How To Make Meat Masala Powder At Home

Many people view the kitchen as a canvas, with spices serving as the paintbrushes. Meat masala powder is a key condiment in Indian meals, and it is basically used to add depth to different types of meats. Store-bought masalas frequently include a lot of preservatives and don't have the same freshness as homemade ones. You can regulate the amount of spice and make sure the mixture lacks unwanted ingredients by producing your own masala powder. Just think of entering your house to be welcomed with the aroma of roasted spices that are waiting to be used in your meals. This way, you can combine your favourite flavours with your meat masala, and it might be fun and useful. Most of the spices and aromatics listed here are probably in your spice rack, and thus, the recipe is easy and fun to make.

Video Credit: Sanjeev Kapoor Khazana/ YouTube

Key Ingredients

You'll need a blend of spices that complement one another to produce a strong and fragrant meat masala powder. 

• 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 20-25 black peppercorns
• 2 tablespoons Bengal gram (chana dal)
• 6-8 cloves
• 3-4 green cardamoms
• 1 black cardamom
• ½ piece of nutmeg
• 2 mace blades
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 star anise
• 1 tablespoon dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
• 6-7 dried red chillies
• 10-12 curry leaves
• ½ teaspoon oil
• 4-5 garlic cloves
• 1 teaspoon dried mango powder (amchur)
• 1 tablespoon red chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon asafoetida

Also read: How To Make Authentic Chole Masala Powder At Home

Image Credit: Pexels

Preparation Process

1. The roasting process is the foundation of any outstanding spice blend. Fill a non-stick pan with the entire spices (coriander, cumin, mustard, fennel, black peppercorns, cloves, Bengal gramme, green cardamoms, black cardamom, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, and star anise). Roast these spices for one to two minutes over medium heat, stirring often to avoid scorching. It's time to add the curry leaves, dried red chillies, and dried fenugreek leaves once they start to smell aromatic. Roast everything for a further one to two minutes or until it is fragrant. When finished, move the roasted spices to a big platter and allow them to cool fully.
2. Put a little oil in the same nonstick pan and reheat it. Add the peeled garlic cloves to the heated oil. They should be aromatic and golden brown after one to two minutes of sautéing. Add the roasted spices and garlic and sauté, then put aside to cool fully.
3. Put the sautéed garlic and cooled roasted spices in a grinder jar. Add the remaining dry spices, including asafoetida, turmeric, dried ginger, red chilli, and dried mango powder, to this mixture. Make sure all the spices are thoroughly mixed before blending the mixture into a fine powder. Make sure all the ingredients are mixed equally by pausing the grinder occasionally to scrape down the edges if necessary.
4. Your fragrant meat masala powder should be carefully transferred into an airtight container after blending. It can also be used for several months. If you preserve it properly, the process makes it retain strength and freshness. Unlike the shop-bought ones, this handsome homemade masala can be used not only to enhance the taste of meats but also to add a certain character to the lentils and vegetables.  Start with a spoonful when cooking and adjust to your personal taste. Now that you have prepared your own meat masala powder, you can use it to enhance your cooking and bring the hearty, rich flavour of Indian food into your kitchen.

Uses Of The Masala

• To improve the flavour of your favourite stews and curries, add a teaspoon or two.
• Before roasting or grilling, marinade meat with it.
• Add it to kebabs to add a unique taste.
• For a rich, aromatic taste, add it to biryani rice.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Useful Tips

• Let the garlic and roasted spices cool fully.
• Using a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, crush the garlic and spices that have cooled into a fine powder.
• To the ground spice combination, add the dried ginger powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, dried mango powder, salt, and asafoetida.
• Repeatedly grind the mixture until a fine, uniform powder is achieved.

Image Credit: Flickr

You can regulate the amount of spice and alter the flavour profile to suit your tastes by generating your own meat masala. Your culinary innovations will be elevated and your food will taste authentically Indian thanks to our handmade spice combination.