Fenugreek would be a great word for playing Balderdash. I can just imagine having the winning definition with “Being of Greek descent”. When in reality, one translation of Fenugreek is “Greek Hay”. So is Fenugreek actually Greek? Sort of. Well, no not quite. While Fenugreek was used to feed the Roman’s livestock which they called faenum graceum which translates to “Greek Hay”. Romans would dry the Fenugreek plants and use them as fodder for their cattle.


Fodder, which you can assume here means dried feed for livestock.

 

Fenugreek can be found all over the middle east but in reality India is the main producer of this spice. Specifically Rajasthan, India produces the majority of Fenugreek providing about eighty percent of the world’s Fenugreek plants. These plants are part of the Fabacae family which also includes chickpeas and peanuts.

 

Besides the leaves being dried and used as feed, the leaves are also used in curries. More widely known in the US are Fenugreek seeds. These tiny yet impactful seeds have a sweet pleasant aroma that I can only describe having a smell compared to maple syrup. This lovely smell is caused by the chemical Sotolon obtained by Fenugreek. Do not be misled, however, Fenugreek Seeds have a slightly bitter and pungent flavor.

 

Fenugreek has a wide range of uses from South Asian cuisine using Fenugreek in vegetables dishes and in Turkey Fenugreek is made to a paste as an addition to many different types of dishes. In Egypt, Fenugreek is incorporated into traditional style Pita bread.

Mainly produced in India, it is an important ingredient to dishes containing Lentils and Rice. Aside from tasting well, Fenugreek is also rich in Vitamin C and contians other vitamins such Vitamins A and B6. This spice has been known to help digestive issues as well as help the secretion of milk in pregnant mothers.

Those who have a nact for pungent and savory tastes should give Fenugreek a try. If you are not too keen on the description of Fenugreek try incorporating a small amount into your diet, especially if you are planning a trip to India, in order to adjust to the diverse flavor. You may have a difficult time finding Fenugreek leaves (dry or frozen) but they can typically be found in specialty Indian food stores. Do not have one near you? You can source them on several places over the internet and seeds can always be found online as well. For convenience, buying any three of these types of Fenugreek will help get you started.