Asafetida, or Hing in Hindi, is a dark brown, resin-like substance that derives from a root of a perennial herb related to celery, parsley, and carrots. It has an appearance similar to a giant fennel plant. The gum from the plant is extracted and processed into a course yellow powder which is what becomes known as asafoetida.

Asafetida has a pungent smell that's liked to boiled eggs and it becomes even more fragrant when added to hot oil or ghee to temper a dish. It's also common to simply add a pinch directly to a dish. Due to it's highly pungent quality, it's best to store asafoetida in an air-tight container.