Spice Up Your Cooking: Homemade Indian Spice Blends - Sambar Powder, Biryani Masala, and Chaat Masala
Indian cuisine is renowned for its rich and diverse flavors, and at the heart of this culinary magic are the unique spice blends that define its dishes. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the art of crafting three popular Indian spice blends at home: Sambar Powder, Biryani Masala, and Chaat Masala. Get ready to elevate your cooking and infuse your dishes with authentic Indian flavors.
Sambar Powder: The South Indian Essential
Sambar Powder is a staple in South Indian cuisine, especially in the preparation of sambar, a tangy lentil stew. Here's how to make it at home:
Ingredients:
2 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
1/4 cup red chili powder
1 tsp black peppercorns
1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing)
1 tsp turmeric powder
10-12 curry leaves
Instructions:
Dry roast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, and black peppercorns until fragrant.
Let them cool, then grind them into a fine powder along with the red chili powder, turmeric, asafoetida, and curry leaves.
Store in an airtight container.
Biryani Masala: The Aromatic Delight
Biryani Masala is the key to creating the beloved Indian rice dish, biryani. Make your own blend with these simple steps:
Ingredients:
4-5 cloves
4-5 green cardamom pods
2-3 black cardamom pods
2-inch cinnamon stick
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
1/2 tsp black peppercorns
4-5 dried red chilies
A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
Instructions:
Dry roast all the spices until aromatic, including the dried red chilies.
Let them cool, then grind them into a fine powder.
If using saffron, soak a pinch in warm milk until it releases its color and aroma, and add it to the powder.
Store in an airtight container.
Chaat Masala: The Tangy Temptation
Chaat Masala adds zing to street food favorites like chaat and snacks. Make your own with these ingredients:
Ingredients:
2 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
1/2 tsp black salt
1/2 tsp amchur (dried mango powder)
1/4 tsp red chili powder
1/4 tsp black peppercorns
1/4 tsp dried ginger powder
Instructions:
Dry roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, ajwain, and black peppercorns until aromatic.
Grind them into a powder and mix in the black salt, amchur, red chili powder, and dried ginger powder.
Store in an airtight container.