Maniguette, also known as seed of paradise or Guinea pepper, is a multifaceted African spice, capable of enriching your dishes with its unique flavors. Here are some tips to integrate it harmoniously into your kitchen:

• In marinades : Maniguette is excellent for marinating meats and fish, giving a spicy and slightly lemony flavor that enhances the taste of food.
• In sauces: Add it to your sauces to give them an exotic touch. It pairs particularly well with tomato sauces or creamy sauces, adding an extra dimension of flavor. It does not color so it can replace the white peppercorn.
• For simmered dishes: It lends itself perfectly to tagines, curries or stews, slowly releasing its aromas during cooking to delicately imbue dishes with its characteristic flavor.
• In soups: A pinch of Maniguette can transform a simple soup into a dish rich in flavor, adding a subtle, fragrant note to each spoonful.
• With vegetables: Sprinkle it over roasted vegetables or incorporate it into vinaigrettes for a spicy salad, adding a touch of spice and liveliness to your vegetarian dishes.
• For drinks: It contributes to the refreshing flavor and lingering aroma of pastis de Provence, adding a subtle aromatic complexity to this traditional drink.
• As a condiment: Use it as you would pepper, adding it at the end of cooking to preserve its spicy aroma and thus delicately enhance the taste of your dishes.

I would like to share with you my 8 recipes which go from starter to dessert:

1. Quinoa and Avocado Salad with Maniguette : Mix cooked quinoa with diced avocado, pomegranate seeds, chopped shallots and mint leaves. Season with a vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice and grated maniguette seeds.

2. Salmon Tartare with Maniguette : Mix diced fresh salmon with chopped red onion, capers, fresh coriander and crushed maniguette seeds. Season with salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice.

3. Chicken with Maniguette Sauce : Brown pieces of chicken in a pan with olive oil. Add chopped garlic, chicken stock, orange juice, orange zest and maniguette seeds. Simmer until the chicken is cooked and the sauce is reduced.

4. Mushroom and Maniguette Risotto : Make a creamy risotto by browning Arborio rice in butter with onions and garlic. Add sliced ​​mushrooms, hot vegetable stock and maniguette seeds. Cook until the liquid is absorbed.
5. Vanilla and Maniguette Panna Cotta : Make a classic panna cotta by heating cream, sugar and vanilla. Add softened gelatin leaves, then pour into molds and refrigerate. Serve with a red fruit syrup flavored with maniguette.
6. Pear and Maniguette Tartlets : Garnish the pre-cooked tartlet bases with slices of fresh pears. Sprinkle with sugar and maniguette seeds, then bake until the dough is golden and crispy.
7. Maniguette Mojito : In a glass, crush fresh mint with cane sugar and lime wedges. Add ice cubes, white rum and maniguette seeds. Top up with sparkling water and stir.

8. Citrus Maniguette Martini : In a shaker filled with ice, mix gin, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon juice, agave syrup and a few maniguette seeds. Shake vigorously, then strain into a martini glass and enjoy.