How to make Chat Masala at your Home?

If you cook, you can tell the difference between a readymade Chat Masala and a homemade preparation. Many Spice manufacturing companies like Sterling Groceries produce quality spices but homemade preparations have a distinct taste and fragrance.

Making Chat Masala at home is easy than you think. We tell you the basics ingredients and method for home preparation of the spice powder.

Ingredients (make for 3-4 cups) (courtesy: ecurry.com)

·         4 tablespoon Coriander Seeds

·         4 teaspoon roasted cumin powder

·         1.5 teaspoon carom seeds

·         2.5-3 tablespoon black salt/Kala Namak/rock salt

·         5 red dried chilies, stems removed

·         3 teaspoon dried mango powder/Amchur

·         A very generous pinch of Hing/Asafoetida (about 1/4 teaspoon)

·         1/2 teaspoon dried ginger powder

·         1.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

·         1 teaspoon dried mint (optional)

·         2-3 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder/paprika (optional, for a nice bright color)

Method

Step 1: Roasting

For a start, roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and carom seeds at low flame. After few minutes, check out for an aromatic fragrance and darker shade of the seeds.

Step 2: Cooling

If you feel, the seeds are warm enough, remove them from the flame and let cool. Make sure, you do not cool the mixture below room temperature.

Step 3: Grinding

Grind them collectively till they are densely powdered.

Some more things to remember

·         Preparation time: 5-10 minutes

·         Cooking Time: 5-10 minutes

·         Serves: Make for 3-4 cups

·         Shelf Life: For (freshness and fragrance) Use within a month or otherwise, they can be edible for months.

Variations of taste

Individual’s tastes vary, so it is suggested that quantity of the ingredients must be chosen according to one’s taste.

Why you should Use Cumin Powder in your food?

The rustic, earthy, and pleasant smell of cumin leaves you spellbound. Actually, it would be difficult to describe the flavor it leaves to your food. We tell three benefits of cumin powder and why you should include it in your food?

With rich history, Cumin has a special place in the world of spices. It is believed that ancient Egyptians used cumin for mummification process. Indian kitchen utilizes cumin more often than not. Popularly known as “Jeera” in India, it has a special place in Indian dishes. There are several health benefits of cumin powder, besides adding flavor.

Cures Common Cold: The antiseptic properties of cumin help boost your immune system and fight flu. The following simple remedy will help you get relief from common cold; Boil the water with Cumin seeds, Ginger, Basil leaves, and Honey. Drink twice a day.

Anemia: The fact that cumin seeds have good percentage of iron, they can be included in your daily diet or preparations like curries, paranthas, cookies, soups, rice etc.

Helps in Digestion: Have you tried Jeera Goli’s (Cumin toffee)? It is a common practice in India to have a Jeera Goli after their meals. Cumin aids in relief from stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, and indigestion.

Other benefits: It helps induce menstrual cycle in women. Since cumin is rich in fiber, it can be used to treat piles. Its anti-fungal, purgative, and healthful properties help cure other lifestyle diseases.

Sterling Groceries Pvt Limited is a company that produces spices and is positioned in New Delhi. The superiority of spices they produce have got them a place with WAL-MART, Carrefour, METRO, SPAR, and Reliance, in documented as well as adapted segments. They produce Whole spices, Spice Powders like Chat Masala, Raw Spices etc.

3 Health Benefits of Spices

Get to know the super spices that make your food healthy and delicious.

Spices have been used for centuries yet their taste remains the same. Myths and stories mention delicious and spicy foods. Spicing the food doesn’t mean bitter taste, it means adding value to your food along with taste and fragrance. It is a well known fact that most people react to the fragrance of the food and then decide how good the food is? Spices and herbs have been adding nutritional values to your food for years. Things you may not about spices and herbs are given below:

Antioxidant in nature: A study has concluded that certain substances called antioxidants, which are quite adequate in fruits and vegetables, help protect cells from free radicals. Free radicals are by products of food breakdown or they can be produced by external sources like tobacco, nicotine or any other environmental pressures. Antioxidants offer protect against cancer, heart diseases, and other diseases. Antioxidants are enriched with Beta-Carotene, Lycopene, Lutein, Selenium, and Vitamin A, C, E.

Healing traits: Reducing Inflammation properties cannot be fully ruled out as research suggests that spices and herbs help reduce inflammation. What does inflammation do? It is known to augment chronic diseases such as heart diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and allergies etc.  Adding spices to your diet helps in healing process of your body.

Loss of weight: Scientists are working on the potential of spices to augment metabolism, offer satiety, managing weight, and enhancing the quality of the diet. Peppers contain capsaicin, which helps in boosting metabolism activities. Plus your food is enriched with flavor and fragrance making your food delicious to eat. Which are the Super Spices for your health? Here’s a list of Super Spices:

·         Cinnamon

·         Oregano

·         Rosemary

·         Turmeric

·         Thyme

·         Ginger

·         Dried Red Peppers

In India, many Spices Manufactures or a Masala Manufacturer offer powdered spices. Sterling Groceries are one such manufacturer of spices. They offer whole spices as well powdered spices. 

 

Unfold the History of Herbs and Spices

Before discovering the rich history of Indian herbs and spices, it is necessary to understand the terms herbs and spices in a more concise manner. Let us begin with the dictionary meaning of herbs – an herb is “a flowering plant whose stem above ground does not become woody.” In addition, spices can be defined as – “any of a variety of dried seeds, pungent or aromatic substances of vegetable origin, as pepper, cinnamon, or cloves, used as seasoning, preservatives, etc.”

The history of spices has revolved around South Asia and Middle East countries and their trade practices, which dates back to about 1550 B.C. Kitchen King The use of plants as herbs has been important to all tribes or cultures since long before history was recorded. Formerly, spices were imported from Asia and Africa consequently they were quite expensive as compared to the present prices. In India, hundreds of tribal cultures have used wild and cultivated herbs for medicinal and food purposes since 15th century. Herbs are talked about in Genesis, the first chapter of the Bible, and throughout its content. As civilizations evolved so did the knowledge for the use of herbs. These days, it has been widely used in Ayurvedic medicines, home remedies, and recipes.

 

Food seasonings around the world: Different cooking techniques have adopted world widely, therefore herbs are used in variations to fulfill versatile tastes of people of different countries. Nevertheless, well-practiced use of herbs and spices will do wonders for your cooking. So, it is suggested to know the diverse flavors and properties of seasonings.

 

India: The majorly used spices are Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Fenugreek, Ginger, which are used as an integral ingredient in almost all the vegetable or non-vegetable Indian curries.

 

Chinese: In Chinese cooking methods, Fennel, Cloves, Cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, andStar anise are the most used food seasonings.

 

Mexican: Mexicans are well known for the world’s best pizzas; hence, they use Oregano, Cumin, Chili powder, Chat Masala, Cilantro, Coriander in almost all recipes.

 

Thai: Thai cuisine has become well known since 1960s. Coriander, Chili powder, Lemongrass, Turmeric, and Ginger are the most popularly used spices in Thai cuisine.

 

Greek: Basil, Sage, Cumin, Cinnamon, and Dill have gained unambiguousplace in Greek cuisine.

All these spices have long tradition and value in culinary arts of different traditions, regions or countries. PRS spices offers blended Indian spices of high quality and emerged as one of the prime cumin, turmeric, fenugreek suppliers in Indian market.

Organic Herbs and Spices for the Good Taste and Good Health

An inevitable presence of herbs and spices in Indian cuisines are not only offer myriad taste experiences to people world widely and health benefits to the culinary art in Asia, however it has even become the integral addition in the Asian food. On the other hand, Organic Spices & Herbs can add multiple healing properties to the food along with its pure fragrance and real taste. They are considerably expensive so it is recommended you to purchase spices seasonings in bulk for your kitchen from authorized retailers or fenugreek Suppliers of Indi an seasonings.

Ever since the civilization begun, blended or natural spices seasonings are being used in various forms in Asia and become the part of Indian tradition and culture over a time. Aromatic seasonings have contributed the most to make Asian cuisine standout from the rest of the world. Indeed it gives prominence to the Indian food in the world. Practically all celebration in India is entirely depending upon the quality of food cooked, and well-cooked food is not just enough, good quality seasoning and the flavourings are also equally important to cook traditionally. Some high in demand herbs are: Thyme, Basil, Parsley, Chives, Oregano, Sage, Marjoram, Rosemary and mint and some high in demand spices are: Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Curry, Cumin and Vanilla. All these are available in blend or natural form in Indian market.

Unknown to many, dried herbs are low in calories that contained merely 5 to 8 calories per teaspoon. Apart from this, it’s also a good source of nutrition, cumin powder is an unexpected source of iron and Paprika is an excellent source of vitamin A, parsley is rich in vitamin C.  If you have your restaurant or hotel in any corner of the world good quality Salt, Red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and chat masala can be purchased from the reliable Indian vender, an online research about popular Indian suppliers of spices can help you find a vender in less time. Some of the popular vendors also deal in organic spices & herbs and supply fine quality spices and flavorings. If you are cooking with natural herbs then the chances are more that you will get long lasting flavor and taste along with the aroma. According to the recent research it has been found that several herbs are also rich sources of antioxidants that may possibly prevent the growth of cancer cells and protect delicate arteries from oxidizing damage that begins the build-up of plaque. Among them: allspice, basil, clove, coriander, dill, fennel leaves, mint, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, and sage.