Asafoetida is a spice used almost exclusively in Indian cooking. Asafoetida (Ferula assafoetida) is also believed to have medicinal value and used to aid in digestion, decrease flatulence, figthing flu and even to give relief in cases of asthma. It is also referred to as asafetida, devil’s dung, stinking gum, asant, food of the gods, giant fennel, hing and ting.It is essentially the dried latex exuded from the living underground rhizome of several species of Ferula.
Asafoetida has a very pungent, unpleasant smell when raw but when used in minute quantities while cooking - it lends a rich aroma that is characterastic of many an Indian dish.
However – people with multiple food allergies and celiac disease should be careful when using Asafoetida because many commercial spice boxes of Asafoetida also contain wheat as one of the ingredients. So darn complicated – even a spice is not available in its pure form…
