Galangal has a tighter skin, is lighter in color and can have pinkish portions too. Galangal is commonly used as a seasoning ingredient in Thai food, many seafood and meat dishes use galangal for seasoning. There are two ways in which galangal is added to food dishes, one is the crushed form and the other is thin strips. Before you start using galangal, you will always need to peel it and take off the top layer. If the recipe you are making needs the galangal to be crushed, slice it first and then do the crushing. This is because galangal is much more dense and harder than ginger.

The groundnut belongs to the pea and bean family and is a legume. The groundnut is the only nut that grows below the earth. The groundnut plant is a variable annual herb, which grows upto 50 cm. in height. The flowers of the plant develop a stalk which enters into the soil, forms a pod containing generally two seeds. They become mature in about two months, when the leaves of the plant turn yellow. The plant is then removed from the earth and allowed to dry. After three to six weeks they are separated from the plant.

Chickpeas are a legume used in many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines. Round and tan colored, chickpeas have a mild, nutty flavor and are slightly crunchy even after cooking.Ground chickpeas are the basis for hummus and falafel, both classic Middle Eastern recipes.Chickpeas are widely used in Indian cooking, in curries and such recipes as chana masala.Cooked chickpeas can also be used in making cold salads. Here's a recipe for a chickpea

Psyllium seed husk are indigestible and are a source of soluble dietary fiber. They are used to relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diarrhea. They are also used as a regular dietary supplement to improve and maintain regular GI transit. The inert bulk of the husks helps provide a constant volume of solid material irrespective of other aspects of the diet or any disease condition of the gut.

Stone flower is also known as lichen because it grows in the form of lichens on the tree. It is usually a native of Indian subcontinent and found in northern India and Bengal. Stone plant is small shrub that normally grows on the rocks and sometimes looks like a combination of algae and fungus. Stone plant contains lecanoric acid and alkaloid called atranorin. Lichens are used as fodder in Indian states and also have various culinary uses.

Basil has many varieties. It is easy to grow, and transforms ordinary meals into culinary treasures! Fresh basil not only tastes better than dried, it actually tastes different, almost as if it were not the same herb. Basil smells so good, and has such attractive blooms for an herb, that it's also grown in flower gardens as decoration. The blooms are also edible, though if the plant is allowed to bloom regularly its flavor declines.

Dried rose petals serve many purposes. They provide an intoxicating fragrance to potpourri and satin sachets, add color to indoor decorations and create romantic confetti for weddings. Some of the most popular uses for dried rose petals are crafts, gifts, home decor and special events. Dried petals from organically-grown roses are used to flavor oils and vinegars or are added to salads and other recipes.

Fennel is composed of a white or pale green bulb from which closely superimposed stalks are arranged. The stalks are topped with feathery green leaves near which flowers grow and produce fennel seeds. Fennel is crunchy and slightly sweet, adding a refreshing contribution to the ever popular Mediterranean cuisine. Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, folate, and molybdenum

An indispensable and probably the most popular culinary spice in the world, chilly, has a pungent flavor. India is the largest exporter of this widely used spice. Though there are only a few commonly used species, there are many cultivars and methods of preparing chili peppers that have different names for culinary use.

Coriander, also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking.

Cardamom is in the form of a small seedpod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds. Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic fragrance. Cardamom is a pod consisting of an outer shell with little flavor, and tiny inner seeds with intense flavor. Fancy white and green pods have no splits or cracks in the shell, so the flavor keeps well.

Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name: Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. Linseed, or flaxseed, is one of the most potent sources of omega 3 fatty acids found in nature. Because it comes from a plant source, it is perfect for vegetarian and vegan diets, although it benefits everybody. Linseed/flaxseed oil differs from most vegetables oils in that it provides linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid, both of which are needed by the body and must be obtained through the diet.

Maize known in some English-speaking countries as corn (meaning grain), is a large grain plant domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a starch. Maize is commonly known as corn in some countries and the largest crop . It is the third largest crop in the world, These are grown under hygienic conditions in Indian fields.

Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants, either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Sorghum is a genus with many species and subspecies, and there are several types of sorghum, including grain sorghums, grass sorghums (for pasture and hay), sweet sorghums (for syrups), and Broomcorn. The focus of this species page is on Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor, or grain sorghum.

Galangal has a tighter skin, is lighter in color and can have pinkish portions too. Galangal is commonly used as a seasoning ingredient in Thai food, many seafood and meat dishes use galangal for seasoning. There are two ways in which galangal is added to food dishes, one is the crushed form and the other is thin strips. Before you start using galangal, you will always need to peel it and take off the top layer. If the recipe you are making needs the galangal to be crushed, slice it first and then do the crushing. This is because galangal is much more dense and harder than ginger.

The groundnut belongs to the pea and bean family and is a legume. The groundnut is the only nut that grows below the earth. The groundnut plant is a variable annual herb, which grows upto 50 cm. in height. The flowers of the plant develop a stalk which enters into the soil, forms a pod containing generally two seeds. They become mature in about two months, when the leaves of the plant turn yellow. The plant is then removed from the earth and allowed to dry. After three to six weeks they are separated from the plant.

Chickpeas are a legume used in many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines. Round and tan colored, chickpeas have a mild, nutty flavor and are slightly crunchy even after cooking.Ground chickpeas are the basis for hummus and falafel, both classic Middle Eastern recipes.Chickpeas are widely used in Indian cooking, in curries and such recipes as chana masala.Cooked chickpeas can also be used in making cold salads. Here's a recipe for a chickpea

Psyllium seed husk are indigestible and are a source of soluble dietary fiber. They are used to relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and diarrhea. They are also used as a regular dietary supplement to improve and maintain regular GI transit. The inert bulk of the husks helps provide a constant volume of solid material irrespective of other aspects of the diet or any disease condition of the gut.

Stone flower is also known as lichen because it grows in the form of lichens on the tree. It is usually a native of Indian subcontinent and found in northern India and Bengal. Stone plant is small shrub that normally grows on the rocks and sometimes looks like a combination of algae and fungus. Stone plant contains lecanoric acid and alkaloid called atranorin. Lichens are used as fodder in Indian states and also have various culinary uses.

Basil has many varieties. It is easy to grow, and transforms ordinary meals into culinary treasures! Fresh basil not only tastes better than dried, it actually tastes different, almost as if it were not the same herb. Basil smells so good, and has such attractive blooms for an herb, that it's also grown in flower gardens as decoration. The blooms are also edible, though if the plant is allowed to bloom regularly its flavor declines.

Dried rose petals serve many purposes. They provide an intoxicating fragrance to potpourri and satin sachets, add color to indoor decorations and create romantic confetti for weddings. Some of the most popular uses for dried rose petals are crafts, gifts, home decor and special events. Dried petals from organically-grown roses are used to flavor oils and vinegars or are added to salads and other recipes.

Fennel is composed of a white or pale green bulb from which closely superimposed stalks are arranged. The stalks are topped with feathery green leaves near which flowers grow and produce fennel seeds. Fennel is crunchy and slightly sweet, adding a refreshing contribution to the ever popular Mediterranean cuisine. Fennel is an excellent source of vitamin C, dietary fiber, potassium, manganese, folate, and molybdenum

An indispensable and probably the most popular culinary spice in the world, chilly, has a pungent flavor. India is the largest exporter of this widely used spice. Though there are only a few commonly used species, there are many cultivars and methods of preparing chili peppers that have different names for culinary use.

Coriander, also known as cilantro, Chinese parsley or dhania is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking.

Cardamom is in the form of a small seedpod, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin papery outer shell and small black seeds. Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic fragrance. Cardamom is a pod consisting of an outer shell with little flavor, and tiny inner seeds with intense flavor. Fancy white and green pods have no splits or cracks in the shell, so the flavor keeps well.

Flax (also known as common flax or linseed) (binomial name: Linum usitatissimum) is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. Linseed, or flaxseed, is one of the most potent sources of omega 3 fatty acids found in nature. Because it comes from a plant source, it is perfect for vegetarian and vegan diets, although it benefits everybody. Linseed/flaxseed oil differs from most vegetables oils in that it provides linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid, both of which are needed by the body and must be obtained through the diet.

Maize known in some English-speaking countries as corn (meaning grain), is a large grain plant domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a starch. Maize is commonly known as corn in some countries and the largest crop . It is the third largest crop in the world, These are grown under hygienic conditions in Indian fields.

Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants, either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Sorghum is a genus with many species and subspecies, and there are several types of sorghum, including grain sorghums, grass sorghums (for pasture and hay), sweet sorghums (for syrups), and Broomcorn. The focus of this species page is on Sorghum bicolor ssp. bicolor, or grain sorghum.