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Nepali cooking entails a heavy use of spices. These are what give aroma, flavor, and texture to your food. If you have an arsenal of spices in your pantry, you can turn the most basic of dishes into a gourmet one. The right spice can not only elevate the taste of your dishes it can also cure common ailments like cough, cold, etc. Though most spices are available in dried form, they won’t necessarily last forever. Their strong flavors and aroma will dissipate over time, especially if they are stored improperly or exposed to light and air. 

If you have the option to do so, always buy whole spices and grind them yourself. This ensures they retain their aroma for a longer time. Ground spices tend to oxidize more quickly than whole spices due to their large exposed surface area, and will lose their flavor within a few months, while whole spices can last up to a year. You can use ground spices if you want to disperse the flavor throughout the dish, else you can stick to whole spices allowing them to pop and sizzle in hot oil before adding in the other ingredients. 

Here we will run you through some basic spices and how to use them. Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to make subtle enhancements to dishes you regularly make at home. 

Turmeric

Known as besar in Nepali, turmeric has an earthy flavor. Of all the spices used in our food, this one packs in the most benefits. A small pinch of it is enough to color a dish for one, whereas you will need up to half a teaspoon to make a meal for a family of four. For added health benefits, you must put in a dash of black pepper as this enhances turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties. 

Fenugreek

This is the spice that gives curry its distinct smell. Fenugreek (methi) seeds are quite bitter but they have a lot of health benefits. It’s known to slow sugar absorption in the body as well as promote hormone health. Fenugreek has been used in alternative medicine. It’s often taken as a supplement as well. It has a slightly sweet, and nutty flavor. Fenugreek leaves are often added to curries, sauces, and vegetables, while the seeds are used to flavor pickles and chutneys.

Cumin

You basically can’t cook Nepali food without cumin or jeera. It has an intensely warm and earthy flavor. Cumin seeds are best used whole. It can be fried in oil at the beginning. But since they will turn brown quickly, don’t leave them unattended. They are done when they start to pop. Ground cumin powder is also an essential spice used in a variety of dishes, especially spice rubs, stews, and curries. But it will give a dark color to your food so don’t use too much of it. A teaspoon should be enough to cook a meal for four. 

Coriander 

Coriander is a fragrant spice made from the dried seeds of a Mediterranean herb. The seeds have an earthy flavor while the leaves have a sweet, tart, lemony flavor. It’s rich in antioxidants and thus has many health benefits. It can help lower your blood sugar, fight infections, and promote heart, brain, skin, and digestive health. Ground coriander is best for dishes where you want the spice to be flavor, but not texture like batters, doughs, smooth sauces, marinades, or drinks. Coriander seeds work great in chunky sauces, sizzled in soups, stews, or dals, or in pickles. 

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a spice that is made from the seed of the nutmeg tree. It has a warm, slightly sweet taste and can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. It’s popularly used in baking, to bring out the flavor in pies, cakes, cookies, and other desserts. It can also be used to add flavor to savory foods like soups, stews, curries, and sauces. It’s said that those with heart conditions or high blood sugar levels can benefit from this spice. It has a lot of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and prevent cellular damage. 

Asafoetida 

Asafoetida, or hing as we know it, is one of the most powerful aromatic spices in the world. Many don’t know this but hing must always be added to the frying pan when the oil or butter is hot. Let it sizzle for a few seconds before adding the onions, garlic, or ginger. You only have to use between a quarter or half teaspoon of hing to make a dish for a family of four. However, make sure you store it in an airtight container. 

Garlic

Garlic has a pungent flavor yet it’s used in many cuisines throughout the world. Garlic powder is a form of garlic that has been dried and ground into a powder. It’s a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes, from pizza and pasta to meats and vegetables. For a milder flavor, add it at the beginning when you start frying the onions. For a sharper flavor, add it after the onions are soft, giving the garlic less time to cook.

Ginger

‘Aduwa’ is an essential ingredient for most curries. It makes for one-half of the recipe for ginger garlic paste which is used in most of the food we cook at home. Ginger is a great additive for black teas, lending them a nice fragrance, and warming you up. You can use the spice in dried form too. Simply dry ginger in the sun and grind it up. If you don’t want to do that, you can cut an inch of raw garlic and grate or mince it to use in your food. Add it after you have let the onions turn brown in hot oil. 

Madhes Province Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav has appealed to the representatives of international and national non-governmental organizations to work in coordination with the provincial government.

At an interaction organized on 'cooperation with development partners and future course' here Monday, CM Yadav viewed coordination yields better results and fosters harmony.

On the occasion, Minister for Physical Infrastructure Development, Krishna Prasad Yadav, opined that stationing development partners only in Kathmandu was not proper.

Finance Minister Sanjay Kumar Yadav said the country cannot be prosperous if Madhes is left in poverty. He accused the INGOs of failing to deliver sensitively.

Vice Chair of the Province Policy Commission, Nathu Prasad Chaudhari, suggested working in unison to ensure better achievements.

A representative from INGO, Pramit Adhikari, however said it was comfortable to work in Madhes Province.

Veteran singer and musician Bhaktaraj Acharya passed away on Monday. He was 82.

Acharya, who was given the title of ‘Bhajan Shiromani’, died on the way to the Medicity Hospital.

It has been said that the mortal remains of Acharya will be kept on the premises of Nepal Academy of Music and Drama for last rites at 9 am on Tuesday.

He is survived by his two sons—Satya and Swarup.

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has decided to provide monthly remuneration of Rs 100, 000 each to male players listed in grade 'A'. 

A meeting of the CAN Board held on February 24-26 took a decision to this effect.

National cricket team captain Rohit Kumar Paudel, Sompal Kami, Dipendra Singh Airee, Asif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel are listed as 'A' grade cricketers.

Similarly, Rs 70,000 per month have been announced each for 'B' grade players, including Kushal Malla, Gulshan Jha, Bhim Sarki, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi and Abhinash Bohora.

As per the Board meeting, Binod Bhandari, Arjun Saud, Sundeep Jora and Pratish GC who belong to 'C' grade are to get the monthly remuneration of Rs 55,000 each.

The 'D' grade players, including Pawan Sarraf, Sagar Dhakal, Anil Shah, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Akash Chand, Basir Ahamad and Surya Tamang are to be paid Rs 35,000 each. 

The CAN has announced monthly Rs 25,000 each to those players who fall under a list of emerging group which includes Dipesh Kandel, Rupesh Singh, Rijan Dhakal, Bipin Khatri, Dev Khanal, Arjun Gharti and Hemant Dhami.

The monthly remuneration for women cricketers of grade 'A' has been fixed Rs 50,000 per month each. The list of 'A' grade women cricketers includes Indu Barma, Rubina Chhetri and Sita Rana Magar.

The 'B' grade women cricketers are to be paid Rs 35,000 per month and presently, Kabita Kunwar represents this category.

Puja Mahato and Ashmina Karmacharya who fall under the category of grade 'C' are to get Rs 30,000 per month and Apsari Begam, Kabita KC, Sangita Rai, Kajol Shrestha and Bindu Rawal representing grade 'D' are eligible to get Rs 25,000 each. 

Similarly, the group of emerging women players comprising Soni Pakhrin, Khusi Dangol, Jyotsnika Marasini,  Kanchan Shrestha, Shristi Jaisi, Samjhana Khadka and Sana Prabin are to get Rs 20,000 each per month. 

Loktantrik Samajbadi Party senior leader Rajendra Mahato quit the party on Monday.

He made the announcement of quitting the party by organizing a press conference in Kathmandu this afternoon.

Leader Mahato said that he would launch a ‘National Liberation Revolution Campaign’ for the establishment of a ‘multi-nation state’.

He also appealed to the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party to join his campaign.

Mahato said that he is also conducting a training program in the name of ‘National Liberation Revolution’ for the establishment of ‘multi-nation state’.

He was of the opinion that the identity movement that started four decades ago fell victim to the political conspiracy and remained incomplete.

Leader Mahato said that he has just announced the campaign and not taken the form of a party.

A total of 156,762 children in Lalitpur district are targeted to receive vaccines against measles-rubella under the nationwide Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccination Campaign that kicked off last Sunday.

According to Parthamani Neupane, Immunization Officer at the District Health Office, Lalitpur, initially children in six local government units of the district will be administered vaccines against highly contagious and airborne diseases from 622 vaccination centers.

The campaign, however, will be launched in Konjyosom and Mahakal Rural Municipalities in the district from February 27, shared Neupane.

He informed that 159 health workers and 822 volunteers will be mobilized to make the campaign a success.

The campaign will be launched within all 29 wards of the LMC till March 6.

Over 92,000 children in LMC to be vaccinated

Meanwhile, the Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) has a total of 92,300 children to receive vaccines against measles-rubella.

Around 58.88 percent of the total number of the children within the district have been registered for the vaccine.

Sarita Maharjan, Chief of Public Health Section at LMC, shared that 212 vaccine centers have been set up within the metropolis to vaccinate children from 9 months to 15 years.

The government of Nepal had set a target to reduce measles-rubella cases to zero by 2023. Failing to meet the target within the primary deadline, the government has extended the timeline up to 2026, said Immunization Officer Neupane.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 13.28 points to close at 1,992.30 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2.14 points to close at 355. 97 points.

A total of 5,988,717-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 2. 01 billion.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Similarly, Samaj Laghubittya Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SAMAJ) was the top loser as its price fell by 10.00 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 13 trillion.

Former Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun's advisor Geewan Gurung has been arrested in connection with the 14 kg gold smuggling case.

A team of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) nabbed Gurung, Chairperson of Platinum College in Dillibazaar, Kalikasthan of Kathmandu, today.

CIB Spokesperson and Superintendent of Police (SP) Hobindra Bogati informed that Gurung, a permanent resident of Fulbari-2, Parbat, was arrested from Samakhusi.

In the course of the investigation, he was found to be the architect of the smuggling of 14-kg gold from Dubai.

"Gurung was at large after an arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the smuggling of 14 kg gold from Dubai", SP Bogati said.

Police have apprehended him today, he said, adding preparations are on to hand him to the Customs Office.