Beat the Bloat

Ditch your discomfort with some dukkah

Digestive Dukkah for bloating

Fennel seeds contain oils that relax the muscle lining our digestive tract. The seeds can ease digestion and help relieve painful bloating. I find that this dukkah is an easy remedy for those prone to bloating because it is delicious sprinkled on almost anything. The addition of turmeric adds an anti-inflammatory twist to this spice mix, making it a worthy addition to the diets of those who have been suffering tummy troubles for far too long.

Makes about ⅔ cup

¼ cup raw almonds 6 tsp dried cumin seeds 6 tsp dried coriander seeds 3 tsp dried fennel seeds 3 tsp dried turmeric 4 tsp white sesame seeds 3 tsp black sesame seeds sea salt and freshly ground

black pepper, to taste Start by spreading out the almonds in a baking tray, then roast for 8-10 minutes in a medium oven (180°C). Leave to cool. Meanwhile, place the cumin and coriander seeds in a dry frying pan and heat over a high heat until fragrant. Shake the pan every so often to keep them moving and cooking on all sides. Pour the cumin, coriander and fennel seeds into a coffee or spice grinder. Careful not to overdo it; you want them to still resemble fragments of the original spices, so don’t grind them to a powder. Chop the almonds, then place in a bowl with the ground spices. Stir through the turmeric and sesame seeds. Taste, then season. g Extracted from The Garden Apothecary by Reece Carter, Harlequin Enterprises, 2017, $40.

How do I use it? Soft-boil two eggs, then carefully peel away the shells and coat the eggs in olive oil. Roll the eggs in the dukkah, then serve with blanched asparagus for a quick, healthy breakfast or lunch.