~~~Grains of Paradise + Alton Brown Recipe for Lentil Soup~~~

Imagine one little seed that tastes like a combination of a mild black pepper, ginger, cardamom and coriander. Warm, spicy, a tad bitter, Grains of Paradise have a full, delicious taste and a lovely, citrus aroma.

Wade into the swamps of the West African "pepper coast," and you'll find this herbaceous, leafy perennial. The cube-ish seeds are found in pods that develop from violet/white, trumpet-like flowers. Grey when ground, the seeds are at first reddish brown. A member of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae), the spice is also known as melegueta pepper, guinea grains, guinea pepper, and alligator pepper. (It's not the same spice as Brazilian Malagueta pepper, though, which is a member of the Capsicum family.)

Commonly referred to as alligator pepper or melegueta pepper, our gourmet grains of paradise are grown in Africa and provide a warm, spicy bite with slightly bitter overtones. Grains of Paradise traveled the spice route via caravans over the Sahara. In Europe, it was often substituted for black pepper--until Vasco da Gama reached India in 1498 and replenished supplies of black pepper. The seeds were first named "Grains of Paradise" in the Middle Ages, when they were enjoyed as flavorings. They were often used throughout history to flavor alcohol. In fact, while England's Queen Elizabeth I used the grains for spicing wines and strengthening beer, King George III later declared the practice illegal and issued a heavy fine on any brewer who possessed the grains--as well as any druggist who sold it to a brewer. In the Caribbean islands, natives use the seeds for medicine and in voodoo rites. West Africans use the spice as a flavoring, but they also chew the seeds for their warming and digestive properties.

Grains of Paradise has become one of our new "hot" sellers. Alton Brown has had some recipes lately on the FoodTV Network Channel, one of our favorite channels to watch.

Click here to purchase Grains of Paradise from our website.

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Recipe for Alton Brown's Lentil Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup onion (chopped finely)
• 1/2 cup carrot (chopped finely)
• 1/2 cup celery (chopped finely)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 lb lentils (culled & rinsed)
• 1 cup tomato (peeled & cubed)
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1 quart vegetable broth
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander (ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin (ground)
• 1/2 teaspoon grains of paradise (ground)

Directions

1. with salt, sweat the onion, carrot, and celery in hot olive oil.
2. add the broth, tomatoes, lentils and seasonings.
3. bring to a boil.
4. reduce heat and cover, cooking about 35-45 minutes.
5. blend if desired (I do not blend).