Swearing off packaged masalas

I've had friends and relatives who seem to be able to whip up fantastic dishes with the help of the magicians at different ready made spice mix purveyors (Eastern Brand, Pataks and MTR, to name a few). Well, I'm swearing off that formula. In the past month, I tried a Fish curry masala, a curry sauce straight from the bottle and a Bombay biriyani mix. I was religious in measuring out all the ingredients, sticking to the recipe, and all that jazz. All I can say is that none of them lived up my mom's good old "crunch the fresh spices in a pestle, yaar" approach. So, it's goodbye, masalas-out-of-a- pouch, welcome back little wood mortar-and-pestle.

Comments

Vani said…
Came here thru your Desimomz link. I must say, you are brave to throw away those masalas! I do get some mom-made masalas each time I go to India or when my folks visit me, but when they're done, it's good ol' MTR or MDH for me :)
Anonymous said…
Hi Roopa, How do you manage to do everything so well -a great job/two kids/a blog/work out etc.etc..just curious. Can you please write a post about that to help some folks like me .an idea about your routine.

Take care!!!
Anonymous said…
I second your sentiments entirely. I, too, have been there, done that, with packaged and bottled masalas, and have forever bid farewell to those strange tastes and smells!
Kamini.
Unknown said…
A trick to use the store bought masalas, is to mix a few fresh ingredients and some extra spices to it. But still freshly ground spices and masalas are always the best!
Anonymous said…
Roopa, after 15 years of cooking I have turned to readymade mixes, the zing is to add a little more spice to the same, adda dash of chilly, dash of lemon, dash of ginger and garlic , not much work but grating and adding the stuff and checking on the variables of ingredients will make these magicians work! and will save enough time to super women like you who are all rounders...:)