Brown butter is made by cooking butter at a medium temperature until its white milk solids take on a brown hue. The resulting flavor is complex, rich, and slightly nutty. In French it’s called beurre noisette; “noisette” means both “brown” and ...

Heirloom tomatoes, by definition, are not new. They are varieties of the fruit that fell out of mainstream cultivation for various reasons, such as shorter shelf life or delicate skins that make them difficult to transport. But they are often very...

Kefir is a probiotic-rich fermented dairy item originating from the north Caucasus. Its consistency is like that of a thin yogurt, its taste is tart and it contains very little lactose due to its fermentation process...

A classic Mexican cheese, queso fresco (which translates to “fresh cheese”) is a mild, soft, and slightly tangy white cheese that’s a staple in many Mexican kitchens. It’s easily crumbled and often used on top of dishes such as enchiladas and...

Millet is a grain that has long been part of the diets of people in regions of Africa and Asia, but it had fallen out of wide use in the West until recently as some chefs and their customers have begun returning to older recipes and have been...

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are versatile legumes used in soups and stews as well as salads. They are also the main ingredient in falafel and hummus and are an increasingly popular snack served fried and seasoned...

Many cultures, from Ireland to Vietnam, put milk in their tea, but these days “milk tea” usually refers to the drink popularized in Taiwan. There, as in mainland China, tea is traditionally drunk hot, unsweetened and without milk. This...

Nitrogenation is a process similar to carbonation, but instead of infusing a beverage with carbon dioxide it infuses it with nitrogen, which results in much smaller bubbles and a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Originally used as a technique for stout...

Agua Fresca is a beverage category that has long been popular in Mexico. Spanish for “fresh water,” aguas frescas are light, non-alcoholic drinks made with one or more fruits, flowers or other natural, often seasonal ingredients mixed with sugar...

Chia seeds, which are from a flowering plant in the mint family, have boomed in popularity over the past few years for their ability to replace gelatin and eggs in vegetarian diets. Originating from Central America, chia seeds can add crunch when...