Why We’re Obsessed With Caraway

This simple spice is more complex than you might think; use it to brighten hearty soups, cut through rich meat, and bring a gentle warmth to root vegetables

By | Published Jun 17, 2016 7:30 PM

HUNGARIAN GOULASH
The recipe for this hearty, savory soup comes from Katalin Bánfalvi, author Carolyn Banfalvi's mother-in-law, who lives in the village of Bõny, in northwestern Hungary. Hungarian sweet paprika confers a singularly deep, rich color and flavor. Get the recipe for Hungarian Goulash » Matt Taylor-Gross

Roasted Turnips with Buttered Greens

Any root vegetable with greens, such as beets or radishes, can be used in this buttery, caraway-spiced dish. Acheson favors delicate Hakurei turnips. See the recipe for Roasted Turnips with Buttered Greens »

Beer Cheese Soup

Invented by Mark Schiffler, the original chef of Wynkoop Brewery in Denver, Colorado, this Wisconsin-inspired soup has been traded and tweaked over the years into its current state: a thick, cheddar-based soup cut through with piquant Gorgonzola. Get the recipe for Beer Cheese Soup »

Pork and Duck Sausage

Most sausage recipes call for a meat mixture that is about 30 percent fat—using too much can yield a link that is more greasy than luxurious. Here, Russell Moore of Camino in Oakland, California, combines pork belly with rich duck liver and skinless duck breast—fatty duck skin is too tough—for a perfectly tender sausage.

Harissa

In North Africa, cooks have long relied on this garlicky chile paste to lend depth to cooked meats and vegetables. It’s incredibly dependable in its ability to liven up foods—we use it in all sorts of ways, from serving alongside crudités to rubbing grilled meats to topping falafel. Get the recipe for Harissa »

Sho’ Nuff Noodles

We first fell in love with these lightly spicy lo mein noodles when chef Marcus Samuelsson dropped by our kitchen to test drive some recipes for his Harlem restaurant, Streetbird Rotisserie. Laced with oyster sauce, ginger, and yuzu kosho and tossed with pickled mustard greens, the dish is a medley of sweet, tangy, spicy, and sour. Get the recipe for Sho’ Nuff Noodles »

Russian Chicken and Dumpling Soup

This chicken-and-dumpling soup takes advantage of two ingredients more common in Asia than Eastern Europe—sesame oil and cilantro—for a simple but rewarding soup that probes the boundaries of what we think of as Russian cuisine. Get the recipe for Russian Chicken and Dumpling Soup »

Mititei (Grilled Sausages)

Small skinless sausages are cooked on charcoal grills in Romania and in other parts of eastern Europe and the Balkans. Fragrant with garlic, paprika, and caraway, the Romanian version, called mititei, or “wee ones,” are delicious served with zesty mustard. Get the recipe for Mititei »
In Transylvania, it’s not unsual to be offered a shot of homemade brandy as a gesture of hospitality upon arriving at a home or guest house. This one has a spicy caraway flavor that balances nicely with the rich walnut cake, Chec Cu Nuca. Get the recipe for Secărică (Caraway Brandy) »

Caraway Fizz

Tangy sauerkraut juice makes a surprisingly good accompaniment to light, anise-flavored aquavit in a sophisticated, unexpected cocktail based on the flavors of a Reuben. A sprig of dill adds a fragrant herbal note. Get the recipe for Caraway Fizz »

Lentil Soup with Caraway and Minted Yogurt

In this Indian-inspired dish lentils are flavored with caraway and coriander to make a quick, fragrant soup. Get the recipe for Lentil Soup with Caraway and Minted Yogurt »

Chicken Soup with Semolina Dumplings

In this recipe from Transylvania, sliced root vegetables and textured semolina dumplings are moistened in a chicken broth spiced with paprika and caraway. Get the recipe for Chicken Soup with Semolina Dumplings »

Yemenite Chile Relish (Schug)

Piquant schug makes a fantastic condiment for pita and falafel sandwiches. Get the recipe for Yemenite Chile Relish (Schug) »
Serve this tart, herbaceous eggplant pickle with Persian rice dishes and stews.

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