Making Curry

Curry Powder is a mix of spices which varies from cook to cook. Native to India, the recipes for these mixtures are often passed down within families and can vary widely from region to region. The spice mixture itself, is put together from a blend of various other spices so there is no actual, cultivating, growing and harvesting of curry itself but rather it is up to the cook to acquire each of the different spices.

While the individual spices that go into curry powder can vary, some popular additions include turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, coriander, ginger, garlic, fennel seed, cinnamon, clove, green cardamom, mustard seed, mace, nutmeg, long pepper, red pepper and black pepper. While all these different spices are usually not used at once, a curry spice could be any combination of the above, and even anything else the cook sees fit!

Turmeric is a common ingredient in curry powder and is actually what gives it it’s golden yellow color. In Western cuisine, curry powder usually has turmeric, chili, mustard, salt, pepper, fenugreek, cumin and coriander and is yellow in color. In India, however, mixtures can include up to 20 or more different spices and can be red, yellow, or brown.

Depending on the desired outcome, you might consider any number of spices for producing curry powder for cooking. In any event, you’ll want to be sure to mix them in the right proportions as any one spice can surely take over the whole mixture and the flavor will not be what you want. To mix up a curry powder, assemble all your spices and mix them in a blender or pepper mill. In some cases, you may need to pound, sift and dry them as well. When done, be sure to store the resulting curry in an airtight container in a dark cool place. Spices can lose their wonderful aroma and taste very quickly so be sure to use it as quickly as possible.

While you can buy mass-produced curry powders, it’s often more fun, and tasty, to mix them up yourself. You’ll need to experiment a bit to find one that suits your tastes, but once you do, you’ll have the makings for an unusual and unique dish that is all your own!

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