Helbeh

/ˈhɛlbə/ noun

Definition

A spice made from fenugreek seeds, used in Middle Eastern and Indian cooking to add a slightly bitter, maple-like flavor to dishes.

Etymology

From Arabic hulbah (حلبة), the Arabic name for fenugreek plant and its spice derivative, which traveled into English through culinary and botanical contexts involving Middle Eastern cuisine.

Kelly Says

Helbeh is fenugreek's sophisticated cousin—while fenugreek is the whole seed used in Indian cuisine, helbeh is the ground spice that's essential to Egyptian and Levantine cooking, and it smells like maple syrup mixed with something earthy.

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