Asafetida is the dried resin obtained from the rhizome of the giant fennel plant. Powdered asafetida has a strong odor, reminiscent of picked garlic. In most Indian cooking it is used as a flavor enhancer and once cooked releases an onion-like flavor. It is also known as devil’s dung, asant, food of the gods, jowani badian, stinking gum, hing, hengu, ingu, kayam, and ting.
