Topic: Fenugreek seeds / powder

[Yakmandoo]

Hi all just a quick question ,ive been practicing making curries from the site for 2 weeks now , ive managed to get myself some big bags of all the spices required apart from fenugreek, the question im asking are ground up fenugreek seeds the same as fenugreek powder?
Thanks in advance
Yakmandoo

[Yakmandoo]

Ok ive just ground up some fenugreek seeds in a spice grinder i bought in Turkey (never thought i would use it), the smell is exactly the same as my jar bought powder but the colour is darker, is there some process i should use before grinding? ie baking or warming maybe ?

[curryhell]

Ok ive just ground up some fenugreek seeds in a spice grinder i bought in Turkey (never thought i would use it), the smell is exactly the same as my jar bought powder but the colour is darker, is there some process i should use before grinding? ie baking or warming maybe ?

Answer to your first question is yes, the ground stuff comes from grinding the shingle like whole spice.  No advantage to dry roasting  this whole spice, although recommended with the majority of others.

[Razor]

Hi YMD,

Yes, fenugreek powder is ground fenugreek seed, however there is also dried fenugreek and dried fenugreek powder.  This is usually labelled as 'kasoori Methi' (methi = fenugreek) and is the leaf.  Easy to spot the difference, the leaf will be greenish, and the seed is like a creamy yellow colour. So to sum up

Fenugreek/Methi seeds = yellowish
Ground fenugreek/Methi powder = creamy yellow colour

Dried Fenugreek/Kasoori Methi = greeny brown chopped dried leaves
Dried Fenugreek/Kasoori Methi powder = greenish powder

Hope that helps,

Ray

[PaulP]

Hi Yakmando,

Loads of recipes use dried fenugreek leaves, also known as Qasouri Methi from Pakistan. (Maybe spelt different).
You should try to get some of this as you can't really substitute the ground seeds for the dried leaves.
You can get a big bag that will last ages.

The seeds and ground seeds can taste bitter, although they have their uses.

Cheers,

Paul

[Yakmandoo]

Cheers for the reply guys all sorted now ive got a box of Methi leaves cost 45p for a massive bag!!!!
Fenugreek seeds and ground seeds ie powder looks like im good to go

[chewytikka]

Hi YMD
Welcome to cR0... Manchester, mmm Rice and Three

Don't worry about the colour of the Fenugreek seeds, I've bought yellowish and brownish seeds in the past, two main points to watch out for:-

The seed powder is a strong bitter spice so use it sparingly, too much will ruin a curry and also give you gas and possibly the S**ts.

If a recipe calls for Methi make sure its not Kasoori Methi which is the aromatic dried leaf of the fenugreek plant.

Many authentic BIR/TA recipes call for Kasoori Methi, which is why its part of the chef's worktop (to hand) spices, here in the NorthEast,
it used to be added to the majority of savoury curry dishes. But not so much now in The Modern BIR's, because its overpowering.

Methi Seed/Powder however is a secondary spice with very limited use.

My two pennies, hope it helps
cheers Chewy