Curry Powder Trio (Take Yer Pick!)

Three curry powder mixtures. British manufacturers developed curry powders in an attempt to provide a ready-made spice mixture equivalent to the kari podi (podi means “powder”) that British colonists became accustomed to in southern India. Essential to the fiery cooking of southern India, sambar podi is the combination of spices that evolved into British-style curry powder. Poudre de Colombo came to the French West Indies with Sri Lankans who were taken there to work on the sugar plantations. Japanese curry powder, under the S&B brand, has been produced since 1923, when Minejiro Yamazaki began blending a well-balanced and sweetly aromatic curry powder especially suited to Japanese tastes. For all curry powders, starting with whole spices and lightly toasting them before grinding yields a more fragrant, fresher mixture. *** NOTE *** Columbo is a French version of curry powder, which originated with the Sri Lankan indentured workers in the FWI. it does not carry the heat of many of the other islands. This mixture carries off-beat ingredients such as roasted rice. Roasting gives the rice a nutty flavor and makes it easier to grind. The rice acts as both a flavoring and a natural thickener. Poudre de Columbo makes a great holiday Gift, being one of the lesser-known cuisines of the Caribbean. You also can use it as you would any curry powder.

• Ready In: 7 mins
• Yields: 1 cup or less for each mixture

Ingredients

• For the sambar podi

• 3  tablespoons ground coriander
• 3  tablespoons besan flour (chickpea)
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons fresh coarse ground black pepper
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon ground fenugreek
• 1  teaspoon amchur powder
• 1  teaspoon dry mustard
• 1  teaspoon  hot red chili powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric
• 8  crumbled dried curry leaves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon asafoetida powder

• For the curry powder

• 5  tablespoons ground coriander
• 2  tablespoons ground cumin
• 1  tablespoon ground turmeric
• 2  teaspoons ground ginger
• 2  teaspoons dry mustard
• 2  teaspoons ground fenugreek
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  ground chili pepper

• For the poudre de Colombo

• 1⁄4 cup white rice
• 1⁄4 cup cumin seed
• 1⁄4 cup  coriander seed
• 1  tablespoon black mustard seeds
• 1  tablespoon black peppercorns
• 1  tablespoon fenugreek seeds
• 1  teaspoon whole cloves
• 2  teaspoons turmeric

Directions

1. To make sambar podi -- Combine 3 tablespoons ground coriander; 3 tablespoons besan (chickpea) flour; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 1 1/2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon each salt, ground fenugreek seeds, amchur powder, dry mustard, and hot red chile powder; 1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon and turmeric; 8 crumbled dried curry leaves; and 1/4 teaspoon asafetida. Makes about 2/3 cup.
2. To make a basic curry powder -- Combine 5 tablespoons ground coriander seeds, 2 tablespoons ground cumin seeds, 1 tablespoon ground turmeric, 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, 2 teaspoons ground fenugreek seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom, and 1/2 teaspoon ground chile peppers. Makes about 3/4 cup.
3. To make poudre de Colombo -- Toast 1/4 cup white rice in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking frequently, until light brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and cool. In the same skillet, toast 1/4 cup cumin seeds; 1/4 cup coriander seeds; 1 tablespoon each black mustard seeds, black peppercorns, and fenugreek seeds; and 1 teaspoon whole cloves until lightly toasted and fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cool the spices, combine with the rice, and grind to a fine powder. Stir in 2 teaspoons turmeric. Makes about 1 cup.