Hello.
This is Tocchan.
There was a curry shop in my neighborhood called “Garam Masala”. The restaurant is run by an Indian person, and I was able to eat a different type of curry from Japanese curry. The names and locations of the stores change from time to time, but this chain of stores never goes away.
Garam is “hot”, masala is “mixed spice”
What kind of image do you have of garam masala?
A spice to add to your favorite curry to adjust the spiciness?
Masala is a “mixed spice”. There are combinations to suit dishes and drinks, such as chicken masala and chai masala.
I had an image of spices in curry that can be adjusted to be hot, so I was surprised that the word “spicy” was not included.
How to identify hot spices
When we say “spicy” in Japanese, we first think of the spiciness of pepper or curry.
Among the many spices, there are actually only a few that are spicy. The only spicy things that I sometimes come across are red chili peppers, pepper (black/white), cayenne pepper, and mustard seeds.
Garam masala is based on three types of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and is mixed with cardamom, pepper, and cumin. There is no particular combination.
Since there is no specific combination, various companies have released garam masala with various mixes.
Foods that contain hot spices are spicy, and those that do not contain spicy spices are not spicy.
If chili pepper, cayenne pepper, red chili pepper, or black pepper are listed at the top of the ingredients list, it may be spicy. On the other hand, if these indications are not present, it will not be painful.
What do spices and herbal medicine have in common?
Cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are spices that are more commonly used in sweets, with a strong sweet aroma, brown appearance, and bitter taste. It’s not spicy at all.
Come to think of it, the Chinese herbal gastrointestinal medicine we always have at home has a somewhat similar smell. Looking at the display, it contained a lot of “cinnamon bark” which has a scent similar to cinnamon.
On the other hand, if you look into the characteristics of the spices in garam masala, you will find that it is effective for warming the body, promoting sweating, promoting digestion, and treating loss of appetite and colds.
If you eat curry and find yourself sweating even though it doesn’t taste too spicy, it may be because it contains spices that warm your body and encourage sweating.
Is that why the name “garam” = “hot”?
Let’s make it!
In order to make my hobby, spice curry, I started buying spices little by little and ended up with around 20 types.
We use many types of spices. As the frequency of making garam masala increases, I find myself needing pre-mixed spices (which are convenient), so I decided to try making garam masala.
I used Jinsuke Mizuno’s “Making Spice Curry” as a reference for my curry life bible.
Material
- Cardamom (whole) 10g
- Cinnamon (whole) 8g
- Cloves (whole) 5g
- Black pepper (whole) 40 grains
- Cumin (whole) 10g
- Curry leaves (whole) 6g
Procedure
- Warm a frying pan over low heat and add large whole spices: cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper.
- When the aroma comes out, add cumin and curry leaves and continue to roast on low heat.
- It’s done when the curry leaves become parched and dry until you can pinch them to form a powder. About 4 minutes from the start.
- Spread from the frying pan into another container and remove from heat.
- Grind into powder using a mortar or cutter mill.
- Place in a storage container.
How to use
It’s useful for making spice curry, but it doesn’t have a wide range of uses other than that. . .
Introducing maniac uses.
Let’s start with the curry.
Not only is it great for spice curry, but it’s also delicious when added to curry made with regular roux. Up to 2g for 4 servings.
The secret ingredient in fried chicken.
For fried chicken. A pinch of meat on each thigh makes it smell like a restaurant for some reason.
The main spice for homemade bacon.
It will remove the odor from the meat. Recommended for those who make bacon at home.
I might get stuck in the swamp
Spices have been used around the world since ancient times. It’s obviously deep.
When you reach the age where you start paying attention to your health and try your hand at making spice curry as a hobby, you may naturally find yourself drawn to the spice swamp. Take care and enjoy!
Have a nice day today!
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