Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Recipes: Make Your Own Ghar Ka Masalas

April 26, 2024 13:28 IST

Photograph: Kind courtesy: Dharmadhyaksha/ Wikimedia Commons

The powdered masalas aisle in any Indian grocery store usually has more than 200 types of innovative spice mixes on sale. Chhole masala, meat masala, pav bhaji masala, chicken masala, super garam masala, shahi paneer masala, kitchen king masala, sabji masala, curry masala etc etc.

But do you need to rely on all these packet masalas for your cooking?

Especially when some of them have recently been in the news for their alleged excess pesticide content. Earlier there were many reports too highlighting the high arsenic content in haldi (turmeric) powder.

Make your own masalas at home! We offer you 5 moms' asli recipes for homemade masalas.

Masalas

Photograph: Kind courtesy: McKay Savage/ Wikimedia Commons

Manjula Nair's Sambar Masala

Servings: Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

Method

Rekha Sanap's Goda Masala

Servings: Makes 1½ cups

Ingredients

Method

Rekha's Note: Roasting each ingredient individually requires patience but it is an essential step. Roasting in oil ensures a proper binding of the ingredients of the masala and gives it a nice texture.

Goda Masala is often confused with Kaala Masala because of similar ingredients, but the latter is roasted for longer duration, hence it has more robust flavour and is darker in colour.

What separates Goda Masala from regular garam masala is pungency. Goda Masala is relatively mild in taste and ingredients like sesame and coconut ensure its signature nutty flavour.

This masala is predominately used in making vegetarian dishes like Kala Watana Usal, Missal, Bharleli Vangi, Vangi Bhat, dry and rassa sabzis, Katachi Amti (typically served alongside puranpoli).

Satya Raghava's Fish Curry Masala

Servings: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

Method

Jolly Aikara's Garam Masala

Servings: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

Method

Jolly's Note: This Kerala garam masala is used sparingly in Egg Curry and Black Chana Curry.

Homemade Haldi Powder

Servings: Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

Method

 
REDIFF FOOD