp, may grow to 60 cm (2 ft).
Black peppercorns, the fruit of a perennial vine with large leaves and white flowers. Green peppercorns are the unripe fruits picked early and pickled. Black peppercorns are picked just before they ripen and white peppercorns are the ripe, black peppercorns with the black skin flaked off. They are best kept whole and ground when required. Historically, pepper was one of the world's most important spices. Columbus sailed West, not East, in search of pepper in the East Indies. Instead he found the Americas and allspice.
Indian plum or ber. A plum-like fruit which is a small, sweet, reddish-black berry which fruits during the monsoon. The term is also used to describe a type of pantua, a confection which is fried to resemble this berry. There are sweet versions (narkel kul) and sour versions (topa kul). The latter are used to make pickles and chutneys.
Nigella. It is often confused with black cumin because the name "kala jeera" actually translates as black cumin. These are the small, black, bitter seeds of a relative of "love-in-a-mist". Nigella is often incorrectly called wild onion seeds or black onion seed. It is used in northern India.
Black peppercorns, the fruit of a perennial vine with large leaves and white flowers. Green peppercorns are the unripe fruits picked early and pickled. Black peppercorns are picked just before they ripen and white peppercorns are the ripe, black peppercorns with the black skin flaked off. They are best kept whole and ground when required. Historically, pepper was one of the world's most important spices. Columbus sailed West, not East, in search of pepper in the East Indies. Instead he found the Americas and allspice.
