grains of paradise - anyone use them?

[alexia]

i've been hearing a lot about grains of paradise lately - in amanda hesser's cooking for mr. latte and in alton brown's episode about okra.

i went to my local fancy market - they sell them - but almost $10 seems a little pricey for something i've only read about or seen on TV.

any tips? food pairings? ideas? throw 'em my way....

[LT from LF]

I use them in salad dressings and with fish, most often. If you toast them before grinding the flavor comes out more. It's sort of a peppery, floral, almost camphor-y taste. I usually just use a mortar and pestle to break them up, rather than grinding.

[jbyoga]

what are the fabled GP?

[Taco Malo]

I've had a rice dish with garins of paradise and some type of nut (almonds or pecans?) andit was very good. aromatic but not overpowering.

[Carrie 218]

I put them in one of my first wheels of cheddar cheese I made, but it is still aging and I haven't had a chance to taste it yet! There was one weekend where I made fennel-seed cheddar, a paradise-seed cheddar, and a sage cheddar.

[LBeff]

I've had some sitting in my spice drawer for a while now; didn't really know what to do with them. Thanks for the suggestions.

[JMF]

I've only used them when I make my own infused gin, but have been meaning to try it as a spice in cooked dishes.

[Harp00n]

Yes, Jim Koch uses them in his Sam Adams Summer Ale to great effect.

[cyberroo]

After reading Cooking for Mr. Latte, I raced out and bought some, and per her suggestion, pretty much just replaced the peppercorns in my mill.

Maybe I got taken, maybe they weren't very good, I didn't really notice the difference.

If I was more conscious about using them specifically, I might have noticed them more.

[jillp]

I use grains of paradise almost as often as I do peppercorns; I have a separate grinder for them.

[alexia]

so - would you get a separate grinder for them?

or just use them as they are?

[WineWidow]

Yes, I picked up a second grinder, just for the grains of paradise.

[WineWidow]

Love the grains of paradise!! Along with cardamom, one of my favorite kitchen scents!

Much like Irostron, above, I use them to finish dishes, especially fish and vegetables, on salads, etc. A pinch of maldon and a grind of paradise and everything's groovy in my world.

[hotoynoodle]

in restaurants where i've worked, the chefs use them as a final garnish. they look pretty, and have a nice shape and texture in the mouth. you use less this way too.

[lrostron]

I've used them in combo with my regular peppercorns (in a separate grinder) for a slightly lighter, more herbal accent. I like it on a good steamed/sauteed white fish and on veggies, asparagus, broccoli rabe, anywhere the vegetable flavor is already assertive enough.