Two guys, a girl and a blindfold: Stinking resin

Can the judges of The Chefs' Line recognise asafoetida in a blind taste test? And what is asafoetida, anyway?

Also known as hing powder, asafoetida is basically the dried latex of the root of a herb. These pieces of gum are ground into a powder that brings pungent notes of garlic and onion to a dish.

You can use it to add a garlicky note to your dry spice rubs or fry it off with your spices when you start making your curry.  It's especially useful if you're feeding someone who has a sensitivity to digesting garlic and onion, and should be used extremely sparingly, no matter how much you think you're a garlic lover!

Asafoetida, or Hing powder, has a pungent raw odour that transforms into garlicky goodness when cooked. Source: Getty Images / subodhsathe

So how did our judges do in the asafoetida blind taste-test?

Can our judges guess what the secret ingredient is? Source: The Chefs' Line

[Melissa] Am I gonna cough? I smell garlic. 

[Dan] Oh my gawd it's...

[Mark] Urgh

How does asafoetida taste if you don't know what it is? Source: The Chef's Line

[Melissa] Bleaurgh!  (Laughs)

[Dan] That's not very nice! 

(Is it strong?)

[Melissa] Intense

[Mark] Very very intense

[Dan] It's a spice

[Melissa] Definitely a spice

Can the judges guess what it is? Source: SBS Food

[Melissa] It's funny how you doubt yourself

The judges reveal their final guesses! Source: SBS food

(Well, it's Hing! Also known as, asafoetida)

[Dan] I had no idea what it was

[Melissa] Well, it's very peppery and garlicky 

[Mark] It really dries your mouth out

[Dan] Can we not have spices?

The Chefs' Line is back for round 2! Home cooks versus restaurant chefs are getting ready to rumble in our kitchen 6pm weeknights starting Monday, August 6 on SBS and then on SBS On Demand. Visit the program page for recipes, videos, cooking tips and more.