How to Make Jeera Masala with Shahi Jeera: A blog about making jeera masala with shahi jeera.
A blog about making jeera masala with shahi jeera.
Making jeera masala is a very easy and simple process. You can prepare jeera masala in very less time and can serve it as a side dish, or you can even serve it as an appetizer.
Making jeera masala is not a difficult task and does not need special culinary skills to make it. You just need basic ingredients to prepare it for your family members at home.
The main ingredients of making this dish are jeera, onion, tomatoes and poppy seeds or khus-khus which helps in adding a nice flavor to the dish.
Shahi jeera is a blend of spices that can be used to make various dishes and chaats. It is an added attraction at any party because of its wonderful aroma and flavor. Jeera, also known as cumin, has been cultivated in India for thousands of years. It is commonly used in many Indian dishes, including pickles and chutneys. Jeera masala is the most popular spice blend in India.
The word shahi means royal or royal cuisine in Hindi. Shahi jeera is also known as royal cumin. In Indian cuisine, there are many varieties of jeera masala recipes, but the most popular one is the one which contains black cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves. These are all roasted before making the powder mix. The bay leaves are not usually included in home-made jeerammasala preparations because they are very expensive. However, commercially manufactured shahi jeera powder often contains them because of its longer shelf life. Shahi jeera powder can be stored for several months without losing its aroma and flavor.*
Shahi Jeera is a spice mix and it is very popular in Pakistan. Pakistani people use this jeera masala to add flavor to rice, fish, chicken, lentils and even in sweets. Shahi Jeera is a kind of blend of many spices. The basic ingredients include caraway seeds, fennel seeds, cumin seeds and black cumin seeds.
Tumeric powder, kala jeera powder are also added to make this jeera masala. It tastes bitter and spicy at the same time. All the ingredients used for making Shahi Jeera are available in any grocery store or market. There are some people who also like to use lime juice in jeera masala which gives a nice aroma and taste to the dish you are serving with Shahi Jeera.
Tumeric Powder:
To make shahi jeera at home first thing we need is to roast the ingredients of shahi jeera individually on a low flame till they smell good or become aromatic. Then take them out from fire and keep them aside for cooling down completely. When all the ingredients cooled down grind them into fine powder by adding little water. You can store this shahi jeera powder in an air-tight container for future use.*
If you are looking for an Indian recipe that is easy to make and can be used as a spice to give your food that extra flavor and aroma, then you should try out this shahi jeera recipe. This is basically a jeera masala recipe with the addition of some other spices to make it have a more complex taste than just plain jeera powder.
Shahi jeera or shah jeera is a very famous spice mix made of roasted cumin seeds and black peppercorns and is popular in India. Shahi Jeera has a unique fragrance and taste. It is mostly used for making curries, daals and rice dishes. Shahi jeera is usually added in the last stages of cooking, as it tends to lose its aroma if cooked for too long.
Tulsi (Basil) leaves can also be added to this masala, though most people prefer using them separately while making their curry. The aromatic flavor of the jeera powder mixed with the tulsi leaves gives a special taste to your dish.
I have been on the look out for a good jeera masala recipe and I have found this one to be a winner. It is rich, creamy, nutty and slightly sweet. The flavor of shahi jeera (literally royal cumin) is unmistakable – that sweet, mellow aroma that lingers long after the spices are cooked.
Tastes best when enjoyed with roti or naan or parantha or any other Indian flatbread. Can also be used in curries and vegetable dishes to add an extra dimension of flavor.
The following recipe has been adapted from Tarla Dalal’s book titled “Easy Indian Cooking”. I have modified it only by increasing the quantity and also added some sugar to balance out the sharpness of the roasted cumin seeds. Also, icing sugar is added at the end which tends to make the dish a little bit sweeter and richer.
Shahi jeera is a popular spice mix that is used in Indian cooking. The name shahi means royal and jeera means cumin, so this spice mix combines the flavors of both cumin and black pepper. Some recipes for the spice mix contain cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg as well. This spice mix is commonly available at supermarkets or can be easily made at home with a mortar and pestle or a grinder.
