Garam Masala used in south Indian style cooking @The Pimenta
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| Garam Masala Ingredients |
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| Ingredients toasted in a warm pan |
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| Our guest Suchi Sharma the owner of Spicy Mama cooklng class in Goa is having an hands on training at The Pimenta where we exchanged skills. Please note she is doing it with her fingers in the pan . This indicates how hot the pan need to be |
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| Toasted spices ground in a coffee grinder and ready to be' be bottled and kept for use . |
These are
the ingredients for the Garam Masala we use in cooking south Indian food .
Traditionally in Syrian Christians used Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove and Black
Pepper as a base Masala powder. When
times gone forward people also added Fennel. Later started adding Star Anise to
this . In the Garam Masala used in The Pimenta Kerala cooking holidays .We
prefer to keep away the pepper in this mix. But to dish to dish Pepper will be
optional .Since we cook mostly vegan and vegetarian stuff here. The following
are the ingredients used in our Masala .
1 tbsp
Cardamom
1 tbsp Cinnamon
1 tbsp Clove
1 tsp Fennel
1 tsp Star
Anise
You have to
slowly toast in a very low fire in a thick bottomed pan constantly stirring and
very observant with your eyes and nose . Never allow the color of this to turn
into dark. So also watch out for the aroma to come out . When you feel the
aroma starts to come or better say the molecules present in the volatile oils
present in the spices starts to dance you should close the heat and spread in a
pan and cool it . When it cools down grind it and store in glass bottles with
tight lid for 15 days in tropical weather. If you want to keep this more you
can keep in the fridge. Please be aware heavy sunlight heats up the glass
bottle and the flavor of the spice will escape. Keeping in a Masala box or in a
wooden box is also not a safe alternative in modern days kitchen where the fire
wood is not used at all and kitchen is not
always having the fire burning as in the old times .
This is my
opinion based on an experience of foodie for last 20 years.
If you are
interested to learn Indian cooking with this type of awareness you are welcome
to our kitchen at www.thepimenta.com
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