All About Allspice
To kick off our All About Herbs and Spices blog series, I thought we’d start with one of my favorite spices – Allspice. Allspice is not a spice blend as the name suggests. It is a single ingredient, a berry from the Pimenta dioica tree. This evergreen tree is native to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. If you’ve ever had anything seasoned with jerk seasoning you’ve most likely tasted allspice.Â
What is Allspice?
Also called Jamaica pepper, myrtle pepper, pimenta, or pimento it is the dried unripe berry of the Pimenta dioica tree. The berry (fruit) is picked when it is unripe (green), then dried in the sun to become a reddish-brown color resembling a peppercorn. The Spanish discovered allspice and thought the berry to be a pepper (pimenta). Spanish trade with the English is how the name allspice came to be. The English thought the flavor resembled a blend of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Â
Allspice in Cooking
The berries are used whole or ground, while the leaves and wood of the pimenta tree are used, primarily in smoking meats. In the Caribbean, allspice is an important ingredient in jerk seasoning. Most of the allspice grown for commercial purposes is grown in Jamaica, but it is used in cooking all over the world. It is used in Middle Eastern, Mexican, and European dishes to flavor curries, meats, and stews. In the United States, it is a common seasoning in dessert dishes and is also used as a pickling spice. It’s also one of the ingredients that give Cincinnatti chili its unique flavor.Â
Recipe Ideas
I love making my own blends because I can add extra of my favorite flavors (garlic) or remove ingredients that I don’t want like salt. Herbs and spices boost flavor and bring new life to food. For more information on using herbs and spices visit our recent blog post. If you are curious about cooking with allspice try this Jerk Seasoning recipe or this one. Both contain salt so I would reduce or remove it completely. This pork tenderloin recipe includes the ingredients for jerk rub, or you could use one of the previously mentioned jerk seasoning recipes. With grill season right around the corner, this Grilled Jamaican Jerk Eggplant recipe sounds tempting. Additionally, zucchini or portabello mushrooms would be delicious variations.
