CULINARY CHRONICLES · MASALA UNIVERSE

Culinary Chronicles gold CC crest with culinary flame. The Culture Behind the Cuisine. Food, Culture, Stories.

Masalas & Spice Blends

The Complete Masala Universe

Food is a way of understanding people. Explore the blends, preparations and techniques through which cooks build flavour.

A wide tabletop scene with brown ground masala, red paste, whole spices, a mortar and a steaming tempering pan.
An illustrative view of the Masala Universe.

The Six Families

  1. Heritage Dry Masalas
  2. Fresh & Wet Masala Traditions
  3. Cooked Masala Bases & Pastes
  4. Tempering & Whole-Spice Aromatics
  5. Podi, Chutneys & Finishing Seasonings
  6. Commercial & Contemporary Masalas

I

Heritage Dry Masalas

01 · Garam MasalaThe Warmth That Travels Across India02 · Goda MasalaMaharashtra's Quiet Complexity03 · Kala MasalaThe Darker Notes of a Familiar Kitchen04 · Malvani MasalaThe Coast Has More Than One Ingredient05 · Kanda-Lasun MasalaThe Work Behind the Weekday Spoonful06 · Bafat / Baffat PowderA Familiar Jar, Several Possible Dinners07 · Sambar PodiThe Household Measure of a Familiar MealRasam podi in a steel bowl and spoon beside coriander seeds, peppercorns and a dried red chilli.08 · Rasam PodiThe Fragrance of Rasam and RiceBrown-red bisi bele bath masala in a ceramic bowl with a steel spoon, coriander seeds and two dried chillies.09 · Bisi Bele Bath MasalaKarnataka in a Bowl of Rice and DalTwo flattened brown-red ver spice cakes on a plate, one broken to reveal a granular interior, beside a dried chilli and steel spoon.10 · Kashmiri Ver / VaerA Seasoning Held Together by More Than SpiceTan-brown dhana-jeeru powder in a steel cup beside separate coriander and cumin seeds and a measuring spoon.11 · Dhana-Jeeru PowderTwo Seeds and the Work of an Everyday KitchenCoarse brown bhaja moshla in a bowl and spoon beside cumin seeds and a dried chilli, with a blurred roasting pan behind.12 · Bhaja MoshlaThe Last Word Belongs to the Roast

II

Fresh & Wet Masala Traditions

13 · Goan Recheado MasalaThe Fiery Heart of Goan KitchensBrown roasted-coconut xacuti masala paste in a ceramic bowl beside dried red chillies, coriander seeds, grated coconut and a steel spoon.14 · Xacuti MasalaGoa, Ground in Toasted CoconutOchre mustard paste in a shallow bowl beside green chillies, yellow and brown mustard seeds, and a stone grinding slab and roller.15 · Shorshe BataBengal's Mustard, Ground to CharacterDeep-green cafreal masala in a ceramic bowl beside coriander leaves, green chillies, garlic, ginger and a steel spoon, with a grinder jar behind.16 · Cafreal MasalaThe Green Heart of a Goan MarinadeBrown roasted-coconut masala paste in a shallow steel bowl beside toasted grated coconut, coriander seeds, dried chillies and a steel spoon.17 · Kerala Coconut Masala TraditionsOne Coconut, Several Ways to Build FlavourMuted green herb masala paste in a dark shallow bowl beside coriander, mint, green chillies, ginger, garlic and a steel spoon.18 · Mangalorean Green Masala TraditionsA Family of Greens, Ground for the Meal
TritiyaMārga · Culinary Chronicles