Curry Recipes Online

Supplementary Recipes (Curry Powders, Curry Paste, Restaurant Spice Mixes) => Supplementary Recipes (Spice Mixes, Masalas, Pastes, Oils, Stocks, etc) => Topic started by: jb on February 13, 2012, 10:06 PM

Title: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: jb on February 13, 2012, 10:06 PM
This is the mixture that's used by Az in his restaurant and the one he showed us on our recent lesson.

three cinammon sticks
one heaped desert spoon green cardomon
one flat level mustard seed
three quarters level onion seed
five or six bay leaves
one level cumin
hald level fennel

Simply roast in the oven,cool then put into a coffe grinder.The smell was amazing,so different to the pre made stuff.Az said it's pretty potent stuff and should be used sparingly,certainly not sprinkled on a dish at the end as some sources suggest.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: loveitspicy on February 13, 2012, 10:39 PM
Hi JB

was that green cardamon still in their pods or the seeds out of the pods

best, Rich
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on February 14, 2012, 01:28 AM
That was green cardamons still in their pods.  The cinnamon is cassia bark and bay leaves are asian not european.  EDIT These were of an average size, just  a bit bigger than a european leaf and not the monster size that you frequently get.The mustard seeds are black not brown.  The dalchini (cassia) sticks are about 3 inches long.  We added a further stick of cassia and a couple of  asian bay leaves at the grinding stage because Az wasn' t happy with the cardamon being prominent :).  The powder was dark, pungent and pleasantly sweet tasting.  I was operating the grinder ;D
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: loveitspicy on February 14, 2012, 04:56 AM
Cheers CH
I thought it would have been - but there are many variations on garam masala - taking out of the pods and just using the seeds etc

best, Rich
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: jb on February 14, 2012, 06:46 AM
That was green cardamons still in their pods.  The cinnamon is cassia bark and bay leaves are asian not european.  The mustard seeds are black not brown.  The dalchini (cassia) sticks are about 3 inches long.  We added a further stick of cassia and a couple of  asian bay leaves at the grinding stage because Az wasn' t happy with the cardamon being prominent :).  The powder was dark, pungent and pleasantly sweet tasting.  I was operating the grinder ;D

Cheers for that,I remember now there was a bit of confusion re cinnamon/cassia being used.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Les on February 15, 2012, 10:57 AM
A question If I may,
Did AZ use the GM in any of the final dishes he made? (Apart from whats in the spice mix.)

Les
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: solarsplace on February 15, 2012, 11:03 AM
A question If I may,
Did AZ use the GM in any of the final dishes he made? (Apart from whats in the spice mix.)

Les

Hi Les

The GM was not added as a separate entity to any of the dishes that we saw.

Thanks
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Les on February 15, 2012, 11:26 AM
Hi Les

The GM was not added as a separate entity to any of the dishes that we saw.

Thanks

Cheers SS, Sounds as if It's only used in the spice mix then,

Les
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on February 15, 2012, 11:54 AM
A question If I may,
Did AZ use the GM in any of the final dishes he made? (Apart from whats in the spice mix.)

Les

Hi Les

The GM was not added as a separate entity to any of the dishes that we saw.

Thanks
One of us, forgotten who, did ask Az if he used GM in any dishes.  He said no only in the mix powder.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Les on February 15, 2012, 12:03 PM
One of us, forgotten who, did ask Az if he used GM in any dishes.  He said no only in the mix powder.

Thanks for confirming that CH

Les
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on February 15, 2012, 12:10 PM
One of us, forgotten who, did ask Az if he used GM in any dishes.  He said no only in the mix powder.

Thanks for confirming that CH

Les

No worries Les.  Hopefully, between the five of us, plus jb's notes and Solarsplaces,Natterjaks and Jb's vids we will have captured virtually all the events of the day and somebody will be able to answer any questions, provided we asked them in the first place :-\
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: jb on February 15, 2012, 12:36 PM
A question If I may,
Did AZ use the GM in any of the final dishes he made? (Apart from whats in the spice mix.)

Les

Hi Les

The GM was not added as a separate entity to any of the dishes that we saw.

Thanks
One of us, forgotten who, did ask Az if he used GM in any dishes.  He said no only in the mix powder.

That was me,one of the questions I had for him.This thing of shaking GM over your finished dish has always bothered me.Az said the home made GM is strong you really want to use it sparingly.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Les on February 15, 2012, 01:37 PM
Cheers JB

Les
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Unclefrank on February 17, 2012, 09:53 AM
Hi jb what's the measurement of fennel?
Cheers.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Peripatetic Phil on February 17, 2012, 10:05 AM
Hi jb what's the measurement of fennel?

Almost certainly "half level fennel" (was "hald level fennel").
Adjacent keys.

** Phil.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Les on February 17, 2012, 10:07 AM
UF
I think JB must have mad a typo in his rush to post ;) Bless im
 I think it should be
Half level fennel ;D

Les

OP's sorry Phil
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: jb on February 17, 2012, 11:51 AM
oop yes sorry half level my notes were merging into one by then!!
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Unclefrank on February 17, 2012, 12:05 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: rallim on February 24, 2012, 01:50 AM
Hi

I can't find black mustard seed or onion seed over here. Would brown mustard seeds do? The onion seeds I don't know what they look like, would onion flakes do (roasted) or would it give a totally different taste?

Regards

George
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on February 24, 2012, 06:19 AM
Hi

I can't find black mustard seed or onion seed over here. Would brown mustard seeds do? The onion seeds I don't know what they look like, would onion flakes do (roasted) or would it give a totally different taste?

Regards

George
I would say brown mustard seeds will do the job ok with a subtle difference.  If you have any panch phoran then fish out the kalonji / nigella seeds / black onion seeds.  This is what they look like:
http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=3075.msg27219#msg27219 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=3075.msg27219#msg27219)
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: rallim on February 24, 2012, 06:51 AM
Cheers curryhell for reply, it's very much appreciated, especially the info on onion seeds. I might find them, now I know the other names they come under ::)

Regards
George

Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: CardiffCurrylad on February 24, 2012, 01:00 PM
This is the mixture that's used by Az in his restaurant and the one he showed us on our recent lesson.

three cinammon sticks
one heaped desert spoon green cardomon
one flat level mustard seed
three quarters level onion seed
five or six bay leaves
one level cumin
hald level fennel

Simply roast in the oven,cool then put into a coffe grinder.The smell was amazing,so different to the pre made stuff.Az said it's pretty potent stuff and should be used sparingly,certainly not sprinkled on a dish at the end as some sources suggest.
Hi Jb, hope this don't sound a stupid question, when you say one level or half level does that follow on from desert spoon that you mentioned in cardamons? or does this term refer to teaspoons? I will get used to the terminology slowly :)
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: jb on February 24, 2012, 03:26 PM
This is the mixture that's used by Az in his restaurant and the one he showed us on our recent lesson.

three cinammon sticks
one heaped desert spoon green cardomon
one flat level mustard seed
three quarters level onion seed
five or six bay leaves
one level cumin
hald level fennel

Simply roast in the oven,cool then put into a coffe grinder.The smell was amazing,so different to the pre made stuff.Az said it's pretty potent stuff and should be used sparingly,certainly not sprinkled on a dish at the end as some sources suggest.
Hi Jb, hope this don't sound a stupid question, when you say one level or half level does that follow on from desert spoon that you mentioned in cardamons? or does this term refer to teaspoons? I will get used to the terminology slowly :)

All desert spoons correct.Not stupid don't worry I've asked some really stupid questions over the years!!!
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: CardiffCurrylad on February 24, 2012, 05:51 PM
Thanks for confirmation :)
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Unclebuck on February 24, 2012, 08:08 PM
One of us, forgotten who, did ask Az if he used GM in any dishes.  He said no only in the mix powder.

Has anyone posted the Az mix powder yet? or did i miss that one??
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: PaulP on February 24, 2012, 08:23 PM
Mix powder is here UB:

http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=7863.0 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=7863.0)

Cheers, Paul
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: Unclebuck on February 24, 2012, 08:24 PM
Nice one PaulP
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: vin daloo on November 26, 2012, 02:39 PM
how long do you roast the spices?
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on November 26, 2012, 04:49 PM
how long do you roast the spices?
When we went to Zaal's, Az had placed the whole spice in the dish/plate warmer and left them over night to "dry out", purely to make it easier to grind.  There was no mention of them releasing any oil or roasting them..  So I put my whole spice in a pre-heated cool oven for a couple of hours.  Nothing burnt and the smell was amazing and more so when i ground the masala.  Any comments from any of the other Fleet attendees on this question?
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: JerryM on November 26, 2012, 06:07 PM
can't answer on the Zaal but i last used 80C for 8 hrs. my next go will be 100C for 8 hrs. original tgad was 69C for 10hrs

links:
http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=2203.msg33181#msg33181 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=2203.msg33181#msg33181)
http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=2203.msg33209#msg33209 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=2203.msg33209#msg33209)
http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=8347.msg74874#msg74874 (http://www.curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php?topic=8347.msg74874#msg74874)
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: goncalo on March 09, 2013, 08:37 PM
Has anyone ever converted this into grams?

Also, does it need to go into the oven for 8 hours? sounds like an awful lot of time to me. The girls at the "show me the curry" have a video where they do it in deep-bottomed pan using low-to-medium heat until the coriander seeds change color (brown, presumably?) and then cool them off, remove husks, etc.
Title: Re: Garam Massala from the Zaal,Fleet
Post by: curryhell on March 09, 2013, 08:47 PM
It's nothing to do with roasting the spices, essential oils etc etc.  It is purely to dry the spices out and make them easy to grind. Az put them in the plate warmer the night before we arrived to dry them out. So  a cold oven for six hours should do the job.  Have a look at one of the latest videos from C2G where he says the same thing about the reason for "roasting" them  ;)