When you set out to learn how to make curry powder for delicious recipes like this coconut chicken curry, you will encounter so many varied recipes. From mild and vaguely warming to some heat or even super hot. Thai, Indian, African and all the couplings in between. From simple ingredients to a complex list of spices, the addition of curry makes almost any dish more interesting.
Did you know that many commercial curry powders on the market replace the more traditional spices with cheap substitutes? For instance, cinnamon is commonly replaced with cassia bark. Why not make your own and enjoy the royal richness of true curry?
Traditional curry spices are credited with many health benefits including reduction in/or risk of inflammation, dementia, cancer, asthma and boosting immunity, fat burning efficiency and digestion.
The plethora of health benefits aside, I enjoy grinding my own curry spice mix because (like many of you – I'd wager) I know which tastes I love. Also, I adore calming rituals. When I grind my own spices, I feel centered as I bask in the amazing, warm aroma that fills my kitchen. There could be no more soothing aromatherapy treatment than this.
I encourage you to double and triple this recipe. It is so nice to have more than enough curry spice around the kitchen.
Curry powder ingredients
- ¼ cup turmeric, powder
- 2 tablespoons whole cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons whole cardamom pods
- 2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds
- 1 tablespoon whole mustard seeds
- 1 tablespoon flaked dulse or other sea vegetable *
- 1 tablespoon whole fenugreek seeds
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
How to make curry powder
- Grate nutmeg into medium size bowl.
- Use a coffee or spice grinder to grind the whole spices in amounts small enough to grind into a fine powder without crowding the grinder.
- Mix all grated, ground, and powdered spices together in bowl and store in jar out of direct sunlight.
Chef's Note:
*The addition of dehydrated sea vegetable is purely for added nutrients. You may omit if you prefer.
This post was generously contributed by Monica Ford of Real Food Devotee. Monica's delicious recipes will make your mouth water and your tummy purr. If you're lucky enough to live in Los Angeles, Real Food Devotee can make your life easier by delivering nutrient dense goodies directly to your door.
photo credit: An Eye Full Studio
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Homemade spice mixes are always the best, and I love the flavours you have used in your curry powder. I liked how you described how comforting the process of grinding your own spices is too – natural aromatherapy for sure!
Thanks for sharing this!!
So to make curry or curry sauce do you just mix the powder with something?
Curry powder was a Mughal tradition. In Pakistan we sometimes cook our curry in kiln dried clay pots over low heat to attain maximum taste. Whether using the curry powder for cooking veggies or meat or cook by mixing these two, low heat and clay pots produce tastiest mouth watering meals…yum yum.