Flavor description
The wrinkled brown vanilla bean has a delicate flavor and sweet aroma that vanilla extract can’t match. The long, thin pod is the dried fruit of Vanilla planifolia, a tropical orchid.
How to use
Slit the pod lengthwise, and scrape out its tiny seeds to flavor ice cream or use in a fresh, flowery relish.
How to find
The flowers bear fruit only once a year, making harvesting labor-intensive, so each pod runs about $3. You can find them online at www.melissas.com.
Substitutes
Vanilla extract
Related Recipes
Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée
Arroz con Coco (Cuban Coconut Rice Pudding)
Golden Vanilla Syrup
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