Madras curry paste is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be used in a wide variety of dishes. Making your own madras curry paste at home is not only fun and easy, but it also allows you to customize the flavors to suit your own taste preferences. In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of making madras curry paste from scratch. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to embark on a flavorful culinary adventure!
To begin, gather all of the necessary ingredients. You will need:
– 2 tablespoons of coriander seeds
– 1 tablespoon of cumin seeds
– 1 tablespoon of mustard seeds
– 1 teaspoon of fenugreek seeds
– 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns
– 2 teaspoons of ground turmeric
– 4 cloves of garlic, peeled
– 1 fresh ginger root, roughly chopped
– 2-3 fresh red chilies, deseeded and roughly chopped
– 2 tablespoons of tomato purée
– 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
– 2 tablespoons of water
Once you have all of the ingredients on hand, it’s time to start making the madras curry paste. Begin by dry roasting the coriander, cumin, mustard, and fenugreek seeds in a hot pan for a few minutes until they become fragrant. Be sure to keep an eye on them and stir them frequently to prevent burning. Once they are nicely toasted, transfer them to a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder and grind them into a fine powder.
Next, add the ground spices to a food processor along with the black peppercorns, turmeric, garlic, ginger, and chilies. Blitz everything together until a rough paste forms.
Now it’s time to add the tomato purée to the mixture and blitz again until everything is well combined. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add a little water to help it come together.
Lastly, heat the vegetable oil in a pan and fry the paste for a few minutes until it becomes aromatic. Once it’s ready, transfer it to a sterilized jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week, or freeze it for longer storage.
Now that you have your homemade madras curry paste, the possibilities are endless! You can use it as a base for curries, marinades for meats, or even as a flavoring for soups and stews. Experiment with different recipes and let your creativity run wild.
In conclusion, making madras curry paste at home is a fun and rewarding experience that will elevate your cooking to a whole new level. With just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a flavorful and aromatic paste that will take your dishes to the next level. So why not give it a try? Your taste buds will thank you!