Every cuisine will have certain spices that have an important role to play in enhancing the flavour of the dishes. In Indian Cuisine, the basic spice powders are Red Chilli Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder and Cumin Powder. Today I’m going to share my mom’s recipe for Homemade Red chilli powder, a perfect blend of various spices, which can set the taste buds and tummy on fire;-).
Most people are attracted to Indian food for two reasons- Lots of flavour and heat. I generally incline towards spicy, sizzling hot versions of recipes, thanks to my super spice tolerance taste buds
. Variation in spices makes the recipes distinct from one another. Did you ever notice that I never mentioned the use of coriander or cumin powder in my recipes? That’s because my homemade red chilli powder has all the required spices in it. This simple post is due since long, but better late than never;-). I can assure you that even if you had tried my recipes with regular red chilli powder, it still would have tasted great :P. Do you agree with me?
I still remember how my grandmother used to pack this homemade red chilli powder for us whenever we visit her during summer holidays. And now my mom does the same during my visit to India. Yes, this is one powder, which I definitely make it a point to bring to Germany. I feel that the homemade powders give the perfect flavour and colour to our dishes and there is a huge difference in taste. The secret behind this simple recipe is just the ratio of the ingredients. Every household has their own way of preparing fresh powders. It’s an easy blend to make yourself, with the added advantage that you can tailor the mix to your own tastes. Once made, it can be preserved for long time, if kept in a dry place.
Do you make your own red chilli powder, and if so, how does this recipe compare?
What Ingredients do we need?
Let’s see how to prepare Homemade Red Chilli Powder:
- Remove the stems of dry red chillies.
- Dry all the ingredients under sunlight for two days or till the red chillies gets really crisp.
- Grind to a fine powder in a grinding mill/flour mill. When using small quantities, you can grind in a spice blender.
- Do not store the red chilli powder when it is hot.
- When the powder is cooled down, store in an airtight container
- Remove small quantities to a smaller container and use.
- This will help you retain the flavour of the red chilli powder for longer period.
- It can be stored for almost a year when used with care.
Note: I couldn’t find turmeric roots at the local Indian store, so just took a shot with turmeric powder instead.
Homemade Red Chilli Powder
Ingredients
- 1 kilogram dry red chillies
- ¼ Kilogram turmeric roots
- ¼ kilogram Coriander seeds
- 50 grams fenugreek seeds
- 50 grams cumin seeds
Instructions
- Remove stems of dry red chillies.
- Dry all the ingredients under sunlight for two days.
- Grind to a fine powder in a grinding mill/flour mill. When using small quantities, you can grind it in a spice blender at home.
- Do not store the red chilli powder when it is hot.
- When the powder is cooled down, store in an airtight container.
- Remove small quantities to a smaller container and use.
- This will help you retain the flavour of the red chilli powder for longer period.
- It can be stored for almost a year when used with care.
Notes
Combine 1 teaspoon of red chilli powder with
-½ teaspoon coriander powder
-¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
-A pinch of cumin powder and fenugreek powder (Optional but this is what gives that extra kick of flavour to the curry)
I always add extra turmeric powder in my dishes, though my red chilli powder has turmeric in it, since it is healthy and gives colour to the dishes.
Avoid using wet hands while using the red chilli powder, the shelf life will decrease and fungus may form.
All the ingredients should dry well in the sun before grinding.
Crush a few garlic pods to small quantities the powder while using to enhance the flavour the the curries.
Store the powder in an air tight container.
Happy Cooking 🙂
Cheers!!
Padma.
very useful and lovely post .i will remain connected with your space in future as it is very good for persons like me. thanks u very much.
can you please show and tell me how to make home made ACHAAR MASALA
masala for making most pikcles
I will update in the blog when I’m ready with the masala…Thank you 🙂
Thank you Padma Garu, I have been trying to know this recipe ever since i got married year ago. I could not find right person who gave me this exact info.
My pleasure…Thank you so much..hope it helped 🙂
Hi padma, thanks for recipe.. Very helpful.. Small doubt dear, mirchi drying is enough if not possible should we roast it?thank you ????
My pleasure and thanks for visiting my space :)..This is prepared in large quantities and stored for almost an year..but when you do not have sun, you could dry roast in a pan without changing the colour of the chillies but this tastes slightly different though but it still doable!! Just keep in mind that while roasting, the chillies should just attain heat and be crisp enough to grind while not changing their colour…Hope this helps 🙂
Thank you for the recipe. How do I mix chilli powder with Bombay Marsala?
Thank you for the feedback but could you please elaborate your question?
a very thoughtful recipe ,and the post is good as well as the clicks
Thanks dear 🙂
Looks so perfect Padma. Very useful post. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Kushi 🙂
Hi, What type of Chillies do you use to make this powder. My mom makes chilli powder similar to this, and my stash from India is coming to the end, I would love to try to make some myself but I am at a loss on what Chillies to buy from Indian store here in US, any suggestions will help.
BTW, your recipes are amazing I tired all the chutney recipes and they are staple in our home. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Thanks,
Sri
Hi Sri, First of all welcome to my space and thank you for the lovely feedback. You can buy the red chillies, preferably the long ones..not the Kashmiri ones as they are not spicy but just give the vibrant red colour. In case you don’t get the long once, use the round ones as there is no option. The powder you make here may not be as fine as the one from India due to the difference in the grinding equipment used. But still I don’t think it will make a vast difference. But try very little quantity first because now it’s already cold and the powder may not last long. Let me know if you need any further info. Thanks dear….:)
I do prepare red chilli powder at home !! Your recipe is same as mine but a little difference I do add turmeric pods and whole garam masala to grind the powder.
Good post !!
keep going padma!!
Wow! Homemade red chili powder. Looks perfect bright red and HOT! Thanks for sharing great recipe!
Thank you dear:)…My pleasure:)
Anything home made has something magical in it!!! I do grind my own spices but never added fungreek seeds in chillis, wonder how it will taste, now I would love to try this!
Thank you Puneet:)…The fenugreek seeds flavour is the highlight of this powder, which gives the dishes an added kick of flavour:)..Do try it and you will find the difference:)..Will love to hear your feedback:)
Home made is always the best…… my mom used to make this…. actually I want to make it but …here even though we get some sunny days….. a little chillness exists…. Ur way of presenting is really awesome….. and beautiful clicks…. This is the most demanded one in Indian cooking and ur post is really useful…… 🙂
I too have the same problem…That’s why I bring it only from India:)Thanks for the lovely comment dear:)
Homemade is always best.. Love the flavours
Thank you dear:)
This is a fabulous idea, chilli powder is a must at my place 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thank you:)..Credit goes to my mom dear:)
I always make chili powder at home! store bought not trust worthy any more! good share, Padma!
Very true Savita:)..Thanks dear:)
Very nice post, beautiful clicks! You have a lovely blog with good collection of recipes. My best wishes for all success!
Welcome to my space and thank you so much for your kind encouraging words:)..Glad to be connected:)..Let’s continue this:)
Useful and lovely post dear.. Even my mom used to send all packed home made powders…lovely clicks dear…
Thank you dear:)
Fantastic recipe.. My cousin would always prepare this red chilli powder plend.. but i never got around to asking her for the recipe.. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!!
Thank you Shubha:)..But I have to tell you, this is one powder I bring from my mom:)i never felt the necessity to make it because I always had the supply:)But now my India trip is getting postponed and my chilli powder is almost getting over…I asked my mom for the recipe:)Very soon I have to try it out because I think that is the backbone of my recipes:)…Have a great day dear:)
Great effort, as homemade is always the best. Great clicks too
Thank you so much jenna:)
very nice and aromatic fresh red chilly powder …fantastic
Thanks a ton Nalini:)
Nothing beats “Homemade”… Addition of methi seeds is new to me! Great clicks 🙂
Very true!!…Glad that you realised:)..These methi seeds give an extra kick of flavour to the dishes:)
very useful post…
Thanks dear:)
Homemade is the best. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe. I will make chilli powder at home.
Glad you liked it dear:)Thank you:)
Useful post & impressive click.
Thank a ton Madhavi:)
Useful clicks……………very useful powder for any spicy dish.
Thank you so much dear:)
Homemade powders.. R the best
No doubt about it:)
Very useful post Padma.. nice clicks too..
Thanks dear Seena:)
Nothing can compete with the freshly ground homemade powders!! Looks awesome !!
Very true dear:)Thank you so much:)
Very useful post!! much wanted powder!! I also prefer the homemade version rather than the adulterated store bought ones!!
I totally agree with you:)..Thank you so much dear:)