HIGH ON VANILLA…PUTTING THE SPIRIT BACK IN THE BEANS!
Are ‘these’ vanilla beans? O for heavens sake, before Rachel couriered me some beans, I spent days in excited anticipation awaiting some plump looking, exotic & fragrant vanilla pods. I saw these gnarled out twiggy creatures, looking completely emaciated…& was pretty baffled. Then, when I was expecting the beans from the US, I thought they must be the plump ones for sure. Not a chance…just as gnarled as their Indian cousins…what a let-down! The first time I opened the bean to scrape out the tiny pods completely ignited my senses…there was the magic of this bean!! 
The gnarly and ugly looking vanilla bean usually sold in a glass tube may look unpalatable, but once you take it out, split it open and scrape the tiny pods, the exotic aroma will knock you over. You will never want to use the artificial substitute if you can afford true vanilla. The first use of vanilla dates back to Mexico, where the Aztecs used it to create a drink called Xoco–lall, made from cocoa and vanilla beans. Cortez is credited with bringing vanilla back to Spain and soon, its use spread to other parts of Europe. Today, vanilla beans from Madagascar are the gold standard to which all others are compared.The vanilla plant, Vanilla planifolia, is a slender, green-stemmed creeping or climbing perennial of the orchid family. Cultivating vanilla beans is a lengthy and labor-intensive process, as each flower must be hand pollinated to ensure it produces a bean. To complicate matters, a flower only lives for one day. Its beans grow to between 6 and 10 inches long and resemble a green string bean.
Vanilla Extract from Ambrosia
(I doubled the amounts)
Ingredeints:
180 ml/6 fl oz. vodka
2 vanilla beans (or more)
Method:
- Split the vanilla beans, then cut into half and drop it into a sterilised bottle with vodka.
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Give it a good shake everyday.
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The extract will be ready for use in 6-8 weeks. You can let the beans remain in the bottle so it’s only get more flavourful by the day.
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For both the extract and the sugar, you could also add used vanilla beans – they still have a tonne of flavour left.
As I sign off this post, I’d like to say THANK YOU to Amanda @ My Finds Online for including my blog in her list of ‘50 great recipe blogs’ & for sending me this badge.
I am elated, Amanda…thanks a lot!This post featured on
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
25 Comments
Cynthia
I too saw the post on Ambrosia. I already make the sugar but am yet to try the extract.
Laurie
That vanilla..WOW! And congrats on the top 50! You are definitely on my top 50..actually top 20! 🙂
Ivy
I never tried real vanilla pods before but you are right from the time I used vanilla essence, I don’t want to see vanilla sugar again. I think that vanilla extract is even better than vanilla essence or am I wrong? Congrats for being nominated among the top 50 recipe blogs, you deserve it.
Bharti
How wonderful Deeba, to make your own extract! I have seen many chefs on tv use the pods, but never seen the essence being made at home. I’ll pick some too next time I go shopping.
Mer
Way to go! I never would have thought to make this for myself. Maybe some day I will…
Is the result the same as extract from the store (only fresher)? Because I’ve never noticed vanilla extract to contain alcohol. Interesting.
Gloria (Canela)
Dear Deeba congrats by you stay at 50!!! good new!! Hey I love vanilla extrac! I love beans too but are so cost here !!! xxxxxGloria
muralimanohar
Oh, lord…SIL and I have been discussing making our own real extract…I think this might be the impetus to go for it. :drool:
Dragon
Vodka and Vanilla? Can I have the whole bottle? 🙂 Congratulations on your badge.
Nags
i dont know where you get the ideas for such exotic posts 🙂 lovely!
Big Boys Oven
I always cant do with out this pod ….vanilla pod! 🙂
jodycakes
This is AWESOME…I will definitely try this recipe.
Thank you for the inspiration!!!
nicisme
I absolutely love vanilla, I use the pods to make the vanilla sugar. I tried making the extract and was a tad disappointed with it. Maybe I should give it another go…
Tartelette
The beauty of it is that it gets better and better with age. I keep refilling mine and adding fresh beans, taking the old ones out for vanilla sugar or dessert, always leaving a bit of the original. Works great with a darker alcohol too!
Alexa
That is such a cool post Deeba. I have not made my own vanilla extract but I am totally doing this now. Thanks!
Krysta
i’m so glad another blogger is making homemade vanilla extract. it’s literally life changing and you get to keep some money in your pocket also!
Rosie
I have never made my own vanilla extract before and this really is great Deeba. Many congrats on the top 50 recipe blogs you deserve it so much sweetie 🙂
Rosie x
Ben
Now I really need to make my own vanilla extract. I just found a store online that sells vanilla pods for a very fair price. Very nice post my friend! 😀
coco
Oh I have the same beans! A friend at work says they have a farm in Kerala where they grow the so she’s going to get me a bunch!
Pearlsofeast
Wonderful idea Deeba,homemade vanilla extract, what can be better than this, great post dear.
Manggy
We cultivate Tahitian vanilla beans here, and they’re very plump! I’ve yet to make extract out of them (they’re still in the vacuum package!)
Bellini Valli
First of all your post is packed with information Deeba.Also congratulations on your award as well. You are at the top of my list as well:D
linda
Is it that easy? I will have to try myself 🙂
Ady
Thank you for idea , I’ll try as soon as possible, I love vanilla!
Jeanne
I would have filed “making your own vanilla extract” under “far too ambitious” – but you make it seem quite achievable. Great post!
Deeps @ Naughty Curry
Thanks to you i finally mustered up enough courage to make vanilla extract from scratch. if i had known it was this easy i wouldav dared long back! thanks a lot 🙂