The Alchemist's Pantry

The Root Cellar

Where Distinctive Flavours Are Crafted.

Roots, rhizomes, tubers and underground ingredients.

Turn a reviewed leaf from this chapter. Historical sources, flavour affinities and kitchen notes accompany each ingredient.

Rhizome · underground stem used as a spice

Ginger

Zingiber officinale

Fresh ginger is pungent, warming and aromatic, with citrus-like freshness and fibrous flesh. Dried ground ginger is less juicy and more warmly earthy. Neither has the same balance as sweet preserved ginger, so changing forms...

Culinary root · pungent taproot

Horseradish

Armoracia rusticana

A sharp, clean, nose-tingling pungency rather than chilli-like warmth. Freshly grated root is especially forceful; its character fades after preparation and much of the flavour is lost in cooking. The flesh is firm and fibrous.

☙ The Root Cellar ❧