Psychosomatic spice prejudice

[whereisvioleta]

Me and DH eat a really lovely homemade meal of meatballs with tomatoey sauce and spaghetti. Then we have the following conversation:

Me: That sauce was really delicious, thanks so much.
DH: It was really easy, just paprika and turmeric.
Me: Noooooooooo!!!! Curry spice in Italian food??? You've ruuuuuuuined it, waaaaahhh.

Drama drama (yes, lighthearted obvs) drama, gutted feeling that delicious meal I genuinely enjoyed has been marred by the realisation that it contained a spice I do definitely like, but not in meatballs! AIBU?

Paprika isn't a curry spice, it's a very mild savoury spice used mainly in central and south European foods. I put it in spaghetti sauce etc, never heard of it going in a curry- that's usually garam masala etc isn't it?

I think the OP means the turmeric.. not the paprika.

Yep, it's the turmeric I couldn't get my head round! No probs with the paprika!

DP puts coriander in bolognese. Dirty bugger

Until I met DP I didn't realise that you only put herbs in some things in spices in another. He was utterly shocked at my lack of knowledge...

I sometimes put a bit of turmeric in risotto.

Just for the colour, y'unnerstand.

It is absolutely fine to mix things up and create a flavour you like you know!

Coriander is used in plenty of european and american dishes (cilantro is its US name)

Paprika is used in Rogan Josh. All the Rogan Josh recipes I've read (in excess of 15 different traditional Indian and Asian cook books in my house) all use it for the dish. Paprika is a lovely in most tomato-based dishes. I used it in spaghetti bolognaise, pasta and meatballs, many tomato-based curries. It's such a versatile spice. I sprinkle it over potato wedges alongside some cayenne and bake them for 30mins. Makes nice wedges it does

Snatchoo, my dad once did similar, but with food colouring! Just, why??

turmeric is used as a replacement for the very expensive saffron as it replicates the same colouring in the dish

paprika is a very european spice, very much used in hungarian food and it does give stew a lovely taste I think

Oops, just found that the thread has moved on. Turmeric is great for bringing the natural whiteness out in teeth. Good for face masks too, although it's bloody hard to get a turmeric stain out of clothes. Best to wear turmeric coloured clothes when working with it .

I don't necessarily stick to spices in certain dishes and herb in others. I usually mix and match to create a completely different and tasty dish. If it means mixing herbs and spices, so be it. Herbs and spices are flavourings for traditional and creating new dishes.

But you DID like it in meatballs!

Your mind is now blown.

Turmeric is supposed to be really good for you healthwise. I put it in lots of things. Never really considered it Indian actually.

Paprika is good but they overuse it in my area. Even when I order chips in some restaurants I have to ask them not to sprinkle paprika on them (Germany).

Trills, I know, that's what's weird! I liked it UNTIL I knew about its turmericity Then the memory of the flavour was ruined, making me feel like I hadn't enjoyed it...??

I feel a bit better knowing that I've inadvertently had a more healthy meal than I thought tho if turmeric is as healthy as folks are saying!

m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5978482