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Aromatics
Appears in
By Karen Ansel and Charity Ferreira
Published 2012
There are a handful of ingredients considered “aromatics,” which add a lot more than just aroma to a dish. Chiles, garlic, ginger, onions, and shallots all possess their own unique healthful qualities that pump up the nutritional value of a dish at the same time as they deliver flavor.
As with other vegetables, choose aromatics that seem fresh, firm, and heavy for their size from a quality source with high turnover. Store fresh chiles as you would bell peppers. Garlic, onions, and shallots should be stored in a cool, dark place, while green onions can be refrigerated for up to 1 week. Store fresh ginger in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, grating or cutting off slices as needed.