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home » dabba

dabba

These are the spices we keep in our masala dabba

a small stack of bay leaves

bay leaves

Fresh or dried bay leaves are used in slow cooking for their distinctive bitter flavour and fragrance.

a snalll mound of black mustard seeds

black mustard seeds

Black mustard seeds are usually fried quickly in oil to give a hot and spicy flavour once the seeds have popped. When fried, the taste is nutty rather than fiery.

a small pile of green cardamom pods and seeds

cardamom – green

Cardamom has a strong, unique taste, with an intensely aromatic, resinous fragrance.

a mound of cassia sticks

cassia

Cassia is the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree. This bark is noticeably harder than cinnamon and has a more robust and less sweet flavour.

a small mound of cloves

cloves

Cloves have a sweetly pungent, astringent and strongly aromatic. They are used in sweet and savoury dishes.

a small mound of coriander seeds

coriander seeds

The coriander seed has a warm and subtle flavour with a slight citrus hint. It has an aromatic scent that is soothingly warm, nutty, slightly fruity, and complex.

a heap of cumin seeds

cumin seeds

Cumin seeds, used either whole, or roasted and ground, add an earthy and warming feeling to cooking.

a small mound of fennel seeds

fennel seeds

Fennel seeds are highly aromatic, are pale greenish in colour and have a faintly sweet and refreshing flavour.

a heap of garam masala

garam masala

Garam masala translates as ‘hot spice’ but a look at the ingredients would suggest something more savoury and subtle.

a mound of ginger powder with a fresh root

ginger powder

Dried ginger powder is a fine off-white powder, which has a strong aroma and slightly pungent flavour. It is used mainly in north Indian cuisine.

a heap of Kashmiri chilli powder

Kashmiri chilli powder

Kashmiri chilli powder is mildly hot, has a distinct flavour, and it adds a bright red colour to food.

a small mound of ground turmeric, with some whole rhizomes at the side

turmeric

Turmeric powder is a bright yellow spice powder made from dried turmeric rhizomes. It has has a warm, earthy and musky flavour. The whole fresh rhizome can be used, too.

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© 2015-2023 Keith Pfeiffer
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