Usenet Newsgroups Asafoetida, Ferula asafetida From: bettygarcinola@gmail.com (betty) Asafoetida, Ferula asafetida, has been a popular spice in Europe since the Roman times and has been used much in the Middle Ages (for example, to flavour barbecued mutton), but has fallen in dishonour thereafter. It is still and important ingredient in Persia, and is popular with Brahmins and Jains in India who refuse to eat onions and garlic. In India cuisine, it is normally not combined with garlic or onion, but is seen as an alternative or substitute for them; it is nearly always used for vegetable dishes. The Tamil (South Indian) spice mixture 'sambaar podi' frequently contains asafoetida. Subject  Asafoetida, Ferula asafetida