Chicken Biryani

A hugely popular dish, not only in India, but across the entire South Asia subcontinent. There are many regional variations but here we show you how to cook the traditional Indian take on the biryani.

Making your own curry powder

Curry powder is a mixture of spices based on South Asian cuisine.  A similar spice blend exists in the north, called garam masala.  Although you can buy readymade curry powder, it’s easy to make your own using everyday spices you will find at your local supermarket. Most recipes and producers of curry powder usually include: Coriander Turmeric Cumin Fenugreek and Red pepper Additional ingredients include: Garlic Ginger Fennel seeds Cinnamon Cloves Mustard seed Green and black cardamom Mace Nutmeg and Black pepper   To make your own curry blend: Pick your spices and lightly toast (but be careful NOT to burn) them in a non-stick pan – this helps to release their flavour and aroma.  Don’t…

Cloves

A clove is an aromatic dried flower bud from the Myrtaceae tree which is native to Indonesia. Cloves can be used whole or ground. Whole cloves are very strong and might be a bit much to handle in most dishes.  The ground version can add an aromatic kick without interfering with the texture and other flavours.   Indian cooking Cloves are very popular in Indian cuisine and are used in rich and spicy dishes. North Indian cooking uses cloves in almost every side dish or sauce that they make.  Typically, you will find them used ground along with other spices. They are an ingredient of curry powder, widely used in Indian cooking and also in the…