Five Uses Of Green Alder In Everyday Life

Dune pepper, also called crispy alder or green alder, is a unique spice from the Quebec region.

The different uses of dune pepper

Still relatively unknown to the general public, Quebec spices are slowly starting to gain attention. They're slowly making their way from the boreal forest to our plates. Chefs love using them in fine cuisine. It's an extremely versatile local ingredient that can be used in a variety of settings. It's the perfect spice to introduce you to boreal forest products if you've never tried them before!

1. To season and enhance

Dune pepper is a must-have for wonderfully seasoning your meats, broths, and coulis. It also pairs well with seafood, white sauces, and cheese dishes. It's a sort of "fancy all-purpose" spice that adds its distinctive touch wherever you dare to introduce it! Dune pepper has notes of lemon, fir, and pepper, and is especially very aromatic in its own way. It can contain a certain bitterness, which tends to come out especially if it simmers at high temperatures for a long time. It has similarities to long pepper, can also replace black or pink pepper, and can be added to several spice blends.

Marinades

It's a great addition to dishes featuring wild meats, such as game, whether braised or marinated for hours. Simply grind the pepper, add it to your favorite spice blend, and let it sit in the refrigerator for several hours.

Pepper shaker

This boreal ingredient is an excellent substitute for regular pepper. Wherever you usually put it, it'll work just as well! It's important to note that it's highly concentrated in forest resin. To reduce the risk of clogging your pepper mill mechanism, you can grind it in a mortar and pestle. Personally, I use a standard pepper mill, then mix the alder pepper with black pepper, half and half. Their flavors together are also very interesting; they complement each other wonderfully. This mix is ​​very simple to make and easy to incorporate into all your meals quickly.

Broths

As for broths, if you prefer more intense flavors, you can mix it with the other ingredients from the beginning. Otherwise, it's recommended to add it just before the end of cooking. Many also add it to more common dishes, such as spaghetti sauce, ratatouille, slow cooker recipes, or the famous meat pie.

Salads

It can also be used in vinaigrettes, bean salads, and citrus salads. For even more Quebec flavors, add maple syrup: it's divine!

2. Dune pepper in your coffee

You read that right, yes it is possible to drink dune pepper, but not dry I assure you! It can be consumed in your coffee (many have tried it). For a more than surprising result, add a few catkins of dune pepper with your black coffee beans, then grind them together in a coffee grinder. The smell is not particularly different than usual, since the scent of dune pepper is a little lost in that of the coffee, but it tastes like heaven! We find the piney side there which offers a simply perfect and pleasant finish in the mouth.

This is a great local alternative for fans of cardamom or spiced coffees. You can also stir it into hot milk for a velvety touch. It can also be used as a cinnamon substitute in your classic cappuccino!

3. A unique boreal infusion

You can even add a touch of it to your homemade herbal tea blends! That's exactly what we did with the Aronia & Alder infusion . Indeed, dune pepper is a synonym for alder, so it's exactly the same ingredient!

In addition to its delicious taste, this ingredient offers numerous health benefits. It has been used in alternative medicine to reduce fever, stop bleeding, and reduce intestinal gas. Additionally, alder pepper has astringent and tonic properties, promoting a sense of well-being and vigor in those who consume it.

However, like many medicinal ingredients, it is considered potentially abortifacient. Therefore, it is not recommended to consume it during the first trimester of pregnancy to avoid any complications. No studies confirm this effect, but prevention is better than cure! 

4. Perfect for sweet tooths

Although dune pepper pairs particularly well with savory dishes, it also adds a unique touch to desserts. Those with a sweet tooth will be delighted! For example, dune pepper can add a surprising, peppery and fragrant flavor to desserts like chocolate tarts (see recipe here) . It also pairs well with strawberries, raspberries, cream desserts, and pastries.

5. Creative for DIY

Very useful for various types of home projects. Forest ingredients have contributed to the development of several original activities. For example, it can be incorporated into craft beer, seasoned with vodka, and left to macerate to create a personalized boreal gin. It can also be incorporated into our favorite spiced herb bread recipes.

In herbal medicine, it can be included in medicinal plant macerates and the creation of scented oils. Fortunately, dune pepper is one of those versatile spices that can be wonderfully incorporated into an oil blend with various aromatics. The goal of an oil maceration is to collect and preserve the active ingredients of the plants or ingredients to make creams. It can also be applied directly to the skin you want to soothe, invigorate, or heal.

The lemony, slightly piney scent it exudes makes it a favorite ingredient. Ah, how good nature is to us!