Curry powder mix
I mostly make curry from scratch. However some recipes (kedgeree)call for using curry powder. I can never get the mix right.
Is there a standard spice mix substitution?
Best Answer
There isn't a standard substitution for curry powder; all the blends are subtly different, and may or may not include any of a dozen or so spices.
The standard grocery store curry powders all have turmeric, coriander, and cumin in large amounts, and a smaller amount of cayenne or red pepper. Beyond that, they may include varying amounts of cardamom, mustard seed, fenugreek, asafoetida, caraway, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic powder, ginger, black pepper, or clove. How almost all of them manage to taste like pallid imitations of real Indian curry blends is anyone's guess.
I know recipes are frowned on here, but in this case I think it may elucidate things. Alton Brown provides a recipe which will probably get you a good ballpark result:
- 2 tablespoons whole cumin seeds, toasted
- 2 tablespoons whole cardamom seeds, toasted
- 2 tablespoons whole coriander seeds, toasted
- 1/4 cup ground turmeric
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon cayenne
Either store together and grind before use (whole seeds store longer), or grind it up into a powder and store that way.
From that base recipe you'll have to tinker with all of the additional spices to get your own substitution.
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What is curry powder made of?
The spice blend most often used in an Indian curry is garam masala. One of the main ingredients in curry powder is turmeric. Other spices that can be incorporated include everything from ginger, cinnamon, garlic, and cloves to mustard seed, black pepper, and fennel seed.How do I make curry powder?
To get the best flavor out of your curry powder, mix it with a liquid, such as coconut milk or yogurt. You'll also get a better taste if your curry has time to cook, so add it to your dish early in the cooking process. Ideally, you should give it at least 20 minutes for the flavor to develop.What is the ratio of curry powder to water?
To Make Curry Paste: Combine 1 tablespoon of curry powder with 1 tablespoon of water and 1 tablespoon of oil and mix together.What powders to put in curry?
Curry powder has a unique flavor due to the combination of both savory and sweet spices. Savory spices like cumin, turmeric, and bay leaf give the curry a deep, earthy flavor while sweet spices, like cinnamon and clove, add brightness and pep. The level of heat is determined by the type and amount of pepper used.How To Make Curry Powder - Homemade Curry Powder - 3 Curry Powders - Youtube
More answers regarding curry powder mix
Answer 2
The thing to do is to visit an Indo-asian grocer's shop and ask for Garam Masala, which means mixed spices. Be careful not to get the mixture that is used in tea.
The general mixture usually includes powdered turmeric(4), coriander(4), cumin(2), cardamom(1), chili(1) and cloves(1/2), and quite a bit of salt (often as much as 50% by weight). English curry powders also contain powdered ginger, usually.
Fenugreek (ask the man in the shop for methi) has a very fugitive flavour. If you are using it (usually as the dried leaves), add at the very last moment before serving the food - the taste disappears in a couple of minutes if you cook with it.
Methi gets included in mixtures to make them smell interesting, but by the time the dish is served the savour is long gone.
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