Asafoetida is a pungent spice used in cooking, in addition to being consumed as a digestive aid. Native to Central Asia, particularly Iran and India, asafoetida comes from a very unusual source. According to Harold McGee, it’s made by scraping the sap from the exposed root of a plant in the carrot family. The sap is dried and crushed, giving us a tan-colored powder to sprinkle into our dishes.
McGee also says that the sap contains many of the same sulfur compounds found in onions. It has a very strong odor when dry, which many sources say is reminiscent of washed rind cheeses or body odor. Not to worry – when the spice is added during cooking, it mellows out into a gentle flavor.
