Cooking Tips

Garam Masala - the Spices of India

India is known for its excellent cuisine, it"s unique regions of cooking, and a pleasant dining experience. India is distinguished in the world"s cuisine for it vegetarian dishes. One thing all of the regional cuisines of India have in common is its use of spices. Garam masala is an essential ingredient in the cooking of the Punjab region of northern India. Loosely defined, "masala" is any blend of spices, and "garam" means hot. Generally, garam masala is added to the dish very shortly before serving to enhance flavor. Garam Masala is also an excellent rub for chicken and beef. Garam masala is available prepared in ethnic groceries, and specialty stores such as World Market. The disadvantage of this is that one doesn"t know how old the spices are, or what changes in temperatures and packaging it has been subjected to. One takes a chance on the potency and fragrance of this blend if it is bought already prepared. It is a simple process to make garam masala, and ingredients, with the exception of cardamom pods, are readily available. cardamom pods are available in Indian and natural food stores. Buy the green pods versus the white pods, which are bleached. Cardamom is an expensive spice, second only in price to saffron. It is expensive because it has to be handpicked. This spice is best used by toasting the seed removed from the pod, and then ground in a spice mill, along with the other ingredients of garam masala. Cardamom loses its essential oils and flavors quickly after being cracked and ground, and so buying the pods and toasting and grinding is the best method of use for this great spice. To make Garam Masala, use the following ingredients: 2 cardamom pods, seeded 1 teaspoon whole cloves 30 whole peppercorns 2 teaspoons whole cumin seed 1 2-inch piece cinnamon stick 1 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg The best method for making garam masala is to toast and then grind the ingredients. This is accomplished by placing the seed ingredients one at a time in a pan over medium high heat, and shaking them until they just begin to smoke and release their distinctive aromas. It will take approximately 1-3 minutes. Be sure not to burn the seeds! Place the toasted ingredients in a spice mill, and grind to a fairly fine mixture. The garam masala can then be stored in a tightly sealed glass jar for up to 6 months. Any time after that and the spices will begin to lose flavor and aroma. I use garam masala for a rub for roasted or grilled chicken and beef. The aroma and flavor are outstanding, and chicken baked or grilled will retain the excellent flavor of the garam masala.


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

Categories
Chocolate
Coffee
Cooking Tips
Crockpot Recipes
Desserts
Drinks
Home Brewing
Low Calorie
Main Course
Pasta Dishes
Recipes
Restaurant Reviews
Salads
Soups
Tea
Wines and Spirits
News of the day
Grind and Brew Coffee Makers - Once You Try, You'll Never Go Back!
No doubt, most working folk agree that coffee is one of the most important beverages of the 21st century. After all, it"s what most Americans use to wake them up in the morning. So what"s the secret to making not a good, but an awesome cup of coffee? Well most people believe the secret lies in doing the brewing yourself.
Popular Articles

The Amazing Can Opener Product
The invention of the tin can was a transformation in food preservation and it was in fact a British person Peter Durand who first came up with the idea in 1810. In 1795 Napoleon had offered a 12,000 cash award for a system of stopping food from going off. This was needed for the French army as food was suffering shortages. A man named, Nicolas Appert, was the person who won the French army award when he experimented in preserving food by sterilisation.In 1813 the first industrial canning plant in Britain but their equipment could only assembly six cans per hour! Things didn"t get better on this number until 1846 when Henry Evans invented a machine that could make sixty cans in an hour - a huge improvement! These original tins were so thick that they had to be smashed open, which of course made things quite tricky but in 1850s the first can opener was invented by Ezra Warner of Connecticut, and the US Navy used it during the Civil War. In 1866 J. Osterhoudt made the first key opened cans like you find on sardine cans. The can opener that we know and recognise and tend to use in our homes today is the William Lyman opener which was patented in 1870 - this can opener rolls and cuts around the top of the can and the first electric version was produced in 1931. Thinking about it we have gone ages with no big improvements on the can opening front, and they are difficult to use for left-handed persons or those with strength problems due to diseases such as arthritis. We have been used to the old style can opener for too long now that one could be forgiven for thinking that there would never be an another way. But it has finally it"s here!JML LTD have made a easy to use can opener! Unbelievable as that sounds it does exactly what it says on the tin (sorry!). It is an automatic and electric can opener , which offers a single touch action. You don"t have to use brute strength, curse when the ring pulls off or end up cutting your finger. It produces no dangerously sharp edges and is fast, easy to use and is definitely hassle free. As well as all that (yes, it does get even better) it can be used for any kind of tin - if it has a ring pull on it or even if the can is square! It is sanitary, being easy to wash and it and even looks ultra modern, being of ergonomic design - it doesn"t take over the whole of your kitchen drawer! It is fast, clean, easy and holds a magnet which enables you to dispose of the lid mess! No more prune juice all over the sideboard then! It is perfect for those with limited hand mobility or arthritis as it automatically opens the can with just one touch. Now Mr. Durand can rest in peace knowing that justice has been done for his brilliant design!

Good Housekeeping Recipes
Have you ever wondered how to cook exactly the same meals that you have eaten at top class Restaurants? I have, and failed spectacularly. Think of great Restaurants like Pizza Hut, TGI Friday and The Hard Rock Cafe, very impressive food each and every time.

© Copyright 2009