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Here''s my current favorite curry powder recipe(s). I used to just make curry powder, but this method allows me to vary my recipes more without having to deal with individual spices. All the basic recipes should fit in your standard spice jars. I love grinding my own spices because it''s really not that hard once you have an electric spice grinder and the spices smell and taste soooooooo much better!!

Basic Curry Powder
All curry powders have coriander, cumin, and tumeric. Almost all have cayenne chiles.

2 Tbsp whole coriander
1 Tbsp whole cumin
3 whole dried cayenne chiles
1 Tbsp tumeric

In a dry pan, put the whole spices. Heat over medium-high until the spices are browned and fragrant. Pour into spice grinder and pulverize! Mix with tumeric.

You can also use ground spices and toast them too, but it won''t taste quite as fresh.


Pungent Spice Mixture
If you don''t have or can''t find all the spices, just leave them out, it''s OK.

1 Tbsp whole mustard
1 Tbsp whole fenugreek
1 Tbsp black peppercorns
1 Tbsp whole kalonji
1 Tbsp dried ginger

Process the same way as for the basic curry powder. Roast the whole spices in a dry pan, grind, and mix with the ginger. Or you can use pre-ground spices.


Sweet Spice Mixture
This can be used for baking (gingerbread, pumpkin pie, etc) and for curries! The cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg are necessary, but you can leave other ingredients out if you don''t have them.

4 tsp ground cinnamon
4 tsp dried ginger
2 tsp ground allspice
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cloves
(opt) 1/2 tsp each of any other sweet spices you have (anise, fennel, cardamom, mace, etc)

Combine all.


Garam Masala
Used as a topping for Indian curries

1 part pungent spice mixture
1 part sweet spice mixture


Northern Indian Curry Powder
A more complex curry powder.

2 parts basic curry powder
1 part garam masala


South Indian Curry Powder
Used for a south indian flavor or anything that needs pungency!

2 parts basic curry powder
1 part pungent spice mixture


Moroccan Curry Powder
Great with couscous.

1 part basic curry powder
1 part cinnamon


Any other recipes for spice mixtures that people like?

Cocoa powder pretty much is pure chocolate, just ground up. Chocolate goes through a whole string of processes to make it palatable - fermenting, drying, dutching, grinding. The least processed cocoa you can buy is cocoa nibs, but they are quite sour because they are so little processed. You could buy this and grind it yourself, but it would be expensive and not much better in quality. Might as well buy cocoa powder.

*bump for the recipies*

That one sounds awesome. =]
My favorite is Lemon grass with any kind of spicy pepper powder.