Lockdown Challenge: Chat Masala To Biryani Masala, Make These 21 Spices At Home

Indian food is known across the globe for its heavenly aroma and lip-smacking flavour. Spices play a key role in making our food so delectable. Each and every spice or masala has its own flavour and even a pinch can make a difference to your dish. Indian spices are one of the best all around the world.

Spices are easily available in the market but nothing like preparing masalas on your own at home. Agree? For that complete flavour of each and every spice in your dish, you can make spices at home and believe me, it isn't a tough task. With a few ingredients available at your home, you can prepare spices that you use on a regular basis. This one is a good DIY if you are running out of spices these days due to the lockdown or even if you wish to save money.

So, here are 21 easy masala recipes you can prepare at home.

1. Garam Masala

A pinch of garam masala can instantly add to your curries.

You need:

• Coriander seeds - 1/2 cup
• Cumin seeds - 1 1/2 cup
• Nutmeg - 2
• Mace - 1 cup
• Cloves - 1/3 cup
• Cinnamon - 7-8
• Black cardamom - 1/2 cup
• Black pepper - 1/3 cup
• Green cardamom - 3/4 cup
• Bay leaf - 20-25

Directions:

Take a pan and dry roast all the spices. Make sure you roast these on medium flame.Transfer to a plate and let it cool. Next grind the mixture.

Store in an air tight container. You can consume this masala for 3 months.

2. Chat Masala

Chat masala is one of the most used masalas in Indian kitchens. From sprinkling it on your fruits to fries, this masala powder can instantly add to your food.

You need:

• Cumin seeds - 100 grams
• Coriander seeds - 100 grams
• Red chili - 10 grams
• Black pepper - 50 grams
• Black salt - 200 grams
• Salt - 200 grams
• Asafoetida - 3-4 pinch
• Citric acid/tatri - 15 grams

Directions:

In a pan, add cumin seeds, coriander, hing and black pepper. Saute for a few minutes. In a mixer, add this mix along with other ingerdients. Your homemade chat masala is ready. You can store this mix for one month.

3. Chana Masala Powder

Want to prepare restaurant style chana at home? Adding some homemade chana masala powder can make a lot of difference. Here is an easy recipe to make it at home.

You need:

• Anardana - 1 tablespoon
• Black pepper - 2 tablespoons
• Coriander seeds - 3 tablespoons
• Cloves- 1/2 big spoon
• Cinnamon - 3-4 pieces
• Red pepper - 8 whole
• Black salt - 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tablespoon
• Cardamom - 2 tablespoons

Directions:

Take a pan and add coriander seeds, anardana, cumin seeds. Roast for a few minutes and then let it cool. Add all the other spices int he pan and mix well. Transfer to an air tight container. You can store this masala for 6 months.

4. Tandoori Masala Powder

Your food is so incomplete without the right spices. If you are a fan of Tandoori stuff like tandoori chaap, tandoori mashroom or paneer or chicken then you this masala powder will add lip smacking flavour to your food.

You need:

• Ginger Powder - 1/4 Cup
• Garlic Powder - 1/4 cup
• Degi Mirch Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Onion Powder - 1/4 cup
• Black pepper - 2 tablespoons
• Salt - 3/4 cup
• Kasuri Methi - 1/4 cup
• Chaat Masala - 2 tablespoons
• Red chili powder - 1/4 cup
• Garam Masala - 1/4 cup

Directions:

Dry ginger, garlic and onion and then grind into a powder. Next, grind all the other ingredients. Mix both the mixes well. Homemade tandoori masala is ready! Store in an air tight container.

5. Biryani Masala

Craving for that biryani from your favourite restaurant during this lockdown period? Prepare restaurant style biryani at home by adding this flavourful masala to your biryani.

You need:

• Black Cardamom - 1
• Green Cardamom - 6
• Coriander seeds - 5 tbsp
• Whole Black Pepper - 2 Tbsp
• Chakra Phool/ Star Anise - 3
• Celery - 2 tbsp
• Cumin seeds - 2 tbsp
• Mace - 3
• Whole coriander - 100 grams
• Asafoetida - 3-4 pinch
• Cinnamon - 2 inch
• Cloves - 5
• Bay leaf - 2

Directions:

Dry roast coriander seeds, whole black pepper. Next add cinnamon, cumin, cloves, and roast. Add bay leaf, star anise, black cardamom, green cardamom. Let all the spices cool. Next, grind these in a mixer. Sprinkle this masala on your biryani for that delicious flavour.

6. Maggi Masala

Maggi masala can instantly add flavour to your curries. Agree? However, you never know what ingredients are used to prepare these masalas available in the market. How about preparing this tasty masala at home?

You need:

• Garlic Powder - 1 Tbsp
• Red chili powder - 1/2 tablespoon
• Onion Powder - 1 Tbsp
• Coriander Powder - 1 Tbsp
• Garam Masala - 1 tablespoon
• Fenugreek powder - 1/4 tablespoon
• Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
• Cumin powder - 1 tablespoon
• Salt - 1 tablespoon
• Dry mango powder - 1/2 big spoon
• Cornflour - 1 tablespoon
• Sugar - 1 tbsp
• Black pepper powder - 1/2 tablespoon

Directions:

Dry onion, garlic and then grind to make a powder. You can also add tomato powder to your masala if want a tangy flavour. Next, mix all the spices together to make a powder. You maggi masala is ready. Store in a container. You can add it your noodles, pasta or curries.

7. Anardana Powder

Anardana powder or pomegranate powder adds a tangy taste to your veggies and dals. This powder is easily available in the market but nothing like preparing it fresh at home. Do you know you need just 1 ingredient to prepare this masala at home?

You need:

• Anardana/pomegranate seeds - 1 cup

Directions:

In a pan, dry roast pomegranate seeds. Saute till the moisture evaporates. Let it cool. Grind coarsely. Anardana powder is ready for use.

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8. Mint Powder/Pudhina Masala

Mint can add such refreshing flavour to your food. From raitas to parathas to curries, mint is used in different ways.

You need:

• Mint leaves
• Clean cloth

Directions:

Remove the stem of the mint leaves and wash them properly. Next spread mint leaves on a clean cloth and let it sun dry. It will take around a day to dry them. When the leaves are completely dry, grind them to make mint powder. Store in an air tight container.

9. Curry Powder

Do you feel the curries you prepare at home are missing some flavour? You need to sprinkle some of this curry powder to it to make it more delicious.

You need:

• Cumin seeds - 2 tablespoon
• Red chilli dry - 5
• Coriander seeds - 4 tablespoon
• Turmeric powder - 1 tablespoon
• Fennel seeds - 2 tablespoon

Directions:

In a pan, add cumin, fennel, coriander and dry roast. Next, add red chilli and cook for a few minutes. Switch off the flame and let the mix cool. Take a mixer and grind all the spices. Store your curry powder in an ait tight container.

10. Raita Masala

A bowl of raita is incomplete without some delicious masala sprinkled on it. Agree? If you love preparing raitas at home then you need to make this raita masala at home too. This will instantly add flavour to your raita and make it digestive too.

You need:

• Black salt - 1 tsp
• Fennel seeds- 1 tbsp
• Black pepper - 10-15
• Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp

Directions:

In a pan, take some oil and add cumin, fennel and hing. As the mixture turns brown, turn off flame. Let it cool and then grind into powder. Add black pepper, black salt and mix well. Raita masala is ready!

11. Chicken Masala

If you are a chicken lover and love making it at home then you need this one masala to make it more delicious.

You need:

• Cumin seeds - 2 teaspoon
• Clove - 15
• Cinnamon - 2 pieces
• Black pepper - 1 teaspoon
• Fennel - 2 teaspoon
• Green cardamom - 10
• Large cardamom - 2
• Whole coriander - 4 tablespoons
• Nutmeg - 1
• Mace
• Whole Red Chili - 15
• Cashew - 20 grams

Directions:

Dry roast all spices in a pan till they turn brown. Turn off flame and grind in a mixer to make a powder. Store in air tight container for 2 to 4 months.

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12. Sabzi Masala

Want your homemade sabzis to taste delicious like those you enjoy at restaurants? Sprinkle this sabzi masala on your dish to make it tasty!

You need:

• Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
• Turmeric Powder - 1 Tbsp
• Coriander - 1 tbsp
• Whole Red Chili - 7-8
• Dry ginger / ginger powder - 1/2 tbsp
• Black pepper - 1/2 tbsp
• Cloves 7-8
• Yellow mustard - 1/2 tbsp
• Green Cardamom - 8
• Black salt - 1/2 tbsp
• Cardamom - 3 large
• Fenugreek seeds - 2 tbsp
• Chana dal - 2 tbsp
• Fennel-1 large spoon
• Cinnamon - 4 pieces
• Star anise - 1
• Nutmeg - 1/2 teaspoon
• Mace - 2 small pieces
• Poppy seeds - 1 tbsp

Directions:

In a pan, add all the spices and fry in some oil. Next grind them into a fine powder in a grinder. Take out in a bowl and store in an air tight container.

13. Chaap Masala

Love enjoying chaap snacks like chaap masala, butter chaap, tandoori chapp? Such amazing smokey and tangy flavour! Miss having it? Now prepare chaap at home and add this masala to it to get that street chaap like taste.

• You need:
• Cloves - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon - 1
• Red chili powder - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric Powder - 1 teaspoon
• White poppy seeds - 1 tablespoon
• Ginger Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Garlic Powder - 1 teaspoon
• Bay leaf - 2
• Saffron - 1 pinch
• Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Cashew - 6
• Cardamom - 20
• Onion powder - 1 teaspoon
• Nutmeg - 1 teaspoon

Directions:

In a pan, add some oil, fry whole spices, cumin, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, cashew and poppy seeds. Make sure you cook on medium flame. Let the mix cool and grind int to a powder. Store in an air tight container.

14. Coriander Powder

Dhaniya powder or coriander powder is one of the most used masalas in Indian kitchens. Prepare it at home using this easy recipe.

You need:

• 2 cup coriander seeds

Directions:

On a plate, spread coriander seeds and sun dry for 1-2 days. Grind to make a fine powder. Transfer to a container and store in a dry and cool place.

15. Kadhai Paneer Masala

Kadhai paneer is one of the most loved paneer dishes. You can prepare a restaurant style kadhai paneer at home. You just need to add the right spices to your dish.

You need:

• Coriander - 1 tsp
• Black pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
• Red dry chillies - 6
• Methi (fenugreek) - 1/2 tsp
• Cinnamon powder - 2 tsp
• Jeera (cumin seeds) - 1/2 tsp

Directions:

On a Tawa, dry roast all the spices. Next, powder them and cool. Store for later use.

16. Pav Bhaji Masala

Prepare street style pav bhaji at home using this delicious powder.

You need:

• Black cardamom - 2
• Coriander powder - 4 teaspoon
• Cumin - 2
• Peppercorn - 2 teaspoon
• Fennel seeds - 3/4 tbsp
• Red chillies - 5
• Cinnamon
• Cloves - 6
• Amchur powder - 1 tsp

Directions:

Dry roast all the spices except amchur powder. Add to a bowl and add amchur powder. Let it cool and mix into a fine powder. Sieve it and your pav bhaji masala is ready!

17. Jeera Powder

Jeera or cumin powder can instantly add a tasty twist to any dish.

You need:

• 1 cup cumin seeds

Directions:

On a tawa, dry roast cumin seeds on low flame. Let them cool and then grind into a fine powder.