The flavor of cloves is bitter, hot, rich and a little sultry with hints of fruitiness while the aroma is strong with undertones of camphor and pepper.
Whole cloves are most commonly used to stud ham or pork roast while ground cloves are most often found in cakes, custards, pies and liqueurs. While we often think of them partnered most frequently with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in sweet dishes they are also gaining quite a reputation with discerning home chefs in savory dishes when combined with sage and pepper. They're also a wonderful secret ingredient when using a clove or two in slow cooked beef stock, sauces and stews.
Cloves go well with apples, beets, carrots, chocolate, ham, onions, oranges, pork, squash and sweet potatoes.
Cloves works well in combination with allspice, bay, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, ginger, mace and nutmeg.
Cloves go well with apples, beets, carrots, chocolate, ham, onions, oranges, pork, squash and sweet potatoes.
Cloves works well in combination with allspice, bay, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, fennel, ginger, mace and nutmeg.
