Easy Indian Curry Masala Powder

Every Indian family has their own version of curry, and I have mine too. While many Indians never use curry powder (yes, and instead they use a unique proportion of spice powders), my curries always have a generous pinch of my easy Indian curry masala powder. And here is my version of a super easy Indian curry masala powder, which can be made in advance and stored for months.

Curries are a staple of every Indian's kitchen. Whether it is the northern part of the country or the coastal corner, every communities, states and regions in India have their own version of curry. The preference for curry varies too. People in northern Indian enjoy a heavy and rich curry thickened with dairy cream and yogurt. In contrast, south Indians make spicy curries featuring a smorgasbord of spices, vegetables, and protein. Curry powder can also help to spice up bland diet food, which can work wonders to helping you stick to your plan. BodyNutrition.org recently did a study, and they found that people don't like to think they're dieting, even if they are watching what they eat. Curry powders are a great way to help you forget that "you're actually on a diet."

People in coastal India, the region I belong to, always prefer a milder curry with a thin base. The reason of this variation can be the climatic condition, regional food influence and local recipes. I, generally, prefer all types of curries but with a mild hotness. No matter what type of curry I make, I always add a good spoonful of this easy Indian curry masala powder to get a satisfactory and enticing curry particularly suitable for my family's palate.

My version of curry powder is a bit milder, because I don't like my curries super hot. Again, I prefer using some hot Indian chili peppers too while making curries. This is another reason why I don't make my curry powder super hot. It does contain a lot of ingredients. After all, we need the best, authentic and aromatic curry powder.

If you like curry and love the idea of making homemade curry powder, then this recipe is for you.

NOTE:

1. To make an extra-hot curry powder: Increase the number of dried red chilies to 20-25. If using red chili powder, increase the amount from 1 tablespoon to 5-6 tbsp
2. To make the curry powder yellow: Add ½ cup of turmeric powder
3. To make the curry powder red: Add ¼ cup Kashmiri red chili powder or mild red paprika

Recipe of Easy Indian Curry Masala Powder:

Step-1: Prep Your Ingredients:

• For easy Indian curry masala powder, you will need 2-4 dried red chilies or 1 tablespoon red chili powder, ½ cup coriander seeds, 1-2 bay leaf, 2 cinnamon sticks, 10 green cardamom pods, 3 black cardamom pods, 1 teaspoon black pepper corn, 1 tablespoon turmeric powder, 3 tablespoon cumin seeds and ½ teaspoon yellow mustard seeds, 1 tablespoon chana dal or Bengal gram dal, 1 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon white poppy seeds and 2 tablespoon dried onion flakes, a pinch of pink salt, 1 tablespoon dried garlic or garlic powder, and a pinch of dried fenugreek leaves.

If you don’t find some of these ingredients and want to skip some, then skip using dried fenugreek leaves, white poppy seeds and Bengal gram dal. However, by using these ingredients you will add another layer of flavor to the homemade curry powder.

Step-2: Pan roast ingredients:

• Heat a frying pan over medium and roast all ingredients one after another except all powders and spices such as red chili powder, garlic powder and turmeric powder.
• Do not over roast the ingredients, or else the whole spices will burn imparting a bitter taste in the end product.

Step-3 Grind:

• Allow the ingredients to cool down a bit.
• Add all the spices and ingredients to a spice blender or grinder or food processor.
• Process, blend or grind for a few minutes until a powder is formed.

Step-4: Sieve and store:

• Use a medium sieve to shift the powder.
• This is to see if there are any chunks of whole spices. Cinnamon and black cardamoms often leave big unprocessed chunks. Discard the chunks if any.
• Add a pinch of Himalayan pink salt and mix well.
• Store the powder in an air-tight container.

Nutrition Facts:

📖 Recipe